There are few games as modded as The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. From its release modders have torn it apart, adding new adventures, new twists on gameplay, and fixes for the many issues left over in this epic open-world RPG.
You might be reinstalling for the four hundredth time and need to try something new, or you might be going in for the first time. Either way, here are our picks of the essential and best Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion mods you can download today.
Oblivion Mod Manager
Let’s start with the essentials. If you’re going to be modding Oblivion with any confidence, the Oblivion Mod Manager is a must. This handy tool allows you to tinker with the load order, identify compatibility issues, and overall make sure your game is running correctly with whatever custom mods you’ve installed.
OBSE
Oblivion’s capabilities are colossal, but there are still limits to what you can do with your mods. The Oblivion Script Extender removes some of these limits, expanding the scripting capabilities of the game and simply allowing you to choose from a greater variety of mod.
The Unofficial Oblivion Patches
With a game as large and as complex as Oblivion, no matter what Bethesda do there’ll be issues left over. Thankfully, fans have been beavering away for the last fifteen years plugging gaps and fixing problems, and the three unofficial patches are the best way to get your hands on these fixes:
DarNified UI
It’s no secret that one of the issues Oblivion received most criticism for was its UI. Designed clearly for the console version of the game, it’s not at all optimised for players sitting a little closer to their screens. This quality-of-life mod helps fix the game’s UI, making everything just that little bit more easy to use on a PC. Bliss.
Deadly Reflex
Whilst the combat in Oblivion certainly does the job, it can feel a little weightless, especially to modern audiences. Deadly Reflex makes the combat more responsive, action-packed and adds a tonne of moves to your repertoire. From mounted combat to special attacks, it changes up Oblivion’s combat to be something far more immersive – and bloody.
Midas Magic Spells of Aurum
The Elder Scrolls series has often struggled with magic, making it too impactful or not useful enough. Midas Magic adds nearly 300 spells to the game, some beefing up the combat magic, with others adding things like a summonable magic carbit or the ability to turn bodies to gold. An essential mod for any budding Gandalf out there.
Alternative Start Arrive by Ship
The start of the game can be a long slog to get through sometimes, and when it’s finished you’re a little railroaded onto the main quest. Alternative Start allows you to choose when you get arrested and begin the main quest, letting you begin a life in a world untouched by daedric attack.
Harvest Flora
Finally, this mod may seem small but trust us – this quality of life change will alter how you experience Oblivion for the better. It does one thing when you harvest some flora, the plant changes its model to show that it’s been picked. No more spamming the use key when you run past plants you’ve already plucked. A true lifesaver.
