The Elder Scrolls is a bit of an odd franchise. Despite its overwhelming popularity, it hasn't received an official, new release since 2011—not counting the impressive, but fundamentally uninventive, Oblivion Remastered that came out recently. The Elder Scrolls 6 is still nowhere to be seen, leading many to believe that it will still be several years before Bethesda draws back the curtain on it.
This puts the series in an interesting position, one that might benefit from a bit of creative risk-taking. Bethesda previously saw phenomenal results when licensing the Fallout IP to Obsidian for Fallout: New Vegas, and doing something similar with The Elder Scrolls certainly wouldn't seem out of place, especially if it meant getting another entry sooner rather than later. Naturally, the biggest question surrounding this theoretical spin-off release is an obvious one: how different would it be from the rest of The Elder Scrolls oeuvre? Indulging in this fantasy for a moment reveals that a decidedly distinct, but no less promising, RPG subgenre could be a viable path forward for The Elder Scrolls, especially as a potential alternative to The Elder Scrolls 6.
Oblivion Remastered's New Origins is Exactly What The Elder Scrolls Needed
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered includes a new mechanic for players to build better characters than ever before in The Elder Scrolls.
Bethesda Could Ship a Baldur's Gate 3-Style Elder Scrolls Spin-Off
Baldur's Gate 3 Proves Traditional CRPGs Can Be Impressive, Innovative, and Successful
When Bethesda took over the Fallout IP in the mid-2000s, it signified a shift from the traditional isometric, turn-based design of its predecessors: Bethesda opted for a more contemporary first-person-shooter formula. At the time, and for many years after, popular opinion maintained that this shift to a full-3D framework was unambiguously good, or at least an inevitable effect of technological progress. Indeed, the myriad CRPG staples of the older Fallout games, Baldur's Gate, Planescape: Torment, and other isometric classics became associated with antiquity; the industry had seemingly outgrown the subgenre.
Of course, things were never so simple, and the gaming community at large learned this in 2023 with the release of Baldur's Gate 3, an isometric, classic CRPG that is just as advanced, detailed, and ambitious as its AAA contemporaries, if not more so. Baldur's Gate 3 is a valuable reminder that the traditional CRPG formula can be rich, detailed, and immersive, with combat, dialog trees, exploration, and simulation mechanics that lend themselves to an enriching experience. BG3 represents a leap forward for CRPGs, skyrocketing them to be in equal standing with more modern, full-3D RPGs, and The Elder Scrolls ought to take note of this.
Why The Elder Scrolls Could Benefit from a BG3-Style Spin-Off
Though Bethesda was once the golden child of the games industry, solidifying this status through the landmark one-two-punch of Fallout 3 and Skyrim, times have changed. The innumerable rereleases of Skyrim, which many have viewed as opportunistic, alongside the mixed reception of Fallout 4, Fallout 76, and Starfield, has led to the common, uncharitable opinion that Bethesda has stagnated. Naturally, such a stance is subjective and nuanced, but it's worth noting that the famed developer hasn't attempted to deviate much from its tried-and-true formula over the years, and some experimentation could therefore be advisable.
Bethesda could repeat history with this theoretical Elder Scrolls spin-off, outsourcing it to Obsidian or another developer.
Few creative leaps would be as dramatic and interesting as a foray into Baldur's Gate 3-style CRPG design tendencies. Such a game could show Tamriel from a different perspective, literally, allowing players to engage with the lore elements, settings, and cultures they've grown familiar with, but perhaps with a greater emphasis on dialog and exploration rather than quest-hunting and combat. This could be a worthwhile change of pace, showing audiences what's possible with a dash of boldness and ingenuity.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 87%
- Released
- April 22, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
WHERE TO PLAY
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion™ Remastered modernizes the 2006 Game of the Year with all new stunning visuals and refined gameplay. Explore the vast landscape of Cyrodiil like never before and stop the forces of Oblivion from overtaking the land in one of the greatest RPGs ever from the award-winning Bethesda Game Studios.
Rediscover Cyrodiil
Journey through the rich world of Tamriel and battle across the planes of Oblivion where handcrafted details have been meticulously recreated to ensure each moment of exploration is awe-inspiring.
Navigate Your Own Story
From the noble warrior to the sinister assassin, wizened sorcerer, or scrappy blacksmith, forge your path and play the way you want.
Experience an Epic Adventure
Step inside a universe bursting with captivating stories and encounter an unforgettable cast of characters. Master swordcraft and wield powerful magic as you fight to save Tamriel from the Daedric invasion.
The Complete Story
Experience everything Oblivion has to offer with previously released story expansions Shivering Isles, Knights of the Nine, and additional downloadable content included in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Franchise
- The Elder Scrolls
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- PC Release Date
- April 22, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- April 22, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- April 22, 2025
- Genre(s)
- Action, RPG, Open-World, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 5, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 123.2 GB
