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Oblivion Remasteredfeatures some truly iconic cities that play host to some of the best quests in the game. Now beautifully remastered in Unreal 5, their most distinctive features can shine through, whether it’s the grandiosity of the Imperial City or the sweltering swamps of Leyawiin.
But not all cities are made equal, and some have more going for them than others. While there are so many criteria to judge a place on, this list focuses on the city’s importance in the lore, the quests available in it, and its general livability. In some playthroughs ofOblivion Remasteredwhere roleplaying is a big focus, some characters may never set foot in one or more of these cities, so it’s important that they are all considered for their main qualities.
S Tier - Symbolic of Cyrodiil
Imperial City
Perhaps the most iconic sight inThe Elder Scrollsis the White-Gold Tower, framed by the round walls of the Imperial City. A hub of trade, politics, and culture, the Imperial City is the busiest of them all by a long way, and hosts incredible quests tied to the Arena, the Thieves Guild, and most notably, the main quest, where Martin Septim confronts Mehrunes Dagon and ends theOblivion Crisis. Many players will likely spend a long time here just for the wealth of shops and NPCs making it home, even if it isn’t their favorite place to be.
Cheydinhal
The trailing willow branches and spired rooftops of Cheydinhal present a beautiful face for a city that hides the lair of theOblivion’s Dark Brotherhood. The purple framing of Cheydinhal’s buildings mixed with its waterfront make for a peaceful aesthetic, and the city is often at the top of player lists for their favorite place to be in Cyrodiil. But it’s perhaps more famous for the Dark Brotherhood questline, also widely considered one of the best questlines inThe Elder Scrolls. It’s also interesting to note that its Count, Andel Indarys, is the only non-Imperial Count, representing the city’s nearby border with Morrowind making it a home to many Dunmer.
Skingrad
Skingrad stands out as a mighty medieval-looking city, and has remained one of the most powerful places in Cyrodiil’s history. Its leader,Count Janus Hassildor, is especially unique, though, as he is a vampire, a fact known by his closest advisors as certain residents. However, this doesn’t seem to bother them, and when asked, NPCs will point to his long record of good service, making for a city that has been very stable for a long time. Skingrad is also home to one of Oblivion’s most immersive quests, Paranoia, as well as the fan-favorite Whodunit.
A Tier - Jewel of the Gold Coast
Anvil
Styled in the image of a 17th-century Spanish colony, Anvil occupies the Gold Coast, sitting between Hammerfell and Elsweyr, with ships sailing as far as the Summerset Isles and even Yokuda. Anvil hosts a variety of quests, such as the early Fighter’s Guild missions, the Preacher fromKnights of the Nine, and is a vital part of the Gray Fox’s story. It also has the cheapest player home available, with a very memorable quest of its own. While it isn’t connected too closely to the rest of the province, Anvil stands out as a peaceful retreat from wider Imperial affairs.
B Tier - The Middle Ground
Leyawiin
In previousElder Scrollsgames, Cyrodiil was a jungle, and Leyawiin is a vision of what could have been for the entire province. Its steamy, humid environment has been one of the places most transformed by the remaster, bringing its unique biome to life. Players may find themselves in Leyawiin for a few reasons, either onNocturnal’s Daedric quest, finishing the Fighter’s Guild quest, or as part of the Dark Brotherhood contract against Adamus Phillada. It has the highest ratio of beast races compared to humans and mer, as it sits between Elsweyr and Black Marsh. The only thing keeping Leyawiin from being higher up is how few quests really involve the city.
Chorrol
Similarly peaceful to Anvil in A tier, Chorrol is a quieter city than most, but it would probably be an excellent place to live in Cyrodiil, even if it is a little dull. It has a couple of notable quests attached to it, such as The Killing Field, which rewards players with Chillrend, and theLovecraftian quest A Shadow Over Hackdirt, which has fascinated lore-enthusiasts for nearly two decades. It’s also the first place that players are sent in the main quest, so it probably has a special place in the heart of many players.
C Tier - Less Important or Unpleasant
Bruma
While there is little wrong with Bruma as a town, it is only of the more simple ones. The Nordic architecture is nice, but understated, and the town has few stand-out quests associated with it aside from the epicDefense of Bruma, where soldiers mustered from other cities defend against a great Daedric invasion. It is also another place that many players can easily avoid during a playthrough without intending to, especially with Frostcrag Spire being a much better player home nearby.
Bravil
Probably the least surprising placement on the list is Bravil. Dirty, falling down, and full of crime, Bravil would probably not be a nice place to live. Unfortunately, it is also a place that some players will end up avoiding unless they join the Thieves Guild, as very few quests send players to Bravil, and its place tucked away in a corner of the map makes it easy to bypass. However,Oblivion Remasteredplayers leveling acrobaticsmight want to go to Bravil, if only for the simple fun of jumping across ramshackle rooftops in a way that Skyrim can’t accommodate for.
D Tier - The Town in Need of a Hero
Kvatch
Kvatch is barely a city by the time the player gets to it. Obviously important to the main quest, the city has little to offer beyond that, and Bethesda sadly did not include a questline to rebuild Kvatch as some players have wanted to do. Of course, it can be credited for giving the player character one of their titles, theHero of Kvatch, a name that stays with them all throughout the game.
