Oblivion Remastered: Stunning Visuals, Classic Gameplay Revived

Bethesda’s unveiling of Oblivion Remastered this week left me in awe. The 2006 journey through Tamriel, once marked by quirky, low-res characters and blurry grasslands, now stands as the most visually striking Elder Scrolls title to date. Past remasters like Mass Effect Legendary Edition and Dark Souls Remastered often felt too close to their originals, so seeing the Imperial City I roamed nearly two decades ago reborn in Unreal Engine 5 with ray tracing was almost surreal. Beyond visuals, the game boasts upgraded combat, refined RPG systems, and countless small enhancements. This led me to question whether Bethesda and developer Virtuos mislabeled it—surely this is an Oblivion Remake, not just a remaster?

I wasn’t alone in this thought. Fans across the board have called it a remake, with even Bruce Nesmith, a lead designer on the original Oblivion, suggesting “remaster” doesn’t fully capture its scope. Yet, after hours of gameplay, the distinction is clear: Oblivion Remastered may dazzle like a remake, but its core plays like a remaster.

The remake-like appearance stems from Virtuos’ exhaustive efforts: every asset, from trees to swords to crumbling fortresses, has been rebuilt from the ground up. The result is a game that meets modern graphical standards, with stunning textures, dynamic lighting, and a new physics system that makes every arrow and strike feel tangible. NPCs, while familiar, are entirely reimagined, shedding the dated look of 2006. This overhaul doesn’t just evoke nostalgia—it delivers a visual experience that could pass for a 2025 title. Had I seen it before rumors surfaced, I might have mistaken it for The Elder Scrolls 6.

The upgrades extend beyond visuals. Combat now feels weighty, with sword swings carrying real heft. A functional third-person camera, complete with a reticle, enhances immersion. Menus, from quest logs to dialogue and minigames like lockpicking and persuasion, sport sleek, updated interfaces. The clunky original leveling system has been replaced with a smoother blend of Oblivion and Skyrim’s mechanics. And yes, sprinting is finally here. With such extensive changes, it’s tempting to call this a remake.

The debate hinges on semantics, not just scope. The industry lacks clear definitions for “remake” and “remaster,” and publishers use the terms loosely. Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto trilogy “Definitive Edition” remasters are unmistakably dated, with upscaled textures and modern lighting. Yet the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, also a remaster, boasts entirely new visuals that feel current. Remakes like Bluepoint’s Shadow of the Colossus and Demon’s Souls faithfully recreate their originals from scratch, while Resident Evil 2 reimagines its core interactions. Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth, meanwhile, overhaul nearly every aspect of the original. These examples share the “remake” label but differ vastly in approach.

Historically, a remake implied a full rebuild in a modern engine, while a remaster meant limited upgrades within the original framework. That distinction is fading. A modern remaster might involve a visual overhaul with minor gameplay tweaks, preserving the original design. A remake, by contrast, reimagines the game entirely. By this logic, Demon’s Souls and the upcoming Metal Gear Solid: Delta lean toward remasters, while true remakes feel like fresh takes on old concepts.

So, is Oblivion a remake or a remaster? Play it for an hour, and the answer is clear: it’s a remaster. Its dazzling Unreal Engine 5 visuals and ray tracing create a modern facade, but the game’s core—its systems, quirks, and structure—remains rooted in 2006. Bethesda explained, “We enhanced every element thoughtfully, but the heart remains unchanged. It’s a game from another era and should feel like it.”

That era shines through in countless ways: loading screens behind nearly every door, a perplexing persuasion minigame that feels detached despite its facelift, city designs resembling stage sets rather than living hubs, and NPCs that move and speak with an awkward, robotic charm. Combat, though improved, still lacks precision. The game even retains its signature bugs, lovingly preserved as part of its quirky legacy.

Recent titles like Obsidian’s Avowed highlight how far RPGs have come, with fluid combat and rewarding exploration that make Oblivion’s hills and caves feel dated. Yet Oblivion Remastered still captivates. Its open fields brim with mysteries, its dynamic goblin wars and rich quests outshine Skyrim’s repetitive dungeons, and its player freedom feels refreshingly unrestrained. But its dialogue lacks nuance, its systems don’t mesh seamlessly, and its level design—caves, castles, and Oblivion’s realms—feels ancient. A remake would modernize these elements; this project celebrates them as they are, earning its Remastered title.

In film, remakes are fresh productions with new casts and scripts, while remasters enhance existing works to modern standards. A 4K restoration of Jaws or The Godfather looks stunning but remains unmistakably 1970s. Oblivion Remastered mirrors this, pushing visuals to new heights with a modern engine while retaining its 2000s essence. Virtuos’ executive producer, Alex Murphy, put it best: “The Oblivion engine is the brain, Unreal 5 the body, bringing a beloved experience to life.”

Oblivion Remastered lives up to its name, and that’s no slight. It sets a new standard for remasters, far surpassing lackluster efforts like Mass Effect Legendary Edition or Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy. Crafted with care, it blends remake-level visuals with the heart of a remaster, preserving a classic for fans and newcomers alike.