The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion® Game of the Year Edition (2009)
Last updated: 2025-04-29
- Vast, immersive, and rewarding open world.
- Varied, creative, and well-written quests.
- Deep and customizable magic system.
- Extensive modding support and community.
- Dated graphics and frequent crashes.
- Poor level scaling hampers progression.
- Reviews
(sample size) - 2000
- Helpful reviews
- 49%
- Unhelpful reviews
- 50%
- Protest reviews
- 0%
- 92%Helpful reviews with positive sentiment
- 8%Helpful reviews with negative sentiment
- Positive points
- 2231
- Negative points
- 955
- Gameplay points
- 221
- Perf. points
- 83
- Rec. points
- 633
- Misc points
- 119
| Point | Description | Importance |
|---|---|---|
Vast, immersive, rewarding open world
| The game features a vast, immersive open world with diverse and detailed environments, including forests, cities, and dungeons. Exploration is rewarding, with countless quests, secrets, and lore to discover, making the world feel alive and engaging. NPCs have schedules and personalities, further enhancing the immersive experience. | 90% |
Varied, creative, well-written quests
| The game offers varied, creative, and well-written quests, with many side quests rivaling the main plot in quality. Guild questlines, such as the Dark Brotherhood and Thieves Guild, are particularly praised for their engaging storylines and memorable characters. Quests often have multiple solutions and outcomes, enhancing player agency. | 88% |
Deep, customizable magic system
| The game offers a deep and customizable magic system, allowing players to create unique spells and playstyles. The magic system is considered more diverse and flexible than in later Elder Scrolls games. Players can craft custom spells and create unique combat approaches. | 37% |
Attention to detail, immersive world
| The game features impressive attention to detail and environmental storytelling, creating a cohesive and immersive fantasy realm. The world feels alive, with characters and environments holding secrets and stories. The game's atmosphere is magnetic and creates a sense of surprise. | 30% |
Legendary, atmospheric soundtrack
| The game features a legendary and iconic soundtrack composed by Jeremy Soule. The music enhances the atmosphere, evokes nostalgia, and complements the game's emotional depth. Many reviewers purchased the soundtrack separately, indicating its high quality and impact. | 27% |
Extensive modding support and community
| The game has extensive modding support and a vibrant community that keeps the game alive and addresses many issues. Mods can improve graphics, fix bugs, add new content, and tailor the game to individual preferences. The modding community is still active and creative, with a huge selection of mods available. | 22% |
Unique charm, humorous elements
| The game has a unique charm, with silly NPCs, humorous dialogue, and quirky glitches that contribute to the overall experience. The game balances seriousness and humor effectively. The game is designed to be fun in a silly way. | 19% |
Acceptable graphics for its age
| The game's graphics are acceptable for its age and still provide an enjoyable visual experience. The game is fun to play despite dated graphics. The reviewer appreciates the old school graphics. | 18% |
Good balance, intuitive gameplay
| The game provides a good balance between Morrowind and Skyrim. The game is more intuitive than Morrowind. The game is similar to Skyrim. | 8% |