Oblivion delivers the first great open breath of Cyrodiil with a huge world where every NPC has a routine and every guild its arc. The levelling system still divides, but what a gust of classic fantasy under that radiant sun.
Your verdict
Category
RPG1 player16+
Description
RPG by Bethesda Game Studios, March 2006. The Chosen One escapes prison to find Oblivion's heir to the throne and save Cyrodiil from the Daedra gate invasion. Immense freely explorable open world, Mages, Thieves and Assassination guild quests, player level progression based on skill use. Benchmark RPG that defined the open-world genre.
Elder Scrolls IV, The - Oblivion review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
4/5
Story
★★★★★
"Captivating"
Cyrodiil is painted as an idyll: light-strewn forests, meadows dotted with elegant ruins, cities where every district has its own architecture. That pastoral sweetness exists only to be torn open by the Oblivion gates, red and black wounds opening onto a hell of obsidian towers. The game draws its whole visual force from that pulse between countryside paradise and abyss.
Signed by Jeremy Soule, the music wraps Cyrodiil in a majestic, serene orchestra, from the noble main theme to the contemplative pads of exploration. Each ride across the plains breathes a peaceful grandeur of rare beauty. This symphonic breadth, faithful to the saga's spirit, remains the soul of this legendary adventure.
The story's boldness lies in the player's place: you are not the chosen one. The emperor, voiced by Patrick Stewart, dies in the opening minutes entrusting you with an escort's role, and it is Martin, a hidden heir turned priest, who carries the prophecy through to his sacrifice. Serving someone else's destiny, side guilds and intrigues included, gives Cyrodiil a depth few open worlds dare.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"Pleasant"
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Pushing open a door, following a rumor and getting lost in an unplanned quest sums up a freedom that, at every step, opens an unexpected new objective. Improving your skills through practice and exploring dungeons and guilds reward curiosity. Its engine has aged and its combat lacks weight, but the call of free-roaming adventure makes every session hard to wrap up.
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Cyrodiil lets you wander in any direction you please: stepping away from the main Oblivion quest to join the Thieves Guild, the Dark Brotherhood or the Arena, each faction demanding its own saga. Forgotten caves, Oblivion gates and the simple joy of rummaging through villages eat up the hours. That total freedom, where getting lost is the point, explains its standing as an open-world RPG landmark.
European (PAL) edition of the open-world RPG monument, Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion offers immense freedom and an acclaimed quest, a showcase of the console's early days. Common in Europe but markedly rarer in its Asian and Japanese pressings, its interest combines this genre-classic status and this regional scarcity. A safe bet for fans of immersive open RPGs.
Is Elder Scrolls IV, The - Oblivion still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2006 on Xbox 360, Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion was an open world showcase that marked the console's launch, with the verdant province of Cyrodiil free to explore in every direction from the first minutes. The total freedom, the simulation of citizens going about their business and the hundreds of side quests stay exhilarating. The Oblivion gates and the Thieves Guild leave a mark. The faces and the enemy level scaling have aged poorly. But the adventure keeps a rare magic. For fans of open world role playing, this classic remains a must today.
