Few Players Finish Oblivion Remastered Main Storyline Amid Side Quest Distractions

One month after its release, only a tiny fraction of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered players have wrapped up the central narrative. In a game of this scope, though, that's hardly unexpected—fans report getting lost in countless other adventures.

Count me in that group! I've been immersed in Oblivion Remastered since its surprise arrival on April 22. Right after escaping the sewers and delivering the Amulet of Kings to Jauffre at Weynon Priory, I've tackled just about everything except the core plot. I've signed up with the Fighters Guild, roamed across Cyrodiil, and knocked out plenty of secondary tasks. I've even pushed to break beyond the map edges, like another gamer pulled off.

Why hold back? The side stories in Oblivion deliver pure excitement (no spoilers here), but I'm also steering clear of the main path—and its tougher spots, such as Kvatch—for now, while easing up on rapid character growth.

That's why I've chosen to savor Oblivion until curiosity pulls me back to the essentials. But with a Bethesda creation like this, is there ever a right way to proceed? That's part of its magic. Dive into whatever catches your eye, whenever it suits you, and the world keeps turning.

Plenty of others share this approach. “I'm caught up chasing slaughterfish around Lake Rumare,” shared the cleverly nicknamed Redditor MrCrispyFriedChicken, reacting to the low finish rates for Oblivion Remastered's primary arc.

“I've logged 160 hours, and Kvatch remains untouched,” noted Roffear. “I actually enjoy tackling Oblivion gates, so I hold off on the finale until I've tracked down and sealed all 60 in my playthrough,” explained Ellert0. “After 44 hours and a full in-game year, I still haven't reached Weynon Priory,” added PlayaHatinIG-88. “Those Kvatch guards were doomed from the start.”

As this piece goes live, just 2.97% have conquered the main quest on Xbox, edging up to 4.4% on Steam. The gap? Likely tied to Xbox Game Pass, where casual tries lead to quick drop-offs. Steam users, having purchased outright, tend to commit deeper.

Top Races Ranked in Oblivion

Regardless, those figures stay modest for Oblivion Remastered, which has drawn over four million participants so far. Truth be told, most titles see slim story completion numbers, from sprawling 100-hour epics like this to brief campaigns in games like Call of Duty. Many players drift away shortly after starting or right past the intro. Gamers can be unpredictable that way.

For this remaster, the data might tilt because it's a fresh take on a classic that longtime fans already conquered years ago. If you beat Oblivion's key events two decades back, replaying them might not appeal—instead, soak in the enhanced graphics and tweaks. Or, like one dedicated soul, invest seven hours arranging books for a perfect domino cascade.

Thaddeus122 mentioned nearing 100 hours without advancing past three main missions. They did, however, triumph in the Arena and Mages Guild. The rest? “Building levels, earning gold for properties, shutting every Oblivion gate, pursuing the Nirnroot hunt, and handling minor errands. Plus, I skip fast travel entirely.”