The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Reviews
There’s a real charm to this world, its story, and characters. As a kid who grew up in the 2000s, I’ve got a lot of nostalgia wrapped up in Oblivion, and a bit of concern realizing that this game is approaching its 20th anniversary. The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered is undoubtedly the new definitive way to experience Bethesda’s flawed masterpiece, a game that continues to be a standard for western RPGs.
The remaster wants to remind you of what it was like to play Oblivion in 2006, but some changes make it lose sight of this and it feels just enough like a different experience to be jarring.
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.
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
Oblivion makes a return to the spotlight after decades of Skyrim hogging it… Wait… Why am I on a cart? NOOOOOOOOOO!!!
I think it’s no secret from my review that I enjoyed it. The graphical upgrade with the small addition of a ton of quality of life features really makes me feel a special type of nostalgia that I haven’t felt in gaming in years. The game might still have its jankiness in most aspects, but I do think that is what makes it unique. A lot of people said right off the rip that this was a remake, and I have to disagree. It is very much the oblivion of old with a very nice, be it a little stuttery sometimes, paint job that feels like something new while also keeping the same gameplay aspects and story that made it so good back in the day.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is a fantastic update to one of Bethesda’s most classic titles. Almost everything that needed to be revised or fixed has been, while everything else – every bit of goofy charm and jank – has been kept intact. This is a brilliant example of how to remaster a dated game, and I hope the same process is applied to Fallout 3 and New Vegas in the future.
Going back to Oblivion is like opening an old box of memories, only this time the photos are in high definition. It's a tribute to one of the most influential role-playing games in history, and also a proof that classics can be reborn with respect and wisdom.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
You have to go into The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered with the right level of expectation - especially if you’re a newcomer.
A beautiful remaster of a great game that leaves some very old, obvious issues untouched.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is a fantastic modernization of an iconic open-world RPG, even if it maintains some of the jank and rough edges of the original.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered has enough improvements that it could arguably be considered a full-blown remake.
Despite its name, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered comfortably toes the line between a remake and remaster
The original Oblivion’s a great game, and this remaster’s a good re-packaging of it. It’s an excuse to fire up an Elder Scrolls title that doesn’t feel a million miles from contemporary yet again, but I’m still not sure we needed one.
There's absolutely no doubt that anyone that played the original game, whether it was on Xbox 360 or PC, is excited and pleased that this game exists,
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered isn't a perfect remaster, but it is a masterful journey into the past, a time capsule that manages to make you overlook its weaknesses and enjoy everything that made this game a legendary work.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Someone coming to the remaster of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered unaware of its history would no doubt think it was a retro-tribute to a long-ago age of RPGs. They’d think they were playing a good looking game with old-school level design, fantastic music, an interesting story and somewhat janky combat. They’d be drawn in by the world and its possibilities just as the original’s players were. That aspect of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion didn’t really need much improvement.
Oblivion Remastered is a welcome reminder of just how special the 2006 RPG can be. Performance issues and tedious design elements aside, Virtuos and Bethesda deserve real credit for bringing Oblivion back in such a way that doesn't detract from the original vision, and the meme-worthy identity that it's fostered over the years. This is, arguably, the definitive Oblivion experience - or at least it will be, once the awkward wrinkles have been ironed out.
Overall, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered brings plenty of welcome changes to the original formula while still maintaining the quirkiness of the original game. This is a prime example of a loving remaster: improve the original concept without veering away from it completely. It's not completely perfect, since it still features some of the glitchy nature of the original game, like asset pop-in. Nonetheless, "perfect" isn't what fans want out of Elder Scrolls. They want exploration and fun, and that's exactly what you get from The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.