The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered vs The Outer Worlds 2
One revives a 20-year-old world with visual polish; the other pushes Obsidian's sharpest writing — the choice hinges on whether you value exploration or dialogue.
Updated 26d ago
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.
Obsidian writing is back at full peak — Outer Worlds 2 sharpens what the first game whispered, with companions and corporate satire that finally feel essential.
By the numbers
Prices checked Sep 8; 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 8.
| Measure | The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered | The Outer Worlds 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Value The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered wins on value | ||
| Price now | $31.49 −37% · Fanatical | $69.99 Steam |
| All-time low | $28.36 | $34.99 |
| Cost / hour | $1.81/hr $31.49 · 17 h main story | $3.78/hr $69.99 · 18 h main story |
| Off its low | +11% low was Nov 2025 | +100% low was Jun 2026 |
| Main story | 17 h | 18 h |
| Health Too close to call | ||
| Steam reviews | 75% 70k reviews | 74% 9k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 47% 354 votes · vs 75% lifetime · souring | 72% 89 votes · vs 74% lifetime |
| Peak players | 2,940 Aug 2026 · ↑ 12% MoM | 651 Aug 2026 · ↓ 49% MoM |
| All-time peak | 140,837 May 2025 · now at 2% | 18,187 Nov 2025 · now at 4% |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 15 months ago | 2 months ago |
| Patch cadence | 0 in last 90 days | 2 in last 90 days |
| Steam Deck | Platinum | Gold |
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.
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
The quest design and world charm hold up over 100 hours — the Shivering Isles and Daedric questlines are what veterans replay.
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
The Outer Worlds 2
The witty satire, memorable characters, and goofy tone keep players engaged for hundreds of hours.
Frequent fatal crashes and unstable saves after patches plague long-term playthroughs.
from our May 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered if
- You want a vast, open world to wander without quest markers leading you by the nose.
- You're fine fixing performance through mods—you already do that in Skyrim.
- You loved the original and want its quests with modern visuals.
Pick The Outer Worlds 2 if
- You play for character relationships and banter that react to your choices.
- You appreciate satire with a light touch and don't need FPS-precision gunplay.
- You want an 18-hour story that respects your time, not a 100-hour sandbox.
Bottom line
Choose Oblivion Remastered if you crave a seamless open world and can mod around its stutters; pick Outer Worlds 2 for sharper writing, active patching, and a tighter arc.