The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Reviews
I stand here with 2006's Oblivion in one hand and 2025's in the other. My unapologetic recommendation: take the remaster and knock yourself out. This is the definitive way to play Oblivion now - as clunky as it is classic.
Oblivion Remastered proves that The Elder Scrolls 4 has withstood the test of time. It's the perfect opportunity for new audiences to discover why it's so beloved, and a nostalgic throwback to Bethesda's golden years for older fans. However, its extensive quality-of-life features aren't enough to excuse the endemic performance woes of Unreal Engine 5.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is far more than a simple facelift applied to a beloved classic. It's a heartfelt tribute, crafted above all for those who first explored the lands of Cyrodiil nearly twenty years ago. Virtuos and Bethesda have struck a delicate balance, modernizing the essentials without compromising the unique identity of the original. Visually, the transformation is often stunning. But behind this ambitious graphical overhaul, some technical aspects still show their age.
Review in French | Read full review
Both the soul and the body show some significant rough edges, but it is truly impossible not to appreciate the work done by the Singapore team, creators of a Cyrodiil that resembles the one in our memories more than the scenario actually explored in the early 2000s. This is no small feat, mind you.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Oblivion Remastered is a lovingly retouched makeover of an endlessly fun power fantasy that’s not afraid to show its retro goofiness. It charms not despite its technical flaws, but in large part because of them.
How has it been almost twenty years since The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion first released? It feels like it was only yesterday my dark elf hero emerged...
Bethesda’s commitment to ineptitude has been pretty old hat by this point, and maybe some patches down the road can bring this thing up to a respectable level. While I still enjoy playing it, for a system that has a genuinely impressive version—warts and all—of Cyberpunk 2077 running on it, I can’t help but feel like this is a bit unacceptable.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is still a good game, like the original was all those years ago. The excitement of wandering the open world of Cyrodil is still there, getting into shenanigans with goblins in caves, doing away with the undead coming through Oblivion Gates, and getting into thievery and tomfoolery across the great unknown. There are meaningful changes to how skills work and how to read the world, making it the cleanest and smoothest run through Bethesda's great RPG yet. However, it is bogged down by the change in art style, where fidelity disappointingly removes any colour or substance that was once found. A blemish on one of the greats. Much like an old car that's been plodding along a little too long, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered mostly still runs, and a new coat of paint helps some, but don't be surprised by the sensation of feeling like things are going to fall apart at any moment.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is a love letter to one of the most charmingly chaotic RPGs ever made. It’s not perfect and it doesn’t try to be. Instead, it embraces its jank with open arms, wraps it in beautiful new visuals, reminding us why Cyrodiil still holds a special place in RPG history.
Oblivion makes a return to the spotlight after decades of Skyrim hogging it… Wait… Why am I on a cart? NOOOOOOOOOO!!!
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is as much of a must-play title as the original, the easiest title to recommend to any gamer.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered is everything a fan could want and an excellent primer on what makes the series so magical.
Oblivion Remastered successfully breathes new life into The Elders Scrolls IV, which is going to be great for the mature gamers that already knew about this title from the original release in 2006. Whether you beat the game back then or not, this remaster is, as of today, the best way to experience Oblivion. We still have Skyblivion to look out for, even if this remaster may have stolen some potential players from that project. However, no amount of make up and re-texturization can mask the classic Bethesda jank, which makes the game just as endearing and frustrating as the original.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is certainly a nostalgic experience worth revisiting, but for modern players, whether it's actually enjoyable largely depends on your tolerance for its clearly outdated design choices.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
Oblivion Remastered is undoubtedly a beautiful visual update of the classic. At the same time, the game hasn't got rid of its old flaws. NPCs still act like they're caught in a time trap, frozen in the time of the original. Bugs and technical issues are still a part of this world, which certainly detracts from the overall impression of the update.
A remaster can only make a 20-year old game so modern without becoming a remake. Oblivion Remastered makes the old game beautiful, far less clunky, but it's still the old game at its core.
Where the flank is exposed to more problems is on the technical front . We relived Cyrodill on PC and evidently Unreal Engine 5 was more difficult to manage than expected.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered certainly stands out. Ultimately, Oblivion was already a great game, made only slightly better with the visual overhaul of the remaster. Perhaps that's a reminder that remasters of games, which were already visually ahead of their time, can only go so far.
There is no mistaking Oblivion for what it truly is: an early PS360 game from 2006 wearing an Unreal 5 skinsuit. If you already love Oblivion, then you will adore Oblivion Remastered since it is a new way to experience a legitimate classic of its era. There are a scant few extra surprises tucked away, but this is the same game you know and love… for better and for worse.
Oblivion is a weird janky game, and this remaster merely makes it a prettier janky game. If you have nostalgia from playing Oblivion back in 2006, I think you'll love revisiting it in this form. If you're a Nintendo fan coming from Skyrim, be prepared for an ambitious but demanding adventure that is a little rough around the edges.