The release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered marked a significant milestone for fans of Cyrodiil. Developed using Unreal Engine 5, this remaster provides a massive visual overhaul while maintaining the original Gamebryo systems underneath. For many players, the primary question isn't just about the grass textures or the lighting, but about the content—specifically, the extensive list of DLCs that defined the original experience. As of April 2026, the game has stabilized through several major updates, making it the definitive way to experience the fourth chapter of the Elder Scrolls saga.

Oblivion Remastered follows the modern industry standard by bundling almost everything from the original 2006-2007 run into the base package. Whether you are looking for the sprawling madness of the Shivering Isles or the infamous Horse Armor, the content is there. However, the introduction of a "Deluxe Edition" has added a few wrinkles to the package that players need to understand before diving back into the Imperial City.

The Expansion Titans: Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine

The two major expansions are the backbone of the Oblivion Remastered content suite. Both are included in the standard edition and are accessible relatively early in a playthrough.

Shivering Isles: The Realm of Madness

Located on a strange island in Niben Bay, just east of Bravil, the Shivering Isles remains one of the most celebrated expansions in RPG history. In the remaster, the transition from the lush, green forests of Cyrodiil to the surreal, bio-luminescent landscapes of Mania and Dementia is more jarring than ever, thanks to Unreal Engine 5’s Lumen lighting.

The Shivering Isles offers roughly 30 hours of gameplay. You serve as the champion of Sheogorath, the Daedric Prince of Madness, as he prepares for the Greymarch—an event where the forces of Order attempt to reset his realm. The remaster handles the dual nature of the Isles beautifully; the vibrant, saturated colors of Mania contrast sharply with the swampy, decayed aesthetic of Dementia. Mechanically, the expansion functions exactly as it did in 2007, featuring the same branching paths and unique crafting materials like Amber and Madness Ore, though the physics of the Gateway's transformation have been polished to eliminate the clipping issues common in the original.

Knights of the Nine: A Holy Crusade

Unlike the Shivering Isles, which takes you to a new map, Knights of the Nine is integrated directly into the world of Cyrodiil. This expansion centers on the return of the sorcerer-king Umaril the Unfeathered. To defeat him, you must embark on a pilgrimage to recover the Relics of the Divine Crusader—a set of armor and weapons once wielded by Pelinal Whitestrake.

The remaster emphasizes the "pilgrim" aspect of this questline. Following the shrines of the Nine Divines across the wilderness is a great way to see the new Nanite-powered terrain. The questline also introduces the Knights of the Nine faction, allowing you to rebuild a holy order from the ground up. It’s worth noting that the Infamy system remains strict here; committing crimes will still make you unworthy to wear the relics, forcing another pilgrimage to repent.

The Specialized Player Homes: The Four Lairs

One of the highlights of the Oblivion DLC catalog is the set of themed player homes. Each caters to a specific playstyle (Warrior, Mage, Thief, Assassin) and includes unique upgrades and utility features. These are all included in the standard remaster and trigger as quests shortly after you leave the Imperial Prison tutorial.

Frostcrag Spire (The Wizard’s Tower)

Perched high in the Jerall Mountains, north of Bruma, Frostcrag Spire is the ultimate sanctuary for magic-users. The remaster’s draw distance makes the view from the balcony breathtaking. The tower includes a laboratory for alchemy, an altar for spell-making and enchanting (bypassing the need for Mages Guild membership), and a unique indoor garden for rare ingredients. You must purchase the various upgrades, such as the laboratory and the vault, from Aurelinwae at the Mystic Emporium in the Imperial City.

Battlehorn Castle (The Fighter’s Stronghold)

Located west of Chorrol, Battlehorn Castle is a massive fortress that you earn by defending it from a marauder siege. It’s a classic knight’s fantasy, complete with a private forge, a trophy room for stuffing monsters you’ve killed, and a personal chef. The UE5 engine does an excellent job with the castle’s stonework and interior shadows. It remains the most spacious player home in the game.

Deepscorn Hollow (The Vile Lair)

For those playing as vampires or members of the Dark Brotherhood, Deepscorn Hollow provides a secluded underwater base south of Leyawiin. It features a "Font of Renewal" to cure vampirism and a "Purge Cell" for feeding. The underwater entrance is particularly immersive now, with improved water effects and light refraction making the hidden door feel truly secret.

Dunbarrow Cove (The Thieves Den)

Tucked away in a cavern beneath the castle in Anvil, Dunbarrow Cove is a pirate hideout. Once you clear out the undead inhabitants, you can hire a crew of smugglers and thieves who will sell you specialized gear and even fence stolen goods. The remaster preserves the questline to upgrade the cove, which turns it from a damp cave into a bustling underground port.

Miscellaneous Quests and Artifacts

Beyond the major expansions and houses, several smaller DLCs are bundled into the core game. These provide some of the best loot and lore-heavy moments in Cyrodiil.

  • Mehrunes' Razor: This takes you into Sundercliff Watch, a massive multi-level dungeon that is arguably one of the most challenging in the game. At the end lies the legendary dagger, which has a small chance to instantly kill any opponent. The dungeon’s scale and the underground city of Varsa Baalim showcase the remaster's ability to handle complex interior environments without the loading screens that plagued the 2006 version.
  • The Orrery: Located within the Arcane University, this quest involves helping Bothiel repair the Great Orrery. Completing it grants you the ability to gain temporary buffs based on the phases of the moons. It’s a short quest, but the visual of the rotating machinery in Unreal Engine 5 is a technical highlight.
  • Spell Tomes: This is a passive DLC that adds rare books to the world's loot tables. Reading these tomes teaches you powerful spells. In the remaster, these have been balanced slightly to ensure you don't find high-level spells too early, maintaining the game's progression curve.
  • Horse Armor: The meme that started it all is included for free in the base game. You can visit the Chestnut Handy Stables outside the Imperial City to equip your horse with either Elven or Steel armor. It provides a decent health boost to your mount, which is more useful now given that the remaster’s AI makes wildlife slightly more aggressive.

The 2025 Deluxe Edition: Is the Upgrade Worth It?

While the Standard Edition of Oblivion Remastered includes all the 2006-2007 content, Bethesda introduced a "Deluxe Edition Upgrade" (priced at $9.99 for those who own the base game). This edition contains brand-new content specifically developed for the remaster. If you are a completionist, this is where the new experience lies.

The Akatosh and Mehrunes Dagon Quests

The Deluxe Edition adds two significant questlines that reward players with high-tier equipment. The first is a quest to obtain a suit of armor inspired by Akatosh, the Dragon God of Time. This armor provides massive resistance to fire and magic, essentially acting as a legendary tier of plate mail. The second quest involves a descent into a pocket of the Deadlands to retrieve armor and weapons themed after Mehrunes Dagon himself.

These quests are integrated seamlessly into the world, often involving ancient ruins that have been expanded for the remaster. The armor sets themselves utilize high-resolution PBR (Physically Based Rendering) materials, making them look significantly more detailed than the standard glass or daedric sets.

Digital Extras

In addition to the in-game content, the Deluxe Edition includes a digital art book and a soundtrack app. The art book is particularly interesting for fans of game development, as it showcases the concept art used to translate the original 2006 aesthetic into the 2025 Unreal Engine 5 visuals. The soundtrack includes the original Jeremy Soule scores, remastered for higher fidelity.

Technical Enhancements and Balance Changes

Playing the DLCs in the remaster isn't just about the visuals; the gameplay has seen several "quality of life" adjustments that affect how you approach this content.

Level Scaling Fixes

One of the biggest complaints about the original Oblivion was the level scaling, where every bandit would eventually be wearing high-end Glass or Daedric armor. The remaster has implemented a "bounded" scaling system. DLC areas like Sundercliff Watch now have specific level ranges. If you enter too early, it will be incredibly difficult, but the rewards will remain high-tier, encouraging players to return when they are stronger rather than scaling the world down to their level.

The Sprint Mechanic

Cyrodiil is vast, and the remaster finally adds a dedicated sprint button that consumes stamina. This makes exploring the islands of the Shivering Isles or the Jerall Mountains much more fluid. Combined with the improved draw distance, the sense of exploration is greatly enhanced.

Performance and Stability (2026 Update)

At launch in 2025, players reported stuttering and frame-time issues, particularly in the dense foliage of the Great Forest. However, as of patch v1.2 (and subsequent minor updates through early 2026), the game runs much more smoothly on PC and current-gen consoles. The "Frostcrag Spire container bug," which famously ate players' items in the original, has been officially patched out. Most players can now expect a stable 60 FPS at 4K on high-end hardware, though the dense urban areas like the Imperial City Market District can still see minor dips during heavy NPC activity.

Should You Buy the Deluxe Edition?

For the average player, the Standard Edition of Oblivion Remastered is more than sufficient. It provides hundreds of hours of content, including the legendary Shivering Isles expansion and all the original player homes. The $49.99 price point is fair for the sheer volume of material included.

The Deluxe Edition is targeted at two groups: hardcore fans who want every possible piece of lore and equipment, and those who appreciate the digital extras like the art book. The two new armor quests are high quality, but they aren't "expansion-sized." If you are on the fence, you can always start with the Standard Edition and buy the $9.99 Deluxe Upgrade later, as it is compatible with existing save files.

Summary of Accessing DLC Content

To help you get started, here is where to find the major DLC quest starters once you finish the tutorial:

  1. Shivering Isles: Head to Niben Bay, east of Bravil. A small island with a "Strange Door" will appear on your map.
  2. Knights of the Nine: Visit the chapel in Anvil and speak to the Prophet outside across the street.
  3. Frostcrag Spire: You will receive a deed in your inventory. The tower is north of Bruma.
  4. Battlehorn Castle: Travel to the road west of Chorrol. You will see the castle under attack.
  5. Dunbarrow Cove: Go to Anvil and look for a note or head to the secret entrance on the coastline south of the castle.
  6. Deepscorn Hollow: Located on the southernmost tip of Cyrodiil, in the marshes south of Leyawiin.
  7. Mehrunes' Razor: Travel to Sundercliff Watch, a fort located far to the east of Bravil, near the edge of the map.

Oblivion Remastered successfully preserves the chaotic, charming spirit of the 2006 original while providing the technical foundation required for a modern RPG experience. Whether you're returning for nostalgia or stepping into Cyrodiil for the first time, the DLC offerings ensure that the world feels lived-in, dangerous, and incredibly rewarding to explore.