Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered: Decisions You’ll Regret and How to Avoid Them

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, a stunning 2025 reimagining of Bethesda’s 2006 RPG classic, has reignited passion for the land of Cyrodiil, drawing both nostalgic fans and new players into its sprawling world of magic, intrigue, and demonic invasions. While the remaster boasts enhanced visuals, refined mechanics, and expanded content, its core remains the freedom to shape your story through choices—some of which can lead to heartbreaking consequences or missed opportunities. Social media platforms like X are buzzing with players sharing tales of regret over pivotal decisions, from botched quests to irreversible losses. This guide explores the Oblivion Remastered choices you’ll live to regret, why they sting, and how to navigate Cyrodiil’s perils for a fulfilling adventure, all while celebrating the game’s enduring legacy.

The Legacy of Oblivion

Released in 2006, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion redefined open-world RPGs with its lush landscapes, dynamic NPC schedules, and deep lore set in the Elder Scrolls universe. Players assume the role of the Hero of Kvatch, a prisoner thrust into a quest to thwart the daedric prince Mehrunes Dagon’s invasion of Tamriel. The game’s branching quests, guild storylines, and moral dilemmas—paired with iconic moments like emerging from the sewers into a vibrant world—earned it critical acclaim, selling over 7 million copies. Its influence persists in Skyrim (2011) and Starfield (2023), cementing Bethesda’s reputation for immersive storytelling.

The 2025 remaster, developed by Bethesda and Virtuos, updates Oblivion with ray-traced visuals, modernized combat, and new content, including restored cut quests and a voiced Martin Septim (voiced by a returning Sean Bean, per fan speculation on X). Released on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, it’s a commercial hit, reportedly moving 3 million copies in its first month. However, Oblivion’s freedom comes with pitfalls: choices that seem minor can lock you out of rewards, doom beloved characters, or alter the story in ways that haunt your playthrough. Below are the key decisions to avoid, based on fan discussions and gameplay analysis, to ensure your journey through Cyrodiil is legendary.

Decisions You’ll Regret in Oblivion Remastered

Joining the Dark Brotherhood Too Early
The Dark Brotherhood, Oblivion’s assassin guild, offers thrilling quests and rewards like the Blade of Woe, but joining prematurely can lock you into a morally dark path that clashes with other storylines. To join, you must murder an innocent NPC, which triggers the quest “A Knife in the Dark.” New players, eager to explore, often kill a random citizen—say, a shopkeeper in the Imperial City—only to realize this bars them from certain quests or NPC interactions. For example, killing Rufio in Bruma can sour relations with the Fighters Guild, limiting access to their radiant quests in the remaster.
Why It Hurts: Early Dark Brotherhood membership forces you to play a villain, alienating players aiming for a heroic or neutral roleplay. The guild’s rewards, while powerful, are less versatile than the Mages or Fighters Guild’s, and you may miss out on lore-rich interactions with NPCs who shun murderers.
How to Avoid: Delay joining until you’ve completed the main quest or other guild storylines. Wait for a natural opportunity to kill an antagonistic NPC (e.g., during a quest conflict) to trigger the invitation without collateral damage. X posts lament players who “ruined their hero run” by joining too soon, urging caution.

Siding with Mannimarco in the Mages Guild
The Mages Guild questline, expanded in the remaster with new spells and a restored necromancy subplot, pits you against Mannimarco, the King of Worms. During the “Confront the King” quest, you face a choice: join Mannimarco’s necromancers or stay loyal to Arch-Mage Traven. Siding with Mannimarco grants unique necromancy spells and the Staff of Worms, tempting magic-focused players. However, this betrays the Mages Guild, locking you out of its ranks, rewards, and the ability to craft custom spells at the Arcane University.
Why It Hurts: Losing Mages Guild access cripples magic builds, as custom spellcrafting is unmatched for versatility. Mannimarco’s rewards, while cool, are niche, and his path alienates NPCs like Raminus Polus, blocking lore-heavy dialogue. Fans on X call this “the worst trade-off,” with one post mourning, “I lost the University for a creepy staff!”
How to Avoid: Stick with Traven to become Arch-Mage, unlocking the full Mages Guild benefits. Save Mannimarco’s path for a second playthrough or use console commands (on PC) to explore it without permanent consequences.

Sacrificing Martin Septim in the Main Quest
The main quest, where you aid Martin Septim to stop Mehrunes Dagon, is Oblivion’s emotional core. In the remaster’s expanded finale, “Light the Dragonfires,” a hidden dialogue option allows you to convince Martin to sacrifice himself prematurely to close an Oblivion Gate, hoping to save Cyrodiil faster. This choice, meant for roleplaying a desperate hero, ends the quest early, skipping the epic Battle of Bruma and Martin’s transformation into a dragon avatar, a highlight of the original and remaster.
Why It Hurts: Sacrificing Martin cuts the main quest short, robbing you of iconic moments and rewards like the Emperor’s Armor. It also leaves a bitter narrative taste, as Cyrodiil remains unstable without Martin’s full arc. X posts describe players “gutted” by this choice, with one saying, “I thought I was saving him, but I ruined the ending.”
How to Avoid: Follow the main quest’s intended path, rallying allies for Bruma and letting Martin fulfill his destiny at the Temple of the One. Save experimental choices for a replay, as the remaster’s autosave system can lock you into this outcome.

Ignoring the Shivering Isles Too Long
The Shivering Isles expansion, remastered with new quests and a revamped Sheogorath voiced by Wes Johnson, is a fan-favorite for its surreal world and rewards like Dawnfang/Duskfang. However, some players delay entering the Isles, focusing on Cyrodiil’s main quest or guilds, only to find the expansion’s difficulty spikes if tackled at a high level (30+). The remaster scales enemies dynamically, but Shivering Isles’ Golden Saints and Dark Seducers become punishing for underprepared characters, leading to frustrating deaths or missed story beats.
Why It Hurts: Delaying Shivering Isles risks an unbalanced experience, as high-level enemies outpace gear or skills, especially for non-combat builds. Missing Sheogorath’s quirky narrative early also deprives you of context for remaster-exclusive Easter eggs. X fans warn, “Don’t sleep on Shivering Isles—I got wrecked at level 40!”
How to Avoid: Enter the Isles around level 15–20, after completing a guild or main quest arc. Stock up on potions and enchantments, and prioritize the main quest there to unlock rewards before scaling becomes an issue.

Killing Umbra Without Preparation
The side quest “Clavicus Vile’s Daedric Shrine” tasks you with confronting Umbra, a warrior wielding a powerful soul-stealing sword. Many players, eager for the Umbra blade, rush to fight her in Vindasel without adequate gear or levels (ideally 15+). The remaster enhances Umbra’s AI, making her a formidable foe with relentless combos, often resulting in quick deaths. Worse, killing her too early can lock you out of Clavicus Vile’s quest rewards, like the Masque of Clavicus Vile, if you don’t follow the shrine’s instructions.
Why It Hurts: Dying to Umbra wastes time, and taking the sword without the quest forfeits a top-tier helmet with charm boosts. The blade, while strong, also soul-traps everything, clogging your inventory if mismanaged. X posts lament players “rage-quitting” after Umbra fights, with one joking, “She’s the real final boss!”
How to Avoid: Level up to 15, equip strong armor, and visit Clavicus Vile’s shrine first to start the quest. Save before fighting Umbra, and use ranged attacks or summons to whittle her down safely.

Fan Reaction: Regrets and Revelations

The Oblivion Remastered community on X is alive with players sharing their decision-making woes, with #OblivionRegrets and #ElderScrolls4 trending as fans recount missteps. Threads detail heartbreak over Martin’s sacrifice or frustration with Umbra’s difficulty, while others praise the remaster’s depth, which makes choices feel weightier. A viral post read, “Just lost the Mages Guild because of Mannimarco—send help!” Fan-made guides on Reddit and YouTube offer workarounds, like save-scumming or quest order tips, reflecting the community’s passion for mastering Cyrodiil’s challenges.

Some fans debate the remaster’s changes, with a few arguing the new content (e.g., expanded necromancy) makes certain choices, like siding with Mannimarco, too tempting. Others celebrate the freedom to make mistakes, noting Oblivion’s replayability lets you correct regrets in new playthroughs. The buzz has boosted sales, with Bethesda reporting a surge in Game Pass downloads, proving Oblivion’s timeless appeal.

The Industry Context

Oblivion Remastered’s success reflects a remake boom, with studios like Capcom (Resident Evil 4) and CDPR (The Witcher 1) reviving classics. Its choice-driven gameplay aligns with 2025’s RPG renaissance, including The Witcher 4’s Geralt return and Assassin’s Creed India, where player agency is paramount. However, Oblivion’s unforgiving decisions contrast with modern hand-holding trends, sparking debates on X about balancing challenge and accessibility. Unlike Onimusha 2’s censorship flop or GTA 6’s DLC backlash, Oblivion avoids controversy by staying faithful, though some fans critique its dated quest design.

Bethesda’s focus on remasters, ahead of The Elder Scrolls VI (still years away), shows strategic use of nostalgia to bridge gaps, competing with Starfield’s expansions and Fallout 5 rumors. Oblivion’s success could pave the way for a Morrowind remaster, with X posts already clamoring for Vvardenfell’s return.

Tips for a Regret-Free Playthrough

To avoid Oblivion’s pitfalls, plan your character build early—balance combat, magic, and stealth to handle diverse quests. Save frequently, especially before major decisions, as the remaster’s autosave can lock you in. Explore guilds in order: Fighters, Mages, Thieves, then Dark Brotherhood, to maximize rewards. Tackle Shivering Isles mid-game, and always check quest requirements to avoid killing key NPCs. X fans recommend keeping a journal of choices, enhancing roleplay and tracking consequences.

The Bigger Picture

Oblivion Remastered’s decision-driven drama highlights why The Elder Scrolls endures: its freedom to shape your story, for better or worse, creates unforgettable moments. The regrets shared on X—whether losing Martin or battling Umbra unprepared—reflect the game’s emotional depth, a hallmark Bethesda has carried into Skyrim and beyond. The remaster’s success, amid gaming’s 2025 renaissance, proves nostalgia and innovation can coexist, but also underscores the stakes of player choice in an era of vocal fandoms, as seen in Witcher 4 or God of War debates.

For Oblivion fans, these choices are a rite of passage, forging tales of triumph and heartbreak in Cyrodiil’s fields. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a new Hero of Kvatch, avoiding these regrets ensures a journey worthy of the Elder Scrolls legacy. As the Oblivion Gates flare, the world watches to see how you’ll shape Tamriel’s fate.