The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered was shadow-dropped out of nowhere after years of rumors and speculations. While it is a flashier and shinier version of the original, a few wrinkles still need to be ironed out.
Fortunately, the modding community works fast and has released a handful of mods that can improve the base game and offer a definitive experience.
11. Ultimate Engine Tweaks for Oblivion Remastered
It is rare to see a big-budget video game released without any bugs or performance issues, and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered has few noticeable ones. Some players have noticed a few stutters, inconsistent picture quality, and many more problems. The Ultimate Engine Tweaks mod has one simple goal: to solve all performance issues.
Other players have complained about broken NPCs who play pivotal roles in main quests and the world map succumbing to complete darkness. This mod addresses most problems and performance issues, and allows players to explore Cryodiil without being an eyesore.
10. Better Reticle
Players will be fighting a handful of enemies in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, and some can be defeated from afar. While the game has a built-in crosshair, it isn’t the best in the world or a video game. The Better Reticle mod is a step up from what was originally featured, and it will benefit players who prefer to deal ranged damage.
9. More Enemies
While there is no shortage of enemies in Cryodiil, players can defeat them just as easily, especially once they acquire better loot. Some would prefer to take on a larger group for a much more action-packed experience that the remaster couldn’t deliver in earnest, and this mod can scratch that itch by increasing the enemy count.
This mod is for players interested in the combat side of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, and to see how much it has improved over the vanilla or default setting.
8. Weightless Items
While the developers opted for an immersive experience as the player character gets slowed down by the weight of the items on their person, the Weightless Items mod removes the weight and makes even the heaviest item light as a feather. Players can move freely and fast, even with all that hardware on them, and this can trim down travel time or increase their chances of winning a fight.
7. Automatic Lockpicking
Lockpicking is a minigame that can take a while to complete, but this mod completely removes the minigame and grants players access to whatever is on the other side. While the minigame is not difficult, it can take up time and not everyone has a few hours to spare exploring Cryodiil. This mod can save players time and get what they need.
It is worth noting that this mod will work regardless of your characters’ security skill, meaning any lock is up for grabs.
6. Additional Map Markers
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is as big as the original game, but it only looks better and is optimized for modern gaming consoles. The gaming community can spend hours exploring every square inch of Cryodiil to unearth secrets and accomplish side quests; however, they can get lost after being sidetracked.
This mod can highlight other points of interest that were not marked on the map by default. The best part about an open-world game is that the environment feels alive and reacts to player activity, but it can be easy to get lost. Players will not have any trouble retracing their steps with this mod installed.
5. No Item Degradation
Bethesda Game Studios strived to make an immersive open-world experience set in a fictional world, and one way to keep players on the edge of their seats is to monitor the quality of their items. Whatever they have in their inventory can degrade, and they will not be as effective as they used to be, including weapons. This mod removes the degradation system, and this can be a thorn removed from players’ throats.
4. More Damage
This mod can give seasoned players an extra challenge since every damage delivered by any weapon has been increased. While this can benefit newcomers to take on harder enemies, it also puts them at a disadvantage for being too weak and susceptible to incoming attacks.
On the bright side, if a player isn’t really interested or has the time to invest in a long fight encounter, they can just raise the white flag and take a hit to get it over with.
3. Guaranteed Magic Experience
In the base game, magic attacks can deal impressive damage, that is, if the attack makes contact with the target. Players can gain experience points if their attacks connect with the intended target; however, they will not get anything if they miss. The system rewards players for their pinpoint accuracy, but the effort should still be rewarded in kind.
This mod will grant players magic experience even if their attacks fail to hit the target. While the rewards for hitting targets are decent, this mod will grant players half of them as compensation.
2. Alternative Sprint
The open environment of Cryodiil will encourage you to brave the wild outdoors on foot or explore nearby towns to conduct transactions with vendors. While the player character’s speed will greatly depend on what item they have on their person, this new running animation improves the way players run and allows them to go faster. It is a simple mod that changes one key feature, but it can go a long way.
1. Horse Whistle
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is a massive open-world sandbox, and it can take a while to get from point A to B on foot, even with the new running animation mod installed. Fortunately, players can summon a horse and whistle to get its attention to follow them around.
For more Thumb Wars coverage, check out how long it will take to beat The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, and how the shadow drop of Oblivion Remastered didn’t sway fans from trying Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Otherwise, follow Thumb Wars on X, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram to keep up with the latest news, reviews, and interviews!
Rouvin Josef Quirimit is a Content Writer, an avid gamer (on his PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch), and film enthusiast. He was fortunate to grow up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe and was enamored by the storytelling of a shared universe full of heart and spectacle. His love for movies led him to great single-player games and he intends to cover major franchises for years to come!
