Few Beat Oblivion Remastered's Main Quest - Why?

A month after launch, only a fraction of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered players have finished the main storyline – but that's exactly what developers expected. Fans are happily distracted by Cyrodiil's countless distractions.

Count me among them! Since diving into Oblivion Remastered after its surprise April 22 release, I've deliberately avoided progressing the central quest after delivering the Amulet of Kings. Instead, I've immersed myself in Fighters Guild missions, wilderness exploration, and dozens of side stories. Like one ingenious player, I've even attempted to breach the game's boundaries.

My hesitation isn't just about enjoying Oblivion's famously engaging side content (no spoilers here). It's also strategic – by postponing major story beats like the chaotic Kvatch siege, I'm managing my character's progression more carefully.

Play Your Way – That's the Bethesda Magic

Ultimately, I'll complete the main story when my curiosity outweighs my current distractions. Though with Bethesda games, there's no "correct" way to play – their brilliance lies in accommodating endless playstyles. The world persists whether you're saving the empire or arranging sweetrolls.

The community echoes this sentiment. Redditor MrCrispyFriedChicken perfectly captures the mindset: "I'm BUSY catching SLAUGHTERFISH in Lake Rumare." Others report spending 160+ hours without reaching Kvatch, deliberately hunting all 60 Oblivion Gates before progressing, or spending an in-game year avoiding Weynon Priory entirely.

Current completion stats reveal only 2.97% of Xbox players and 4.4% on Steam have finished the main quest – a disparity likely reflecting Game Pass sampling versus dedicated Steam purchases. Yet these figures align with industry norms – most games, from epic RPGs to brief shooters, see surprisingly low campaign completion rates.

The Nostalgia Factor

For Oblivion veterans, these numbers tell another story. Having conquered the main quest decades ago, many returning players prioritize rediscovering Cyrodiil's enhanced landscapes or creating new emergent gameplay moments – like one player's seven-hour book domino project.

Take Thaddeus122's experience: nearly 100 hours played without completing three main quests, yet他们已经征服了竞技场和法师公会。Their time? Spent meticulously closing gates, collecting nirnroots, avoiding fast travel, and curating their ideal Cyrodiil lifestyle.