It’s hard to discussOblivionwithout comparing it toSkyrim, its younger, much more popular sibling—though the scales of popularity could tip in the former’s favor, now thatThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remasteredhas finally been released. Indeed, a whole new generation of players can now enjoy the classic 2006 Bethesda RPG in a new light, smoothed over with abevy of Unreal Engine 5-enabled visual and technical upgrades. As more modern gamers discover the magic ofOblivion, there are no doubt some who are coming to believe that it is superior to the oft-releasedSkyrim.
There’s merit to this assessment, though matters are certainly not as simple as one game being “better” than the other.Skyrimgrabbed the gaming community by the collar back in 2011 for good reason, after all: it presents a stunning and detailed fantasy world, incredible side quests, and a sense of exploration that is hard for even the best modern open-world games to match. Yes,Skyrimhas earned its success and prestige—few could argue against that. But withOblivion Remasteredtaking players back through the story of Martin Septim and Mehrunes Dagon, there’s a strong case to be made that its main narrative is far better thanSkyrim’s in a unique, double-edged way.
Oblivion’s Main Story Is More Central To the Overall Adventure
Skyrim’s Main Quest Simply Isn’t as Compelling as Oblivion’s
The differences betweenSkyrim’s main storyandOblivion’s are demonstrated during their respective opening hours.Skyrimkicks off with a dragon attacking Helgen, burning it to a crisp as the player-character dodges torrents of flame and rushes through a crumbling village to escape certain death. It’s a bombastic and spectacular opening that clearly sets the tone for the story:Skyrim’s main quest is grand, sweeping, and epic.
Oblivion’s story has high stakes too, of course, but in a much different way. Rather than an outlandish encounter with a gargantuan monster,Oblivionkicks off quietly, with the player-character being visited by Emperor Uriel Septim, who recognizes them from a series of mystical, inexplicable dreams. The player then creeps through hidden caverns and passages to escape the prison, only to be given the emperor’s magic amulet before he is killed by a Mythic Dawn cultist, being set on a journey to track down his long-lost heir, Martin Septim.
InSkyrim, the player-character is the Dragonborn, the Chosen One, destined to wield immense power and save the world. InOblivion, they are more like an emissary, which allows for smaller, more character-driven storytelling.Oblivionis less about epic-scale battles between men and dragons and more about political intrigue and dark, hellish beings struggling for the soul of Tamriel as much as for the land itself. This helpsOblivion’s main quest feel far more nuanced and mature thanSkyrim’s, which is often viewed as one of its most non-essential facets.
Skyrim’s Side Content Blows Oblivion’s Out of the Water
Skyrim’s main story may not measure up toOblivion’s, but it makes up for this by having the best side missions in the series. Ambitious quest chains like the civil war plot, Dark Brotherhood quest, and Mages' Guild storyare the heart ofSkyrim—not the main story. By contrast,Oblivion’s side missions, while not bad by any stretch, are far more quaint, and take something of a backseat to the more intriguing main story.
This difference in priorities pervades every element of each game. One only needs to compare the copy-paste, bland dungeons ofOblivionto the far more robust and differentiated caverns, camps, and ruins ofSkyrimfor evidence of this. While this doesn’t makeSkyrimbetter or worse thanOblivion, it is indicative of Bethesda’s de-emphasizing of main questlines in favor of strong side content, which is reflected in the studio’s later games, likeFallout 4.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
WHERE TO PLAY
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion™ Remastered modernizes the 2006 Game of the Year with all new stunning visuals and refined gameplay. Explore the vast landscape of Cyrodiil like never before and stop the forces of Oblivion from overtaking the land in one of the greatest RPGs ever from the award-winning Bethesda Game Studios.Rediscover CyrodiilJourney through the rich world of Tamriel and battle across the planes of Oblivion where handcrafted details have been meticulously recreated to ensure each moment of exploration is awe-inspiring.Navigate Your Own StoryFrom the noble warrior to the sinister assassin, wizened sorcerer, or scrappy blacksmith, forge your path and play the way you want.Experience an Epic AdventureStep inside a universe bursting with captivating stories and encounter an unforgettable cast of characters. Master swordcraft and wield powerful magic as you fight to save Tamriel from the Daedric invasion.The Complete StoryExperience everything Oblivion has to offer with previously released story expansions Shivering Isles, Knights of the Nine, and additional downloadable content included in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.
