Few Finish Oblivion Remastered's Main Story

One month after release, only a small fraction of players have finished the main story in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered - but that's completely normal for this type of game. Most fans admit they're too immersed in everything else the game offers to focus on the central narrative.

Count me among them! Since the surprise April 22nd launch, I've logged dozens of hours in Tamriel - delivering the Amulet of Kings to Jauffre was the last main quest objective I completed. Since then, I've joined the Fighters Guild, roamed throughout Cyrodiil, and tackled numerous side adventures. I even attempted to break through the game's boundaries like that one enterprising player did.

What's my motivation? The side content is simply too engaging (no spoilers here), but there's strategy too - I'm deliberately postponing main quest elements like the notorious Kvatch siege while keeping my character's level progression modest.

In truth, I'm savoring Oblivion until the moment I feel compelled to "properly" engage with the main storyline. Though with a Bethesda masterpiece like this, is there really a "proper" way to play? That's the genius of these games - complete freedom to craft your own adventure while the world seamlessly adapts.

This approach clearly resonates with many players. "I'm too BUSY doing OTHER THINGS like SLAUGHTERFISH hunting in Lake Rumare," Reddit user MrCrispyFriedChicken humorously commented regarding the low completion statistics.

Other players echo this sentiment: "160 hours logged and Kvatch still awaits" (Roffear), "I deliberately postpone the main quest to close all 60 Oblivion Gates first" (Ellert0), and "44 real hours (+1 in-game year) without even visiting Weynon Priory" (PlayaHatinIG-88).

Current metrics show only 2.97% of Xbox players and 4.4% on Steam have seen the credits roll. The disparity likely stems from Game Pass users sampling the remaster versus committed Steam purchasers. Still remarkably low for a game with over 4 million players.

This completion rate phenomenon isn't unique to Oblivion. Most games - whether sprawling 100-hour RPGs or concise 5-hour campaigns - struggle to retain players beyond initial hours. Gaming habits can be notably fickle.

The remaster's situation carries additional context. Many veterans already completed the original, prioritizing graphical enhancements and rediscovering side content over retreading the main quest. Some creative souls dedicate hours to pursuits like perfecting book domino chains rather than saving Tamriel.

Redditor Thaddeus122 exemplifies this approach: nearing 100 hours without touching three main quests, yet having conquered the Arena, Mages Guild, Nirnroot hunt, and dozens of gates - all while eschewing fast travel for total immersion.

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