Few Finish Oblivion Remaster Main Story

A month after its release, a small fraction of players have finished the main story in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. Yet, for a game of this nature, that’s hardly surprising—fans are reporting they’re simply too engrossed in other pursuits.

Count me among those fans. I’ve been immersed in Oblivion Remastered since its unexpected launch on April 22. After escaping the sewers and delivering the Amulet of Kings to Jauffre at Weynon Priory, I’ve tackled everything except the central narrative. I’ve enlisted with the Fighters Guild, traversed Cyrodiil, and completed numerous side missions. I even attempted to force my way beyond the map’s boundaries, mirroring a feat accomplished by another player.

Why this approach? The side quests in Oblivion are tremendously enjoyable (I’ll avoid story spoilers here), but I’m also deliberately postponing the main quest—and its potentially challenging segments like Kvatch—while keeping character progression to a modest pace.

So, I’ve chosen to simply savor Oblivion until I feel ready to engage with the primary storyline. Though, is there ever a "correct" way to play a Bethesda title like this? Their brilliance lies in that freedom—you pursue your interests at your own pace, and the world remains compelling.

It appears many others are adopting the same strategy. “I’m OCCUPIED with OTHER ACTIVITIES, like scouring Lake Rumare for SLAUGHTERFISH,” remarked the aptly named Reddit user MrCrispyFriedChicken in reaction to the completion statistics for Oblivion Remastered’s main quest.

“I’ve logged 160 hours and Kvatch still awaits me,” added Roffear. “I’m one of those oddballs who actually enjoys the Oblivion gates, so I deliberately avoid concluding the main quest until I’ve located and sealed all 60 gates in my playthrough,” shared Ellert0. “Forty-four hours and a full in-game year later, I haven’t even reached Weynon Priory,” said PlayaHatinIG-88. “Those unfortunate Kvatch city guards never stood a chance.”

At the time of writing, a mere 2.97% of players on Xbox had completed Oblivion Remastered’s main quest, with a slightly higher 4.4% on Steam. What accounts for the disparity? Likely, Xbox figures include Game Pass, where some players may have sampled the remaster before moving on. Steam players, having purchased the game outright, are presumably more committed.

Regardless, it remains a low completion rate for Oblivion Remastered, which has already attracted over 4 million players. In reality, most video games exhibit surprisingly low campaign completion rates, whether it’s an epic, 100-hour open-world RPG like Oblivion Remastered or a concise five-hour narrative like Call of Duty. Many titles also see a significant drop-off after the first hour or following the tutorial. Such is the unpredictable nature of gaming audiences.

For Oblivion Remastered, the statistics might be further skewed because it’s a refreshed version of a cherished game that many players completed years ago. If you finished Oblivion’s main quest two decades prior, you might feel less compelled to revisit it now, preferring instead to admire the enhanced visuals and updated features. Or, as one dedicated player demonstrated, spend seven hours meticulously arranging books to achieve the perfect domino chain reaction.

Thaddeus122 noted they were nearly 100 hours in and hadn’t completed even three main quests. They had, however, conquered the Arena and the Mages Guild. And the remainder of their time? “Leveling up, earning money for property, closing every Oblivion gate, the Nirnroot quest, and a host of minor tasks. Honestly, I also avoid fast travel entirely.”

Have You Completed the Main Questline in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered?

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