# The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

11 Hacker News commenters recommended The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and 21 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 8 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Recommended for its atmosphere and world, and for becoming better years after release. Critics agree its level scaling undermines challenge and progression.

## Why people recommend it

- Atmosphere and unique world feel (2 comments): "it has a very compelling, unique atmosphere" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48791402)) "I was in awe hearing his stentorian intro with the camera sweeping over the countryside" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50300257))
- Memorable intro and characters (2 comments): "I was in awe hearing his stentorian intro with the camera sweeping over the countryside" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50300257)) "His presence in Oblivion was far too short." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50312369))

## What people warn about

- Level scaling kills progression and challenge (9 comments): "Oblivion's problem is even worse than that. You can level up entirely from improving non-combat skills, so the enemies are harder" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49235139)) "Players are punished for leveling, and many players simply give up and have to do everything on level 1." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49233209)) "using Oblivion-like level scaling to "make the world accessible" is just bad, lazy design to me" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48795695))
- Mechanics feel like work (2 comments): "The game isn't doing anything wrong but I just conclude that it's work" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47767534)) "the optimal route is to make your primary stats the ones you don't intend to use" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48805144))
- Remake visuals feel like asset pack (2 comments): "I personally do not like the visual feel of the remake as it screams asset pack to me." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48755796)) "I find the result very jarring somehow; the scale of the world didn't seem right." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47260380))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Cyberpunk 2077](https://hackerapproved.com/p/cyberpunk-2077.md): 76 recommend
- [Morrowind](https://hackerapproved.com/p/morrowind.md): 26 recommend
- [Skyrim](https://hackerapproved.com/p/skyrim.md): 25 recommend
- [Fallout: New Vegas](https://hackerapproved.com/p/fallout-new-vegas.md): 15 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion", https://hackerapproved.com/p/elder-scrolls-iv-oblivion/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).