The Quill #7: Video Games #2

When it comes to fantasy video game series, there are few-to-none that I can think of that surpass Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls. I became a fan of the series through Skyrim, the fifth entry in the series, like many others, but the recently released Oblivion Remastered presents me with a new opportunity to play that game again. Originally released in 2006, Oblivion is the fourth game in the Elder Scrolls series, and while I’ve experienced it briefly in the past, I never had much motivation to venture through the whole game. After all, I began with Skyrim, so why would I go back to a game that’s essentially a downgraded version?

Well, as of April 22, 2025, this is no longer an issue, as Bethesda has kindly re-released Oblivion in the form of Oblivion Remastered. And while I’ve only been able to play it for a few hours thus far, I can happily report that I was wrong about the game merely being a “downgraded version” of Skyrim. Set in a region of the fictional continent of Tamriel called Cyrodiil, Oblivion Remastered takes the original game and spruces it up with stunning new visuals. Other than the updated graphics, this is still the same Oblivion that Elder Scrolls fans have adored for nearly two decades. Is it still the same “downgraded” Skyrim? In theory, yes. But with this new coat of paint, the game has finally enticed me to give it a fair chance

In Oblivion Remastered, players traverse Cyrodiil, battling powerful demons known as Daedra as they attempt to invade from a realm called Oblivion. However, the game offers much more than the main quest, with players having the opportunity to partake in up to 250 side quests. There are also guild quests, which are specific to the three major factions that players can join, those being the Fighters Guild, Mages Guild, and Thieves Guild. Each of these quests affect the player in different ways, offering plenty of opportunities for unique playthroughs. None of this includes the various amounts of customization options available for players to create unique builds, such as magic crafting and unique classes.

While my summer will surely be a busy one, I have no doubt that I’ll be putting a significant amount of time into Oblivion Remastered. The level of immersion that I’ve felt within the first few hours is astounding, and I can’t wait to sink my feet even deeper into the world of Cyrodiil. And if Oblivion Remastered sounds like something that would interest you, you’re in luck, because it’s available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and save Cyrodiil!