The surprise launch of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered on April 22, 2025, has sent shockwaves through the gaming community, with over 128,000 concurrent players on Steam within hours and a top spot on the platform’s bestseller list. Developed by Virtuos using Unreal Engine 5, this remaster of the 2006 RPG classic brings 4K visuals, refined gameplay, and all original DLC, including Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine. While the updated combat, overhauled UI, and new origin system for races have drawn praise, it’s the character creator that has stolen the spotlight. Players are unleashing their creativity—or perhaps their inner chaos—by crafting grotesque, hilarious, and downright monstrous characters, reviving a beloved tradition from the original game and sparking a renaissance on social media and subreddits like OblivionAbominations.
The character creator in Oblivion Remastered retains the original’s flexibility while introducing modern touches, such as an age slider, complexion options, and a “Body Types” system replacing traditional male/female gender selections. Players can choose from ten races, each with two lore-rich origins—like Nibenay or Colovia for Imperials—adding depth to role-playing. However, it’s the ability to manipulate facial features into nightmarish forms that has captivated the community. Social media platforms like X are flooded with screenshots of creations ranging from goblins with bulging eyes to orcs resembling cursed Simpsons characters. One player, @ghost_charm, recreated the infamous “Da FISH” meme, while others have crafted abominations with glowing yellow skin or faces that clip through their own skulls, earning thousands of likes and comments celebrating the “glorious jank” that defines Oblivion’s charm.
This monster-making frenzy is no surprise to longtime fans. The original Oblivion was notorious for its character creator, which allowed players to produce some of the ugliest protagonists in gaming history. From tiny faces dwarfed by massive foreheads to Khajiits with potato-like textures, the 2006 game became a meme factory, with communities like the OblivionAbominations subreddit, now boasting 13,000 members, dedicated to sharing these horrors. The remaster’s enhanced visuals, powered by Unreal Engine 5, have only amplified the chaos. While some feared the updated graphics might sanitize the creator’s quirks, Virtuos preserved its essence, ensuring players can still sculpt atrocities. Posts on X, like one from @That0neHeather praising the “fun options,” highlight the community’s delight, though @ImpNasdaq noted that tweaking default faces often leads to uglier results, adding to the comedic appeal.
The character creator’s prominence reflects Oblivion’s enduring appeal as a sandbox for player expression. Set in Cyrodiil, the game follows the player’s quest to thwart the Mythic Dawn cult’s plan to open portals to the demonic realm of Oblivion. Its open-ended gameplay, with over 200 hours of content across quests and exploration, encourages experimentation, and the character creator is a natural extension of this freedom. However, not all feedback is glowing. Some players on X, like @SynthPotato, hoped for even more customization options, while others criticized the auto-applied eye makeup on randomized male characters as an odd quirk. Despite these nitpicks, the creator’s ability to produce “truly compelling custom characters,” as one user put it, has fueled a viral wave of content, with the OblivionAbominations subreddit seeing a surge in new posts.
The remaster’s broader context adds weight to this phenomenon. Launched on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S for $49.99 (or free on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate), Oblivion Remastered has been hailed as a “remake-level” overhaul, with improved combat inspired by Soulslikes, a sprint mechanic, and refined enemy scaling. Yet, the lack of mod support at launch—a staple of Bethesda games—has disappointed some, though developers hinted at future updates. The character creator, requiring no mods, has become a focal point for creativity, compensating for the absence of user-generated content. Fans have even recreated real-world figures, like one player’s eerie JD Vance cosplay, showcasing the system’s versatility.
As Oblivion Remastered dominates gaming discourse, the character creator’s monstrous output underscores the game’s unique blend of nostalgia and absurdity. With a 119.2 GB file size and a Deluxe Edition offering exclusive quests, the remaster is a love letter to fans, as developers called it. Whether players craft noble warriors or unholy abominations, the character creator ensures that Cyrodiil remains a playground for the bizarre. As the community continues to share their creations, Oblivion Remastered proves that, nearly two decades later, its quirky heart still beats strong, one hideous hero at a time.
