A month after its release, only a small fraction of players have finished the main storyline in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. However, for a game like this, that's hardly surprising—fans are too engrossed in exploring everything else.
I'm among those fans! Since its surprise launch on April 22, I've been thoroughly enjoying Oblivion Remastered. After emerging from the sewers and delivering the Amulet of Kings to Jauffre at Weynon Priory, I’ve avoided the main quest entirely. Instead, I've joined the Fighters Guild, traversed Cyrodiil, and tackled numerous side quests. I’ve even attempted to break the game’s boundaries, inspired by another player’s exploit.
Why? Oblivion’s side quests are incredibly entertaining (no spoilers here), but I'm also delaying the main storyline—and challenging segments like Kvatch—while keeping my level progression slow.
For now, I’m savoring Oblivion until boredom nudges me toward the main quest. Though, let’s be honest—there’s no "right" way to play a Bethesda game. That’s their brilliance. You forge your own path, and the adventure seamlessly adapts.
Many players seem to share this approach. "I've been BUSY with OTHER THINGS, like hunting SLAUGHTERFISH in Lake Rumare," joked Reddit user MrCrispyFriedChicken when discussing the low completion rates.
"160 hours in, and Kvatch remains untouched," added Roffear. Ellert0 chimed in, "As someone who enjoys the Oblivion gates, I deliberately avoid finishing the main quest until I've closed all 60." PlayaHatinIG-88 admitted, "After 44 hours and a full in-game year, I still haven’t visited Weynon Priory. Those Kvatch guards never stood a chance."
At the time of writing, a mere 2.97% of Xbox players and 4.4% on Steam had completed the main quest. The disparity? Likely due to Game Pass users sampling Oblivion Remastered briefly, while Steam players—having purchased it—are more committed.
Ranking the Best Races in Oblivion
Ranking the Best Races in Oblivion
Despite over 4 million players, completion rates remain low—yet this isn’t unique to Oblivion Remastered. Most games, from sprawling RPGs to brief shooters, struggle with player retention beyond tutorials or early hours. Gamers are notoriously unpredictable.
For Oblivion Remastered, stats may be skewed further as many returning players already finished the original. Why replay the main quest after 20 years when you can admire enhanced visuals or—like one dedicated fan—spend seven hours arranging books for the perfect domino effect?
Thaddeus122 shared their progress: nearly 100 hours without completing three main quests. They’ve conquered the Arena and Mages Guild instead, with time devoted to "leveling, saving for homes, closing Oblivion gates, the Nirnroot quest, and countless minor tasks. Oh, and no fast travel."
