Before Skyrim took the crown, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion was the undisputed king of modding. It was also the first time an Elder Scrolls game made itself more accessible to a wider demographic. As a result, it was a huge hit, and even now, most Elder Scrolls fans can still feel Oblivion's presence. It has one of the largest mod collections in the history of gaming.
Some modders took it to the extreme and created DLC-sized mods and total conversion mods. Not only did they prove the robustness of Bethesda's game engine, but they also added even more content for players who are tired of Cyrodiil's dead-eyed NPCs. In case guards keep referring to the players as "criminal scum," these mods can offer a place of refuge.
7 Morroblivion
- Mod author: Community effort
- Download link
Morroblivion is one of the most valiant efforts of the brilliant minds of the Oblivion modding community to bring Morrowind's uniqueness to Oblivion's game engine. That's because Morrowind's game engine is a fossil these days, and players might even be able to count the game models' geometry lines if they squint hard enough.
Granted, this mod speaks more for Morrowind's legacy than Oblivion, but when talking about the most ambitious mods for Elder Scrolls games, Morroblivion can frequently come up as one of the pioneers of community remasters. In any case, this mod is a win for any party, as it's a game that lets players experience Morrowind once again but with a shinier coat of paint.
6 Valenwood Improved
- Mod author: Eldarie
- Download link
Valenwood is the home of the Bosmer or the Wood Elves — they're the less snobby cousins of the High Elves. Valenwood Improved is thus the mod that adds the titular Tamriel province next to Cyrodiil. This includes eight cities in the new region and more Ayleid ruins to explore and raid, along with ruined forts and caves.
Along with the new landscape, the mod also includes new armor sets, NPCs, creatures, and of course, mini-quests. Just don't expect it to look too different compared to Cyrodiil. Valenwood is close in proximity to the Imperials' province, so it makes sense for the mod's locales to look similar. The asset recycling is thus justified well in this case.
5 Nehrim: At Fate's Edge
- Mod author: SureAI
- Download link
Nehrim: At Fate's Edge takes a different modding approach. Instead of adding more places to the Tamrielic lore, it stands on its own as a total conversion mod. It merely uses Oblivion's in-game assets and models in order to visualize the story and the world that its creator wants the fans to see. As such, Nehrim is a labor of passion and love that took many months and years in the making.
And despite being on Steam, the mod remains free today. The mod's creators also worked hard to "handcraft" the environments in Nehrim so that every forest and hill is notably more detailed and varied than vanilla Oblivion. Nehrim features its own story and game world independent of the Elder Scrolls mythos, so those looking for something fresh will find plenty to like here.
4 Kvatch Rebuilt
- Mod author: Kvatch Rebuilt Team
- Download link
Kvatch Rebuilt might not have the same scope as the total conversion or remaster mods prior, but it's still one of the most notable "big" mods in Oblivion. Kvatch is the city that was undeniably ravaged by the Dremora of Oblivion near the start of the game; it was thereafter destroyed and closed after that quest.
Kvatch Rebuilt thus makes the city more accessible after the quest by rebuilding it. The mod team did an excellent job rebuilding Kvatch stone by stone. Apart from that, the mod also includes quests, an Arena, and a collection of compelling stories about the city. In hindsight, it makes more sense lore-wise for Kvatch to be rebuilt, especially after the end of the game.
3 Elsweyr The Deserts Of Anequina
- Mod author: Iliana
- Download link
Elsweyr is another province that sits a little too close to Cyrodiil in the Tamrielic lore, so it makes sense for some modders to create their own version of the Khajiit homeland in Oblivion. Elsweyr the Deserts of Anequina is the mod for that, and it might even be more impressive than the Valenwood map mod.
That's because Elsweyr's environmental assets and buildings are dramatically different compared to Cyrodiil. It's mostly a desert region, so Elsweyr has some exotic designs that will surely break the monotony of Cyrodiil's ivory towers and pallid stone walls. In any case, it's a good chance for players to finally get a glimpse of the Khajiit dominion. A purrfect place for cat lovers!
2 MERP - Middle Earth Roleplaying
- Mod author: MERPTeam
- Download link
For something a little more different but still somewhat familiar than Tamriel, then MERP, or Middle Earth Roleplaying, should scratch an itch. Because up until now, there has been no Lord of the Rings or Middle-Earth game on the same scale as the Elder Scrolls games. Granted, this mod doesn't exactly go up to that same scope or scale, but it's good fan service for those Tolkien purists.
Sadly, the mod has remained in Beta for more than a decade now and completion is nowhere near in sight. The last update was back in 2012. Even so, there's still quite a lot to see in this mod; the creators managed to recreate the town of Bree and some generated regions as well as popular sites in the Lord of the Rings lore.
1 Knights Of The Nine Revelations
- Mod author: Lanceor
- Download link
Back in Oblivion's heyday, quest mods typically had no voice-acting since modding wasn't as widespread or as supported. That's why fully-voiced mods such as the Knights of the Nine Revelations are quite a rare feat as far as Oblivion quest mods go. This one is a lengthy and elaborate quest chain involving crusaders and their fight against slavery thousands of years back in Tamriel's past.
The quest mod includes dozens of new NPCs all of whom are fully voiced. New followers, new items, and even an original musical score are also among the marvelous offerings this free mod has for players. If that's not enough to convince Oblivion players to try it out, then the mod's numerous awards ought to seal the deal.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion is currently available on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Microsoft Windows.