Summary
The Elder Scrollsis one of the most popular series of all time. These fantasy RPGs have sold millions of copies worldwide. One of the most beloved titles in the series,Oblivion, has seen new life from the community of mods. Players have spent hundreds of hours rearranging assets to enhance their adventures or craft entirely new ones.
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The fourthElder Scrollsentry,Oblivion, has been generous in this regard. Since the game’s release almost twenty years ago, fans have kept finding fresh ways to enjoy it. Some of these modsare so in-depth that they could function as their own titles. Not only could they serve as extensions toOblivion, but other franchises as well. As such, the modders should be commended.
5Wealdrest Village
As the title suggests,the Wealdrest modadds an entirely new village. That may sound like small potatoes in the grand scheme of things, but the detail on display surpasses some of the base game’s busiest places. The quaint town contains a wealth of NPCs–all devoted to their daily activities at the local farm and mine. They might also frequent a municipal hall, which houses various services. Players can buy goods orjoin one of the guilds, be it the Mages or Fighters Guild. For the icing on the cake, the administrator offers a mansion for sale. This place comes complete with two bedrooms, countless skill tomes, a shrine, a garden, loads of storage cases, and magic and alchemy stations.
The modder has crafted a bustling town dripping with blue-collar charm. The activities make it feel alive, and the local businesses provide everything an adventurer needs. Even the most daring heroes may be tempted to settle down. After all,theElder Scrollsgameshave far more to do than fight. Why not turnOblivioninto a village-life sim?
4Midas Magic Spells Of Aurum
Themagic systems inElder Scrollsgameshave always been serviceable yet rudimentary. Sure, they have basic elements–fire, ice, lightning, etc.–with a handful of ways to wield them. These are enough for general gameplay, but they somewhat undermine the vast history of sorcery that Tamriel supposedly has.
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Thankfully, this mod thumbs its nose at such basic magic tricks.Midas Magic Spells of Aurumexpands the spellcasting repertoire to an insane degree, sporting almost 300 new moves. In addition to channeling the aforementioned elements into beams or sprays, players can summon various objects to their aid. Finally, as per the title, they can turn people into gold like the cursed king of old. The pool of spells here is deeper than most full games, even ones specializing in sorcery. Discovering the depths of this system could provide hours of fresh entertainment.
3Knights Of The Nine: Revelation
ThoughRevelationexpands on theKnights of the NineDLC, it arguably sports better production values. The mod throws players into a sprawling journey where they must prevent the enslavement of mankind. This involves hunting down certain holy artifacts,many of which are customizable. Along the way, they meet numerous characters, visit various locales, and combat complex bosses. What’s more, is that it’s all set to an original score by Ronald Van Deurzen.
The whole package gives the impression of forging an epic crusader legend. It hearkens back to both the complex religious conflict of real-life Crusades and the global relic-hunting ofIndiana Jones, all while maintaining that distinctElder Scrollsflavor. LikeOblivion’s main campaign, it steeps its story in faith. This gives the set pieces and interactions a palpable weight. The quest may amount to a simple scavenger hunt, butit resonates more than the repeated dragon spectacles ofSkyrim.
2Anduril Reforged
Given its high fantasy roots, theElder Scrollsseries would naturally spawn aLord of the Ringsmod.Anduril Reforgedsees the eponymous sword spirited away in Tamriel.Aragorn might be a little lostwithout his weapon, but it makes a great reward for an engaging quest line. To find the Flame of the West, players must follow clues left by a mysterious scholar. Several of these mirror iconicLOTRvisuals, such as the massive Argonath statues. Because of the common genre, the style of these structures lets them settle organically into theOblivionsetting.
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The callbacks and blending of mythologies create a dream journey for film audiences and book readers alike. Plenty of Middle-earth games exist, but only a handful are truly exceptional. Except forThe Lord of the Rings Online, none offer an RPG experience remotely as deep asElder Scrolls. This mod answers that call with the passion of a lifelong Tolkien fan.
1Elsweyr: The Deserts Of Anequina
One of the biggest flaws inOblivion’s world design is its lack of variety. The vast majority of environments are temperate forests, rundown villages, or white stone structures. None of it is inherently bad, but it gets old after a while. That’s whythis mod goes to the other end of the spectrum.
Elsweyr: The Deserts of Anequinacreates a colossal desert that couldn’t be more different. It contains eerie dunes, rocky crags, sprawling savannahs, and scattered jungles. The biomes may seem uninhabitable, but the cities are built right into the land. The modder fills them with locals to talk to and quests to undertake. Throw in a fresh of batch mounts, items, and customization options, and players have an Arabian-esque wonder that oozes culture. To quoteAladdin, it’s a “whole new world.” That said, it’s just as easy to lose oneself in.
