Last month was a big one for fans of Xbox Game Pass and role-playing games. On April 22, Bethesda announced that not only was the rumored Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remaster not just a rumor, it was also available on Microsoft’s game subscription service that day. Then on April 24, Sandfall Interactive’s highly rated debut game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 launched on the service, too. But if you’re looking for something to dig into this weekend, which one should you start with?
Both games are RPGs, which means you’ll level up your characters and abilities in each, but that’s where the similarities end. The settings, gameplay and stories are substantially different in each game.
If you can’t decide on which game to play first, here’s what you need to know about Oblivion and Clair Obscur.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered
Originally released in 2006, Oblivion is an open-world RPG set in a medieval world. It takes place after the events of The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind, but you don’t need to play Morrowind to enjoy Oblivion.
In this game, a fanatical cult is trying to open gates to the demonic realm of Oblivion, and it’s up to you to stop them and seal the gates forever.
While Morrowind was another highly acclaimed game, Greg Kasavin wrote at the time that Oblivion was a step up.
“Oblivion not only delivers everything that earned the Elder Scrolls series the devoted loyalty of a huge following of fans, but also significantly improves on the weaknesses of its 2002 predecessor, Morrowind,” he wrote then.
The remaster stays fairly loyal to the original. You can still roam the vast world of Tamriel, making friends and taking down enemies along the way. But there are a few quality-of-life changes and enhanced visuals. Travis Northup at our sister site IGN writes that the graphics upgrade is the most significant improvement, but nonplayer characters largely miss out on that particular benefit.
According to Microsoft’s Xbox site, some of the modernization improvements include better enemy scaling (an infamously unpopular feature of the original game), more autosave points and modifications to noncombat perks and other gameplay mechanics. Oh, and you can also sprint in this version — you couldn’t in the original. Xbox also said the combat mechanics are improved, but it’s still real-time. That means you might have some frantic fights on your hands, but if you can outrun your enemy, you should be fine.
Oblivion is a better choice for people looking for an open-world adventure where you can wander around and do whatever you want in whatever order you like. If you enjoyed the original Oblivion, are a fan of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim or like high-fantasy settings like Game of Thrones or The Wheel of Time series, give this game a try. But if you’re looking for a polished experience that tells a more emotional story, it might not be the best option.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Sandfall Interactive revealed its debut Japanese RPG-like game at the Xbox Games Showcase at GDC in March 2024. The game’s story follows a group of people out to stop a being called the Paintress. Every year, the Paintress wakes up and paints a new number, and everyone that age vanishes — when she paints 34, I’m a goner. You’ll step into the shoes of Gustave (voiced by Charlie Cox) as he leads a team to find and stop the Paintress.
Aside from the fantastical story, one of the things you’ll notice about the game is the surreal and absurd visuals. These remind me of the game Psychonauts. Land masses float freely through the air while the Eiffel Tower tilts at an impossible angle and no one bats an eye.
Watch this: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Obvious Skill Issue Ep 3
11:58
Guillaume Broche, Sandfall Interactive’s founder and creative director, wrote online that the setting was inspired by France’s Belle Époque. This late-1800s era is known for its optimism and romanticism, as well as technological, scientific and cultural innovations.
Apart from the visuals, the combat is a mix between turn-based and real-time mechanics. That means while you and your enemy each take turns attacking each other, you can dodge or parry your enemies attack in real time.
CNET’s David Lumb noted Clair Obscur’s combat as among the most interactive turn-based fights he’s played. He also praised the Picto ability-equipping system that “satisfies a crunchy part of the brain that delights in overclocking a system willingly ripe for abuse from the determined player.”
While I played a few JRPGs like Final Fantasy games before, I was never a huge fan of of the genre. But after playing this game for a few hours, I’m hooked. The soundtrack also stands out, and is both haunting and beautiful at the same time.
Clair Obscur is a good pick for people looking for satisfying combat and a deeply immersive game. If you like JRPGs like Final Fantasy or Persona, or the visuals of Psychonauts, you should boot up this game. But if you want to roam the world, make lasting choices and do things at your own pace, you might be better off with Oblivion.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate — a CNET Editors’ Choice award pick — offers hundreds of games you can play on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and PC or mobile device for $20 a month. A subscription gets you access to a large library of games, with new titles like Avowed and Atomfall added monthly, plus other benefits, such as online multiplayer and deals on non-Game Pass titles.
For more on Xbox, check out other games available on Game Pass Ultimate now, read our hands-on review of the gaming service and learn which Game Pass plan is right for you.
Watch this: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Obvious Skill Issue Ep 3
11:58
