I keep thinking about what The Elder Scrolls 6 will be like. I have played Skyrim for over ten years, and now I'm even more excited and can't wait. The Elder Scrolls Online can only satisfy the desire for new content for a while and being in another era of Tamriel's history means it is so far removed from Skyrim and the series future that (arguably) nothing you do in the game matters. It is a big role-playing simulation that has no bearing on the next chapter.
Oblivion Is the Perfect Launchpad for Your Next Epic Adventure
Before you start talking about how Morrowind is the best game ever and how it reshaped the image of gaming or anything else, let's get a few things clear. I played Morrowind and was not impressed. Maybe I'm too young to fully appreciate the spectacle that was 2002 or maybe I still hate the landscape because of Skyrim's Dragonborn expansion. It is sad depressing and not at all like I imagined it would be.
Leaving behind the Second Age that exists in The Elder Scrolls Online, both Morrowind and Oblivion ushered in the Third Age of Tamriel's history. It is one of the most tumultuous periods in world history, and possibly one of the most recorded, as it has had not one but two mainstream eras. Skyrim set itself apart by taking place in the Fourth Age, so it could be argued that The Elder Scrolls 6 would move into the Fifth Age, since it's been so long since the last game was released. Right?
Still, the rumors of an Oblivion remake coming in April 2025 are a boon for a devoted Elder Scrolls fan. It is new enough that it could make up for what The Elder Scrolls 6 lacked without becoming too repetitive or too similar to Skyrim. I still open up Oblivion every few months to revisit Cyrodiil and the chaos within its borders because despite being fundamentally similar it is a very different experience from Skyrim.
The high fantasy vibes are similar but the difference is in the atmosphere created by both games. For Skyrim it is a mostly Nord-dominated region deeply embroiled in a civil war over how to rule the land whether to support the old (and conservative) ways or weaponize religion to pave the way for progress. In Oblivion each city comes together to fight the scourge of the Gates of Hell and there is a lot of variety. There's a religious aspect to it too but instead of being in the middle of it all you are a formidable bodyguard for the last surviving Septim heir. You're not the chosen one you're just responsible to him.
Bethesda Should Return to Its Roots for Future Success
It's been almost 20 years since Oblivion was released, so it's time for a remake. The level of depth and complexity within the game was unprecedented at the time and the updated controls (and hopefully graphics) will be a welcome addition to the 2025 triple-A lineup. It was no surprise that Oblivion took the world by storm in 2006. Bethesda needs a win because it has let fans down for a long time with buggy games. Remaking a popular, award-winning game with better controls might help improve its reputation.
Additionally, I want to know if the team working on The Elder Scrolls is truly familiar with the political and geographical landscape of Tamriel and understands what made the series so effective. I do not want another Dragon Age: Valhalla, where everything that made the franchise so magical is thrown out and rendered useless.
When I first got Oblivion in my hands I was a scared child who cried when I got robbed by a Khajiit marauder, stayed away from the main quest entirely because the Dremora reminded me of my sleeping ghosts, and specifically acquired the Adoring Fan so I could have a warning system for nearby dangers. Even nearly two decades later, I still get scared when an NPC comes up to me and wants to talk.
However, there was something magical about the time-sensitive quests, curious bugs, and vast world within Oblivion. No matter how many times I accidentally quit the game out of fear, I kept coming back.
Oblivion or SkyOblivion I’m All In Either Way
I do not care how I get the Oblivion remake this year. but I am going to get it. If Bethesda decides to do something right and completely remake (not remaster) Oblivion for modern consoles I will buy it. Otherwise, I'm joining the community project Skyblivion to relive that strange and scary experience.
Oblivion had many features that Skyrim didn't have, like the Arena, Fighter's Guild, Allied Artifacts, and Ogres. DLCs had full-blown areas like the Shivering Isles and detailed storylines like Night of Nine where you really felt like an adventurer. No surprise it was Game of the Year 20 years ago. When Oblivion comes out again, it will be my Game of the Year for 2025. I am so excited to go back to the world of Tamriel.
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