Oblivion Remastered: Why Players Skip the Main Quest for Side Adventures

One month post-launch, only a fraction of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered players have finished the main questline. This isn’t shocking for a game like this—fans are too engrossed in side activities to focus on the core story.

I’m one of those fans! Since the game’s surprise release on April 22, I’ve been immersed in Oblivion Remastered. After exiting the sewers and delivering the Amulet of Kings to Jauffre at Weynon Priory, I’ve ignored the main quest entirely. Instead, I’ve joined the Fighters Guild, roamed Cyrodiil, and tackled countless side quests. I even tried escaping the map’s boundaries, like one bold player succeeded in doing.

Why the detour? Oblivion’s side quests are incredibly engaging (no story spoilers here), and I’m deliberately avoiding the main quest’s tougher moments, like Kvatch, while keeping my leveling slow.

I’ll keep exploring Oblivion until I’m ready to tackle the main story properly. But with a Bethesda game like this, is there even a “proper” way to play? That’s what makes it brilliant—you play your way, and it still feels seamless.

Other players agree. “I’m caught up hunting SLAUGHTERFISH in Lake Rumare,” said redditor MrCrispyFriedChicken, reacting to the low completion stats for Oblivion Remastered’s main questline.

“I’ve logged 160 hours, and Kvatch is still on hold,” Roffear shared. “I love the Oblivion gates, so I’m waiting to close all 60 in my world before finishing the main quest,” Ellert0 added. “After 44 hours and a full in-game year, I haven’t even reached Weynon Priory,” PlayaHatinIG-88 admitted. “Those Kvatch guards never had a shot.”

As of this article’s publication, only 2.97% of Xbox players and 4.4% of Steam players have completed Oblivion Remastered’s main questline. The gap likely stems from Xbox’s Game Pass, where players may try the game briefly before moving on, while Steam players, who purchased it outright, are more committed.

Despite over 4 million players, Oblivion Remastered’s completion rate remains low. Most video games, from sprawling 100-hour RPGs like Oblivion to short campaigns like Call of Duty, see low completion rates. Many players drop off after the tutorial or an hour of play—gamers can be a fickle bunch.

For Oblivion Remastered, the stats may be skewed since it’s a remaster of a beloved classic. Players who completed the original main quest 20 years ago might skip it now, favoring the enhanced visuals and new features. One player even spent seven hours arranging books for a perfect Dominoes-style chain reaction.

Thaddeus122, nearly 100 hours in, hasn’t touched three main quests but has conquered the Arena and Mages Guild. The rest of their time? “Leveling up, earning gold for houses, closing Oblivion gates, chasing Nirnroot, and tackling small quests. Oh, and I never fast travel.”

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