When Bethesda unveiled Oblivion Remastered earlier this week, my jaw nearly hit the floor. The iconic 2006 journey through Tamriel, once characterized by its quirky, potato-faced characters and blurry, low-resolution grasslands, has now transformed into the most visually stunning entry in the Elder Scrolls series to date. Having been accustomed to subpar remasters like Mass Effect Legendary Edition and Dark Souls Remastered, which barely differ from their Xbox 360 counterparts, witnessing the Imperial City reborn in Unreal Engine 5 with ray tracing was nothing short of a revelation. Not only that, but the game boasts enhancements in combat, RPG mechanics, and numerous other details. Given these upgrades, I initially questioned whether Bethesda and developer Virtuos had mislabeled it. Should it not be called Oblivion Remake instead of a remaster?

It turns out I wasn't the only one pondering this. Many fans and even Bruce Nesmith, a senior designer from the original Oblivion team, have argued that the term "remaster" might not fully encapsulate the extent of the transformation. However, after spending several hours with the game, it's clear that Oblivion Remastered may look like a remake but plays like a remaster.

The reasons why Oblivion appears to be a remake are straightforward: Virtuos has meticulously redesigned every single asset from scratch. From trees and swords to crumbling castles, everything you see on screen is brand new. This overhaul ensures that Oblivion meets contemporary graphical standards with stunning textures, breathtaking lighting, and a revamped physics system that makes every arrow and weapon strike feel impactful. While the NPCs remain familiar from 2006, their models have been entirely recreated. This isn't about recreating something that "looks like you remember" but rather about achieving excellence by 2025 standards. If I had seen this before the remaster rumors, I might have mistaken it for The Elder Scrolls 6.

Yet, it's not just the visuals that have been upgraded. Combat mechanics have been refined, making swinging a longsword feel less like battling with a balloon. The third-person camera now includes a functional reticule, and all menus, from the quest journal to lockpicking and persuasion minigames, have been modernized. The original, often criticized leveling system has been replaced with a more intuitive hybrid of Oblivion and Skyrim's approaches. Plus, players can now sprint. With such extensive visual and gameplay enhancements, it's tempting to categorize it as a remake.

However, the distinction between remakes and remasters remains murky. Industry standards for these terms are loosely defined, and publishers use them interchangeably. For instance, Rockstar's "Definitive Edition" remasters of the Grand Theft Auto trilogy are essentially upscaled versions of the original PlayStation 2 games, while the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, also labeled a remaster, features entirely new assets and looks like a modern game. Meanwhile, remakes like Bluepoint's Shadow of the Colossus and Demon's Souls are rebuilt from the ground up but remain faithful to the originals. Resident Evil 2 redesigns the gameplay while sticking to the original structure, and Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth significantly alter the design, script, and story. These examples highlight the varied interpretations of what constitutes a remake.

Traditionally, a game rebuilt from scratch in a modern engine was considered a remake, while remasters were seen as more limited upgrades within the original framework. This definition is increasingly outdated. A more fitting classification today might define remasters as graphical overhauls that preserve the original game's design with minor gameplay enhancements, while remakes completely redesign the game. Under this definition, Demon's Souls and Metal Gear Solid: Delta might be reclassified as remasters, reserving the term "remake" for games that truly reinvent the original.

New lighting, fur, and metallic effects are just the tip of the iceberg of Oblivion Remastered's changes. Image credit: Bethesda / Virtuos

So, is this new version of Oblivion a remake or a remaster? After playing, it's evident that Oblivion Remastered is aptly named. Although the new assets and Unreal Engine 5 ray tracing give it a fresh appearance, the underlying structure remains rooted in the 2000s. As Bethesda stated, "We looked at every part and carefully upgraded it. But most of all, we never wanted to change the core. It’s still a game from a previous era and should feel like one."

The essence of that era permeates the game. It's evident in the loading screens behind every door, the perplexing persuasion minigame that remains disjointed despite its interface upgrade, and the simplistic city designs that resemble theatre sets more than real cities. The NPCs still move awkwardly and converse with the charm of a rudimentary AI. Even the combat, despite significant improvements, retains a sense of detachment. And the game's bugs and glitches, preserved in homage to the original's quirky charm, are still present.

Comparing Oblivion Remastered to Obsidian's Avowed, which showcases modern combat and exploration mechanics, underscores how Oblivion feels like a relic. Yet, Oblivion Remastered still holds value in 2025. Its world retains a magical allure, with its expansive fields reminiscent of Rohan, filled with mysteries and oddities. Its ambitious elements, like the dynamic goblin wars and engaging quest structure, remain compelling even two generations later. The old-school player freedom feels refreshing amidst today's more guided gaming experiences. However, the game's finer details—its dialogue, system interconnectivity, and level design—clearly show their age. A true remake would have modernized these aspects, but Oblivion Remastered is about reliving the past.

Oblivion Remastered is precisely what it claims to be, and this should not diminish its accomplishments. Rather than debating whether it's a remake, we should celebrate it as a benchmark for remasters from other major AAA studios. This is the level of quality that Mass Effect Legendary Edition and Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy should have aspired to. Oblivion Remastered is a testament to passionate craftsmanship and loving preservation, and it stands as a shining example of what a remaster should be.