
Crimson Desert has treated us to some new gameplay, and it could be the Oblivion alternative that we’ve been dreaming of.
We love a good old fantasy RPG, from the likes of The Elder Scrolls, Dragon Age and Baldur’s Gate, just to name a few. There’s been plenty of epic adventure goodness to keep us entertained over the years.
Last year, following months of rumours, Bethesda shadowdropped a remaster of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, powered by Unreal Engine 5, and better still, it was made available on Xbox Game Pass at no extra cost.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is a new and improved version of the game that was originally released in 2006 on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
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It’s my favourite game in the series, and yes, I even prefer it to Skyrim. The 2025 remaster of Oblivion is so good, in fact, that it might more closely resemble a remake, in my opinion.
The remaster dropped at a time when fans are still desperate for news on The Elder Scrolls VI, which feels like we’re no closer to knowing when the game announced in 2018 is going to be released. Let alone seeing a gameplay trailer.
Everyone is Hyped for Crimson Desert, and For Good Reason
Thankfully, if the likes of Oblivion and Skyrim aren't quite enough to keep you busy in 2026, then the upcoming indie fantasy RPG, developed and published by Pearl Abyss, Crimson Desert, might be worth your attention.
“Crimson Desert is an open-world action-adventure game set in the beautiful yet brutal continent of Pywel. Embark on a journey to the Greymane Kliff and restore what has been lost. Explore uncharted lands, fight against threats that stand in your way, and discover the wonders the world has in store.”
Crimson Desert was announced in 2019, so to say that it’s been a long-time coming would be an understatement.
Also, it was only announced a year after The Elder Scrolls VI. Which puts the great work of the indie folks at Pearl Abyss into some perspective.
In recent months, especially, we’ve been treated to some gorgeous Crimson Desert gameplay, and some recent footage, shared by Twitter user Pirat_Nation (via Digital Foundry), looks absolutely sublime.
Of course, it’s worth keeping in mind that no matter how gameplay has looked for Crimson Desert so far, we won't know for sure how good the game might be until we’ve all played it.
Luckily, its launch is only a couple of weeks away, at the time of writing.
You Could Score Crimson Desert For Just $5 In This Mystery Bundle
Fanatical has dropped a new VIP Mystery Bundle for $4.99/£4.99. You've got a chance of bagging yourself the open-world epic we’ve all been obsessed with: Crimson Desert, for the price of a coffee.
Even if the "Mercenary of Pywel" doesn't show up in your bundle, the pool is stacked with heavy hitters like Nioh 3, Reanimal, and Resident Evil Requiem.
For an absolute bargain, you’re getting three games, a shot at one of the biggest titles of the year. Good luck!
Crimson Desert will be released on 19 March 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.