The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion was considered a masterpiece in its time. Even today, many gamers are still willing to revisit it even after all these years. Nevertheless, there's no denying that as far as visually, Oblivion has seen better days. The graphics are just downright ugly by today's standards.

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As with most Bethesda games, however, mods have picked up the slack. Some of the finest mods on the Oblivion Nexus page deal with graphics. The fourth entry of The Elder Scrolls will always be a classic, so why not upgrade it with the best visuals possible? These mods will help get the ball rolling in that department.

Updated on June 9, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Oblivion is one of the best open-world RPGs players can check out. Though there are some odd persuasion mechanics and the poorly aged radiant AI, there's no denying that Oblivion features a vast and interesting world that players will love to explore. Given how old this title is, though, it's only natural that modern players find the graphics a bit hard to get past. Thankfully, there are many mods that improve the game's visuals, and are downright necessary for players who don't want to be distracted by the title's muddy graphics.

23 Really Textured Normal Maps

Downloads: 280,794

Really Textured Normal Maps mod for Oblivion

Many players don't want to mess around with Oblivion's visual design too much, given that the look is what the developers originally intended. In such an instance, it makes more sense for players to download vanilla-friendly graphics mods. This is easier said than done. Thankfully, there's a simple mod that lets players enjoy these regular visuals without changing them too much.

Really Textured Normal Maps retains the visual design of the textures in Oblivion, striving only to improve their resolution and the amount of detail that can be discerned from up close. It's a simple yet much-needed mod that does a great job of letting players enjoy Oblivion's original goodness with a wealth of high-resolution textures to keep things fresh and interesting.

22 Atmos4096

Downloads: 135,855

Atmos4096 mod for Oblivion

There's no denying that fog does a great job of making things more atmospheric, and this is something that Oblivion excels at. However, it doesn't take long for keen-eyed players to notice that the quality of this fog doesn't really hold up. Its low-res textures don't do a great job of making this fog immersive.

With a simple mod, players can enhance fog textures in the game to 4K resolutions. This may seem like a simple change, but it does a great job of making each dungeon more atmospheric than ever before. It's a must-have mod that players should use to enhance their immersion in Oblivion.

21 Oblivion Reloaded

Downloads: 41,347

Oblivion Reloaded mod

Gamebyro may be legendary in its own right, but there's no denying that any game made with this engine ends up being quite unstable and stuck together with band-aids. As a result, the engine limits Oblivion's graphics in many ways so that the game doesn't end up breaking if certain visual effects end up being too overbearing.

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However, in 2023, there's no need for the Gamebyro engine to limit Oblivion's graphical potential to such a great extent. This is where the Oblivion Reloaded mod comes into the picture. It's an extended patch of the game that removes the limits on Oblivion's visuals, allowing players to witness the land of Cyrodiil and its amazing beauty with a fresh coat of paint.

20 Unique Liches

Downloads: 2,424

Unique Liches mod for Oblivion

There are many liches present in the world of Oblivion that are pretty powerful and will give any player a run for their money when they choose to engage this foe in combat. Their magic hits like a truck and their nightmarish visage scares players to their very core while batting these foes. However, while there are both regular liches and uniquely named ones, their appearances don't really change all that much.

Thankfully, there's a mod that gives the named liches a unique look to make them seem even more intimidating in combat. It may be a small mod, but players who love battling against special enemies who look the part will love what Unique Liches brings to the table. After all, who would say no to a mod that adds such much-needed visual variety in a game that's almost 20 years old?

19 Denser Vanilla Grasses - Grass Density Booster

Downloads: 2,546

Denser Vanilla Grasses mod for Oblivion

Cyrodiil is vast and beautiful, and players will have a blast exploring this map even now. The varied scenery of this game world may seem disconnected at times, but players who prefer visual variety over cohesion will love what this title brings to the table in terms of exploration. However, there are times when landscapes may look a bit flat and uninteresting due to the dated nature of this game, and this is a major issue for areas where grass should be abundant yet is nowhere to be found.

This mod is perhaps the simplest one that players can download to augment the visuals of Oblivion, with its functionality being pretty obvious from the name itself. It increases the volume of grass shown in the overworld, making the landscapes of the game more scenic and detailed.

18 Natural & Atmospheric Oblivion

Downloads: 187,673

Natural & Atmospheric Oblivion Mod

Although it may be easy to overlook sometimes, a game's weather effects can have a significant impact on the overall presentation. The same is true for lighting as well. The lackluster nature of these effects goes a long way toward making Oblivion look as antiquated as it does.

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When looking to refresh the weather and lighting, a great place to start is with Natural & Atmospheric Oblivion. Seven new weather types are added, greatly contributing to the diversity of Oblivion's weather patterns. Sun glare, fog, and even the clouds themselves are also given a fresh coat of paint.

17 Weapon Improvement Project

Downloads: 349,139

Weapon Improvement Project Mod For Oblivion

It's all well and good for the natural environment to look better, but what about the player's primary weapons? When playing Oblivion, fans are going to spend an inordinate amount of time looking at their drawn weapons in the first-person view. Fortunately, there's no need to stare at those ugly textures anymore.

The Weapon Improvement Project adds an impressive amount of detail to the game's diverse variety of weapons. Meshes and textures are given a true HD makeover that makes it difficult to ever go back to the way weapons used to appear.

16 Improved Signs

Downloads: 231,214

Improved Signs Mod For Oblivion

Without perhaps realizing it, players will spend a lot of time looking at signs throughout their adventures in Oblivion. Visiting one of Cyrodiil's towns will invariably be accompanied by a trip to several of the local shops and merchants. Every shop has a sign posted outside the establishment to let fans know what services they offer.

As such, any graphical overhaul of Oblivion would be remiss without including a mod geared specifically toward Cyrodiil's signage. Improved Signs does exactly what it states. Signs will appear crisp and refreshing, making them much easier to read from a distance as well as more satisfying to behold in general.

15 Better Dungeons

Downloads: 547,420

Better Dungeons Mod For Oblivion

By now, Oblivion shows its age in a myriad of different aspects. One of the most glaring symbols of its age, as longtime fans no doubt already know, is the abundance of nearly identical dungeon designs. After only a couple of forays into these subterranean vaults, players will have seen pretty much everything.

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In addition to a fresh new look, Better Dungeons adds some much-needed uniqueness to the proceedings. Players have new methods of traversing these dungeons, such as climbing ropes or squeezing through tight crevasses. The lighting is also given an overhaul, making the use of a torch more frequent. Don't reinstall Oblivion without this mod!

14 Ruined Ruins

Downloads: 336,084

Ruined Ruins Mod For Oblivion

Veteran Oblivion players know that plenty of abandoned ruins and forts dot Cyrodiil's landscape. These places offer yet another opportunity for players to capture more loot and improve their skills. It's only natural that Cyrodiil's forts receive a visual upgrade as well.

Ruined Ruins is a nice retexture mod that serves to improve the textures of the ruined forts across the map. The masonry that comprises the exterior of these buildings will look sharper as a result. The stonework looks much more realistic and pairs well with other graphical upgrades that players can install.

13 Roads Of Cyrodiil

Downloads: 7,496

Roads Of Cyrodiil Mod For Oblivion

When it comes to graphics, the devil is often in the details. Anyone who has given the road network in Oblivion serious attention knows that it leaves much to be desired. Luckily, one of the most prolific mod authors for the Elder Scrolls series has fixed that problem.

Created by Arthmoor, Roads of Cyrodiil adds several new thoroughfares and bridges to the game. The province of Cyrodiil now looks and feels more like an inhabited area of settlement. Not only does this mod look great visually, but it also enhances the overall gameplay experience in a very lore-friendly manner.

12 Dynamic Map

Downloads: 361,933

Dynamic Map Mod For Oblivion

Aesthetically, Oblivion's world map is similar to parchment. The idea is to make the player feel like they're unfolding and examining an actual, physical map. Although it's a subjective point of contention, the presentation can at times feel a bit bland.

If players are looking for a map mod that's easier on the eyes, then Dynamic Map is a good choice. The mod actually contains four different visual styles, such as Elven Map, Terrain Map, Color Map, and Tamriel Heightmaps. No matter which option is chosen, Oblivion's world map gets a nice upgrade either way.

11 Enhanced Vegetation

Downloads: 349,413

Enhanced Vegetation mod for Oblivion

Stopping to smell the roses probably isn't something the player does very often in vanilla Oblivion. That's because the environment isn't a pretty sight to behold in all of its low-resolution glory. Perking up the scenery can go a long way toward improving the overall visuals.

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A great all-in-one mod that enhances many of the foliage textures is Enhanced Vegetation. Plants, trees, and grass look less blurry and jagged with this mod. Not only are the details sharper, but the colors are also more vibrant and eye-catching. Wandering through Cyrodiil's wilderness never looked so good!

10 Really AEVWD

Downloads: 12,691

Really AEVWD Mod For The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion

In terms of ugliness, one of the most recognizable details of Oblivion's aging graphics relates to draw distance. The scenery that gets loaded in the distance often looks like a blurry smear compared to objects that are located closer to the player. It's a shortcoming that many games shared in the mid-2000s, but is now given a lot more attention with today's modern hardware.

Luckily, this glaring problem can be rectified with a handy mod called Really AEVWD. This mod significantly improves the game's draw distance, thereby sharpening many of the details. With Really AEVWD, all of Oblivion's enhanced graphics can share some continuity. Things will no longer appear sharp up close while looking low resolution from a distance.

9 Oblivion Realm HD

Downloads: 207,987

Oblivion Realm HD Mod For The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion

The vast majority of these mods are dedicated to making Cyrodiil look its absolute best. But what about the Deadlands, the realm of Oblivion belonging to Mehrunes Dagon? This land of death, for all its ugly brutality, deserves some love too, right?

That's where Oblivion Realm HD comes into play. The myriad textures of the flora and fauna that compose the Deadlands' environment receive some much-needed treatment with this mod. Closing Oblivion Gates forms a large part of the game's experience, so giving those visuals a fresh coat of paint makes those visits a bit more tolerable.

8 Oblivion Character Overhaul

Downloads: 2,724,040

Oblivion Character Overhaul mod

As an RPG, Oblivion contains a significant amount of interactions between NPCs and the player. Looking at Oblivion's NPCs is rough. Very rough. Their eyes are quite dead and their heads/facial features often resemble potatoes. It's perhaps the most noticeable example of the game's age.

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Thankfully, an awesome mod exists to lend some much-needed beauty to the denizens of Cyrodiil. The limitations of the game's hardware will always restrict how far a mod can go, but it's undeniable that Oblivion Character Overhaul offers a marked improvement over the vanilla experience.

7 Alive Waters

Downloads: 125,262

Alive Waters Mod For The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion

Don't overlook Cyrodiil's water when making upgrades to Oblivion's physical environment. The level of detail depicted in a body of water is easy to judge. That detail is pretty lackluster when it comes to the fourth entry in The Elder Scrolls series. It's so unimpressive that it's natural to just simply ignore it altogether.

Alive Waters sets out to achieve exactly what its name suggests. Rather than dull and lifeless, Alive Waters injects some impressive vibrancy into Cyrodiil's water. New models of various fish and algae make swimming underwater a bit more interesting. It's a simple, yet very effective little mod.

6 Qarl's Texture Pack III

Downloads: 353,300

Qarl's Texture Pack III For The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion

There are hundreds of small mods throughout the Internet that seek to retexture only one object or mesh. If a player really wants to improve the visuals of Oblivion without expending too much time, then texture packs are the easiest way to go about it.

One of the heftiest and most comprehensive texture packs out there is Qarl's Texture Pack III. Thousands of meshes and textures are rebuilt and/or improved by this mod, offering a wide range of unrivaled visuals. The only downside is that this particular pack can put a strain on one's PC. Note that this mod can be a bit heavy on low-end PCs.

5 Better Cities

Downloads: 2,081,193

Better Cities Mod For The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion

Nowadays, revisiting many of Oblivion's cities is a rather underwhelming experience. From a visual standpoint, they fail to match the level of grandness described in the lore. They are also sparsely populated in terms of NPCs, yet another hardware limitation of 2006.

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Better Cities does an admirable job of making the lore match reality. The addition of new buildings and characters makes the world feel more "lived-in" than ever before. These new sights not only enrich the game from a graphical standpoint but a gameplay one as well.

4 All Natural

Downloads: 768,473

All Natural Mod For The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion

Lighting effects have a substantial impact on a game's visual presentation. Shadows, smoke, and reflections are little details that tend to have a big impact on how an environment is perceived by the player. Once again, vanilla Oblivion is hopelessly lacking in this arena.

One of the best solutions to this problem is the All Natural mod. Although All Natural is technically a weather mod, it also includes some really neat lighting effects that serve to upgrade the graphics. For example, natural light can now be observed through a window while inside a building, something the vanilla game couldn't even come close to replicating. Lit candles actually behave as such. Definitely a must-have for any load order.