15 Hidden Gems in Oblivion Remastered You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner! From Glitched Speedruns to Revamped Combat—Uncover the Secrets Bethesda Kept Quiet! 👇
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, released on April 22, 2025, has brought Bethesda’s 2006 classic back to life with stunning Unreal Engine 5 visuals, refined gameplay, and a host of subtle tweaks that breathe new life into Cyrodiil. Developed by Virtuos, this remaster goes beyond a simple facelift, blending nostalgia with modern enhancements that make it feel closer to a remake. While the game’s core remains faithful to the original, it hides a treasure trove of secret features, easter eggs, and mechanics that Bethesda and Virtuos didn’t advertise in their reveal stream. From a notorious speedrun glitch to revamped leveling systems, here are 15 secret features in Oblivion Remastered that you need to know to enhance your adventure in Tamriel. Whether you’re a veteran hero or a newcomer, these hidden gems will transform your journey—let’s dive in!
1. The Infamous Glitched Door Speedrun Lives On
One of the most shocking discoveries in Oblivion Remastered is that the legendary “secret glitched door” in the Imperial City Temple District, which allows speedrunners to skip to the game’s climax in under 15 minutes, remains intact. This ancient exploit, first found in the 2006 original, lets players bypass the entire main quest by accessing a variant cell of the Temple District where the final sequence unfolds. YouTuber Bacon_ showcased this in a 12.5-minute speedrun, proving the remaster’s fidelity to the original’s quirks. To try it, head to the Temple District, use a paintbrush glitch to climb the temple, and drop beneath to find the hidden door—just don’t expect Bethesda to patch this fan-favorite bug anytime soon
2. Sprinting Changes Everything
Unlike the original Oblivion, where players trudged through Cyrodiil without a sprint option, the remaster introduces a sprint button that consumes stamina but drastically speeds up exploration. This quality-of-life improvement, unmentioned in early trailers, makes cities and dungeons feel smaller, as you can cover ground in half the time. It also shifts gameplay strategy, encouraging investment in stamina-boosting skills and spells to maintain sprinting, especially in combat scenarios where you can now outmaneuver city guards. Fans on Reddit have celebrated this change, with one user noting, “I can murder guards at low levels by taking sword swings and sprinting away!”
3. Revamped Leveling System Blends Oblivion and Skyrim
The original Oblivion’s leveling system was notoriously punishing, requiring players to micromanage skill increases to boost attributes effectively, only to face overpowered enemies due to aggressive scaling. The remaster quietly melds this with Skyrim’s more forgiving system, allowing you to allocate points to any three attributes at level-up, regardless of skill usage. This hybrid approach, barely highlighted in promotional materials, reduces the midgame grind and makes enemy scaling less frustrating, though bandits in glass armor still haunt high-level players. X users like @SynthPotato have called this a “remake-level” improvement.
4. Enhanced Third-Person Mode with On-Screen Cursor
Playing Oblivion in third-person was clunky in 2006, but the remaster overhauls this perspective with smoother animations and a new on-screen cursor for precise aiming. This unadvertised feature makes third-person viable for combat and exploration, letting you appreciate the revamped visuals—think sun-dappled forests and mossy caves—without sacrificing control. It’s a game-changer for players who prefer seeing their character’s new models, though some Reddit users note it still feels slightly less fluid than Skyrim.
5. New NPC Voices for Racial Diversity
In the original, limited voice acting meant NPCs often shared the same actors, creating a charming but repetitive soundscape. Oblivion Remastered secretly adds new dialogue lines and unique voice actors for different races, making Khajiits, Argonians, and Nords feel more distinct. This subtle enhancement, mentioned only in passing by Virtuos, brings Cyrodiil’s inhabitants to life, with fans on X raving about the “lively” NPC interactions. Try chatting with Bruma’s Nords or Cheydinhal’s Dunmer to hear the difference.
6. Unreal Engine 5’s Hidden Environmental Details
The shift to Unreal Engine 5 delivers more than just sharper textures. Unadvertised details like dynamic insects, fish in rivers, and swirling dust on ancient paths create a living world. Caves now have a “mighty dankness” with improved fire effects and occlusion, while sunlight filters through branches for a cinematic effect. These ambient touches, noted by Pure Xbox, weren’t heavily promoted but make exploration visually spectacular—keep an eye out for rare plants near Rune Stones
7. Console Commands Still Work (Mostly)
Modders and tinkerers rejoice: the remaster retains the command console (accessed with the ~ key), and many original Oblivion console commands still function. This hidden feature, confirmed by PC Gamer, lets you tweak gameplay, spawn items, or fix bugs on the fly. However, old mods won’t work out of the box, requiring adjustments due to the Unreal Engine 5 overhaul. X posts have buzzed with excitement over commands like tgm (god mode), but expect some trial and error.
8. Paintbrush Glitch for Unmarked Cave Access
The iconic paintbrush glitch, which lets players create floating platforms by suspending brushes in midair, survives in the remaster. Fans on Reddit, like u/aragornstoast, have confirmed its use to access the “Unmarked Cave” north of the Imperial City, a mysterious dungeon with hints of a cut Alice in Wonderland-themed quest. This glitch, unpatched for nostalgic reasons, lets you break into hidden areas—try it to uncover the cave’s eerie secrets
9. New Lip-Syncing Tech Enhances Dialogue
Oblivion’s awkward NPC conversations are a thing of the past, thanks to advanced lip-syncing technology in the remaster. This under-the-radar upgrade, powered by Unreal Engine 5, makes dialogue scenes feel more natural, especially during quirky persuasion minigames. While NPC faces can still look “cartoonish” or “cross-eyed,” as IGN noted, the improved lip-syncing elevates interactions with characters like Glarthir or M’aiq the Liar.
10. Vampire Cure Made Easier with Vile Lair DLC
Contracting Porphyric Hemophilia from vampires can turn your playthrough into a nightmare, with sun damage and NPC restrictions. The remaster quietly streamlines curing vampirism by making the Font of Renewal in the Vile Lair DLC more accessible, reducing the hassle of the original’s lengthy quest. Eurogamer advises curing the disease within three days to avoid vampirism, but the DLC’s inclusion makes this a hidden lifesaver for new players.
11. Free Aleswell Inn Room for Early Storage
A lesser-known tip carried over from the original and unhighlighted in the remaster is the free room at Aleswell’s Inn, just north of the Imperial City. This small space, perfect for resting and storing items early in the game, is a godsend for players without a house. Eurogamer flagged this as a must-know trick, as the game doesn’t guide you to it—head to Aleswell after the tutorial to secure your base.
12. Hidden Pirate Ship in Niben Bay
Deep in Niben Bay’s caverns lies a landlocked pirate ship, sealed after a cave collapse, guarded by ghostly pirates. This secret location, accessible via underwater exploration near Anvil, offers hefty gold and a loot-filled chest. The remaster enhances its eerie atmosphere with new lighting and water effects, making the journey visually stunning. Swim with a nighteye potion to spot the ship’s gleam, as advised by The Gamer.
13. Spectral Mudcrab in Paradise
In the main quest’s “Paradise” realm, a remote island hides a Spectral Mudcrab—a ghostly enemy with no quest marker. This obscure encounter, unchanged in the remaster, is a nod to Morrowind’s quirky crab merchant. The updated visuals make the island’s isolation more haunting, and defeating the crab offers a unique thrill for explorers. Swim out to find it, but beware its aggressive pincers
14. Reworked Character Creation Origins
The original Oblivion tied attribute boosts to gender, like male Argonians gaining speed and females gaining intelligence. The remaster replaces this with two “Origins” per race, each offering unique attribute bonuses viewable during character creation. This subtle tweak, noted by IGN, gives players more control without altering the game’s core, but it’s easy to miss without checking the bonuses screen.
15. Deluxe Edition’s Horse Armor Easter Egg
Bethesda cheekily reintroduced the infamous Horse Armor DLC in the $60 Deluxe Edition, but the remaster hides a playful easter egg: a unique horse armor design inspired by the Shivering Isles expansion, featuring vibrant, Sheogorath-themed patterns. This nod to the 2006 DLC controversy, spotted by X users like @smoleandswole, adds flair to your steed—equip it to gallop in style
Why These Secrets Matter
These 15 features showcase Oblivion Remastered’s blend of fidelity and innovation. The preserved glitches, like the speedrun door and paintbrush exploit, honor the original’s chaotic charm, while new mechanics like sprinting and revamped leveling modernize the experience. Visual enhancements, from insect-filled forests to dank caves, make exploration breathtaking, and subtle tweaks like new voices and easier vampire cures improve accessibility. Fans on X and Reddit have hailed the remaster as a “remake in disguise,” with over 182,000 concurrent Steam players at launch proving its appeal.
Tips to Uncover More
To find more secrets, talk to NPCs about rumors to uncover side quests, join the Thieves Guild for access to fences, and explore off-the-beaten-path locations like Fort Sutch or Lost Boy Cavern. The remaster’s 119.2GB world is packed with hidden quests, like the goblin tribe conflict in Cropsford or the troll’s note at Mouth of the Panther, waiting for curious adventurers. Check your Fame and Infamy stats to unlock unique NPC reactions, and don’t shy away from console commands for extra fun.
The Bigger Picture
Oblivion Remastered is a love letter to fans, balancing nostalgia with modern flair. Its secret features reward exploration and experimentation, proving why Cyrodiil remains a beloved RPG sandbox. While some, like ex-Blizzard boss Mike Ybarra, argue it can’t compete with modern masterpieces like Elden Ring, the remaster’s charm lies in its quirks—glitched doors, ghostly crabs, and all. As you embark on your journey, keep these secrets in mind to maximize your adventure and uncover the magic of Tamriel anew.
