When Bethesda unveiled Oblivion Remastered this week, it felt almost surreal. The 2006 journey through Tamriel, once known for its quirky, potato-faced characters and blurry, low-resolution landscapes, has been transformed into the most visually stunning entry in the Elder Scrolls series to date. Having been accustomed to underwhelming HD remasters like the Mass Effect Legendary Edition and Dark Souls Remastered, which barely differentiated themselves from their Xbox 360 counterparts, seeing the Imperial City rendered in Unreal Engine 5 with ray tracing was truly astonishing. Beyond the graphics, the game has been enhanced with significant upgrades to combat, RPG systems, and numerous other details. This led me to question whether Bethesda and Virtuos had misnamed the project—shouldn't this be called Oblivion Remake?

It seems I wasn't alone in this thought. Many fans and even Bruce Nesmith, a senior designer on the original Oblivion, have suggested that "remaster" doesn't quite capture the extent of the overhaul. Yet, after spending several hours with the game, it became clear that despite its remake-like appearance, Oblivion Remastered retains the essence of a remaster in its gameplay.

The reason *Oblivion* looks like a remake is straightforward: Virtuos has meticulously redesigned every single asset from scratch. From trees to swords, to crumbling castles, everything you see on screen is brand new. This overhaul brings *Oblivion* up to modern graphical standards, with beautifully detailed textures, stunning lighting, and a new physics system that makes interactions with the world more realistic. Even though the NPCs are the same characters from 2006, their models have been completely redone. This ambitious project doesn't aim to merely "look like you remember" but strives to meet 2025's graphical expectations. If I had seen this before the remaster rumors, I might have mistaken it for *The Elder Scrolls 6*.

However, the changes aren't limited to visuals. Combat has been significantly improved, making swordplay more engaging than the original's balloon-like feel. The third-person camera now includes a functional reticule, and all menus, from the quest journal to dialogue and minigames, have been refreshed. The old, problematic leveling system has been replaced with a more sensible hybrid of Oblivion and Skyrim's mechanics. And yes, you can now sprint. With such extensive visual and gameplay upgrades, it's tempting to categorize this as a remake.

The industry's lack of clear definitions for remakes and remasters adds to the confusion. Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto trilogy "Definitive Edition" retains the blocky feel of PlayStation 2 games, while the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, despite being labeled a remaster, features entirely new assets and looks modern. Meanwhile, Shadow of the Colossus and Demon's Souls by Bluepoint are rebuilt from the ground up but are faithful to the original experiences. Resident Evil 2 redesigns interaction with the game while maintaining the original structure, and Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth significantly alter the design and narrative. These examples, all considered remakes, show the varied approaches to the term.

Today, a remaster might be better defined as a graphical overhaul that preserves the original game's design with minor quality-of-life enhancements, while a remake involves rebuilding the game from scratch, offering a new take on the original ideas. By this definition, Oblivion Remastered fits the remaster label perfectly. The game's new assets and Unreal Engine 5 ray tracing make it look brand new, but beneath that, it retains the core elements of the original 2006 game. As Bethesda explained, "We looked at every part and carefully upgraded it. But most of all, we never wanted to change the core. It’s still a game from a previous era and should feel like one."

The hallmarks of the original Oblivion are evident in the remaster. From the loading screens behind every door to the baffling persuasion minigame, the simplistic city designs, the awkward NPC behavior, and the still somewhat clunky combat, Oblivion Remastered maintains the feel of a game from its time. Even the bugs and glitches have been preserved, adding to the original's quirky charm.

New lighting, fur, and metallic effects are just the tip of the iceberg of Oblivion Remastered's changes. Image credit: Bethesda / Virtuos

Recent releases like Obsidian's Avowed showcase modern advancements in game design, making Oblivion Remastered's mechanics feel dated by comparison. Yet, the remastered Oblivion retains much of its original charm and ambition. The world's magic still captivates, with its vast fields and hidden mysteries. Its dynamic goblin wars and engaging quest structures stand out even against newer titles. However, the game's dialogue, system interconnectivity, and level design show their age, reinforcing that this project is about reliving the past rather than reimagining it. Thus, Oblivion Remastered remains true to its name.

What do you think the new Oblivion is? --------------------------------------

It's a remake. It's a remaster. It's a different thing and we need a new word for it.

AnswerSee ResultsIn film, remakes are new productions with new casts and scripts, while remasters enhance existing films to modern standards. *Oblivion* mirrors this concept, pushing visual quality as far as possible by recreating its exterior in a new engine while preserving the core experience of a 2000s game. As Alex Murphy, executive producer at Virtuos, put it, "We think of the Oblivion game engine as the brain and Unreal 5 as the body. The brain drives all the world logic and gameplay and the body brings to life the experience that players have loved for almost 20 years."

Oblivion Remastered lives up to its name and sets a high standard for remasters from major AAA developers. It's what Mass Effect Legendary Edition should have aimed for, rather than a simple re-release, and what Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy could have been instead of a perceived cash grab. Oblivion Remastered is a labor of love, looking like a remake but playing like a remaster, and that's exactly how it should be.