Dragon’s Dogma 2 vs The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered

Two RPGs with very different ideas of freedom — one trusts you to wander into danger, the other lets you default to the main quest.

Updated 26d ago

Dragon’s Dogma 2 cover
Dragon’s Dogma 2 8.7/10 Strong

If you can forgive the original's quirks, DD2 holds up — patches fixed CPU performance and the microtransaction outrage was overblown (everything's findable in-game).

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered cover
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered 8.2/10 Strong

Shivering Isles and the Daedric questlines hold up 20 years on — but a stutter-riddled UE5 port and a year of dev silence make this one to wait for on sale.

By the numbers

Prices checked Sep 10; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.

Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Sep 10.

Measure Dragon’s Dogma 2 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
Value Dragon’s Dogma 2 wins on value
Price now $26.19 −35% · Fanatical $31.49 −37% · Fanatical
All-time low $10.88 $28.36
Cost / hour $0.83/hr $26.19 · 31 h main story $1.81/hr $31.49 · 17 h main story
Off its low +141% low was Oct 2025 +11% low was Nov 2025
Main story 31 h 17 h
Health Too close to call
Steam reviews 62% 117k reviews 75% 70k reviews
Recent reviews 71% 837 votes · vs 62% lifetime · improving 47% 354 votes · vs 75% lifetime · souring
Peak players 4,333 Aug 2026 · ↑ 5% MoM 2,940 Aug 2026 · ↑ 12% MoM
Launch peak 2% of Mar 2024 launch peak · as of Aug 2026
All-time peak 228,285 Mar 2024 140,837 May 2025 · now at 2%
Support
Last patch 3 weeks ago 15 months ago
Patch cadence 1 in last 90 days 0 in last 90 days
Steam Deck Silver Platinum

Shared scale — same months across the bottom, same player-count axis up the side, so the two lines are directly comparable. A shorter line means a younger game.

Dragon’s Dogma 2
Mar 2024 – Aug 2026
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
May 2025 – Aug 2026

What players say

Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.

Dragon’s Dogma 2

Love

The pawn system's emotional depth and banter drive 100+ hour journeys, making companions feel irreplaceable.

Struggle with

Performance drops and limited enemy variety frustrate long-haul players, though dedicated fans anticipate the DLC.

from our May 2026 verdict

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered

Love

The quest design and world charm hold up over 100 hours — the Shivering Isles and Daedric questlines are what veterans replay.

Struggle with

The stutter and crash-riddled UE5 port is the wall long-time players hit, made worse by a year of silence from the devs.

from our August 2026 verdict

Key differences

World navigation
DD2's 31-hour main story is a sandbox with a loose thread, urging detours and emergent pawn-led exploration.
Oblivion Remastered's 17-hour main story is a guided tour through Cyrodiil's handcrafted zones.
Technical polish
Capcom patched CPU issues and listed only 1 update in 90 days, but Steam sits at 62% positive.
A stutter-riddled UE5 port with no patches in 90 days and muted launch week makes it a wait-for-sale title.
Quest structure
DD2's quests are opaque, mechanic-first systems—almost no handholding, few map markers.
Oblivion's Daedric questlines shine as curated storytelling, even if the port's performance overshadows them.

Which one is for you?

Pick Dragon’s Dogma 2 if

  • You want a long, self-directed adventure with pawn companions and deep, active combat.
  • You're a fan of the original's exploration philosophy and don't need top-tier cinematics.
  • You want good value: under $1 per hour of main story on sale.

Pick The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered if

  • You prefer a shorter, more linear main quest at 17 hours, leaving time for side content.
  • You're nostalgic for Oblivion's questlines and don't mind modding to fix glitches.
  • You want a visual upgrade of a classic rather than a new gameplay system.

Bottom line

If you crave a sprawling, mechanic-driven RPG and can tolerate rough edges, Dragon's Dogma 2 is the pick. If you want a classic quest experience and can wait for a patch, Oblivion Remastered fits.

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