It's been 18 years, but Oblivion can still find as many ways to surprise me as Skyrim – even if it means making an orc-vampire monstrosity

GamesRPGThe Elder ScrollsThe Elder Scrolls IV: OblivionIt’s been 18 years, but Oblivion can still find as many ways to surprise me as Skyrim – even if it means making an orc-vampire monstrosityWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. GamesRPGThe Elder ScrollsThe Elder Scrolls IV: OblivionIt’s been 18 years, but Oblivion can still find as many ways to surprise me as Skyrim – even if it means making an orc-vampire monstrosityWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Bethesda Softworks) But largely, this playthrough is all about being a big raging barbarian – the only build I’m yet to complete Oblivion with – and giving me another excuse to play through Bethesda’s greatest RPG to date. Criminal scum (Image credit: Bethesda Softworks) What’s next?(Image credit: Bethesda)It’s a long way off, but here’s everything we know aboutThe Elder Scrolls 6 What’s next? (Image credit: Bethesda)It’s a long way off, but here’s everything we know aboutThe Elder Scrolls 6 (Image credit: Bethesda) It’s a long way off, but here’s everything we know aboutThe Elder Scrolls 6 Likeour own Heather Wald’s return to Skyrim, I returned to Oblivion off the back of Starfield: Shattered Space. Though I wasinitially hot on the DLC, it ultimately didn’t manage to sink its hooks into me. But it did leave me pining for more Bethesda – and where better to get my fix than Oblivion? It’s my all-time favorite game from the studio, warts and all. While it lacksSkyrim’s polish and hand-crafted dungeons, its armor and magic systems – which let you create your own wildly unbalanced spells – remain far more in-depth. I love how unique each city feels, and its quests remain some of Bethesda’s best. Most important though, I adore the way that time has caught Oblivion in amber. Its small handful of voice actors, almost-watercolor forests, and odd-looking characters have become strangely comforting as nearly two decades of technological advancements have marched games toward realism, leaving Oblivion with arguably more character than it had in its heyday. This is why it’s so important for me to keep finding new ways into Oblivion – hence, Chill David. But old habits die hard, and although I fled the Imperial Sewers like some sort of freshly-unearthed cryptid, I fell into the same routine I always do. First, a trip to Imperial City’s Arena, to make a name for Chill David (and make some much-needed gold). Combat in Oblivion has all the texture of beating a gammon joint with a hammer, but working through the ranks to become Grand Champion is sweetly nostalgic. (Image credit: Bethesda Softworks) Alas, poor Grey Prince! Becoming Grand Champion has never felt so hollow. Just as Chill David found an Orc as strange-looking as himself, he was torn away (see: bludgeoned to death). But if anything, it revealed the path ahead: if the Grey Prince was so pale due to vampirism, it made sense to seek out a way for Chill David to become the creature of the night he was always destined to become. Luckily, that proved fairly straight-forward. If you complete the Grey Prince’s quest and kill him in the arena, Oblivion considers it murder, which conveniently is all you need to be headhunted (not likethat) for the Dark Brotherhood. When the Brotherhood’s creepy leader Lucian Lachance later appears at my bedside, I leap at his offer: partly because Chill David’s time in the Arena has unleashed his natural born killer, but mainly because the Dark Brotherhood’s quest line provides a surefire way to becoming a vampire. Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more (Image credit: Bethesda Softworks) When those three days end, tragedy strikes. Upon waking up as a vampire, elation turns to dismay as I discover that Valtieri’s “dark gift” – through reasons known only to Oblivion’s wild Creation Engine – has transformed Chill David’s luminous skin tone to a regular, orc-y green. The whole reason I wanted to become undead, to find companionship in the Grey Prince’s own corpse-pale pallor, is gone. Things go downhill. I start snacking on refugees from Kvatch to keep up appearances, and for the first time, play most of Oblivion’s main quest at night to avoid the sun’s glare. Is this really what Chill David pictured his life becoming? (Image credit: Bethesda Softworks) But secretly, I’m delighted. I specifically returned to Oblivion and made an orc in the hopes that I’d see the game from a new light, and I did. I had no idea, for example, how many orcs have unique dialogue if you’re playing as their kin. I can honestly say that playing a heavy-footed, warhammer-swinging vampire is something I’ve never done before, while working around characters' nightly schedules (and yes, finding time to suck their blood) is a massive shake-up to the sunlit routines I’m used to. I don’t know what the future holds for Chill David, but I’m thrilled that Oblivion can still find new ways to surprise me after playing for hundreds of hours. It’s a deeply unpredictable gem that I wouldn’t have Bethesda “polish” or remaster for any amount of money – and when I inevitably next return to Skyrim, you can bet I’ll be making the strangest cretin imaginable in hopes of history repeating itself. 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wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 1 Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”