A month after the game's release, only a small portion of players have finished the main storyline in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. However, for a game of this scale, that's hardly unexpected—many fans report being too engaged with other activities.
I count myself among them! 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 tackled everything except the main quest. I’ve enlisted in the Fighters Guild, ventured across Cyrodiil, and completed numerous side missions. I even attempted to break through the map boundaries, just as one crafty player managed to do.
Why? The side quests in Oblivion are incredibly entertaining (I won’t give away any story details here), but I’m also intentionally delaying the main quest—and potentially challenging segments like Kvatch—while keeping my character’s level relatively low.
So, I’ve resolved to savor Oblivion until I’ve had my fill of distractions and feel ready to tackle the main story. But then again, is there really a 'right' way to play a Bethesda game like this? That’s part of their genius—you have the freedom to do as you please, whenever you please, and the experience remains cohesive.
It appears many other players are following a similar path. “I’m TOO BUSY with OTHER THINGS, like searching for SLAUGHTERFISH in Lake Rumare,” remarked the aptly named Redditor MrCrispyFriedChicken in response to the completion statistics for Oblivion Remastered’s main quest.
“I’ve already logged 160 hours, and Kvatch is still waiting,” added Roffear. “I’m one of those oddballs who actually enjoys the Oblivion gates, so I make sure to locate and close all 60 gates in my world before finishing the main story,” shared Ellert0. “44 hours and an entire in-game year later, and I haven’t even visited Weynon Priory,” noted PlayaHatinIG-88. “Those unfortunate Kvatch city guards never stood a chance.”
As of this article’s publication, a mere 2.97% of players on Xbox had completed Oblivion Remastered’s main quest, while Steam showed a slightly higher rate of 4.4%. Why the discrepancy? I suspect Xbox’s numbers include Game Pass subscribers, some of whom may have sampled the game briefly before moving on. Steam players, on the other hand, likely made a deliberate purchase and are more invested.
Ranking the Best Races in Oblivion
Ranking the Best Races in Oblivion
Even so, it’s a relatively low completion rate for Oblivion Remastered, which has already attracted over 4 million players. But the truth is, most video games exhibit surprisingly low campaign completion rates—whether it’s a sprawling, 100-hour open-world RPG like Oblivion Remastered or a five-hour narrative like Call of Duty. In fact, many titles see a significant drop-off in player engagement after the first hour or following the tutorial. Such is the unpredictable nature of gaming audiences.
For Oblivion Remastered, the statistics might be further influenced by the fact that it’s a polished version of a beloved classic that many players completed years ago. If you finished Oblivion’s main quest two decades ago, you might feel less motivated to replay it now, preferring instead to admire the enhanced visuals and updated features. Or, as one player demonstrated, you might spend seven hours meticulously arranging books to create the perfect domino chain reaction.
Thaddeus122 mentioned being nearly 100 hours into the game without completing even three main quests. They have, however, conquered the Arena and the Mages Guild. And the rest of their time? “Leveling up, saving for property, sealing all the Oblivion gates, the Nirnroot quest, and plenty of smaller missions. To be honest, I also avoid fast travel entirely.”
