The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →No. Shadows of Oblivion is a tabletop expansion for The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era, not a newly announced Elder Scrolls video game. It adds options to an existing board-game experience; it is not evidence that traditional Elder Scrolls RPGs are being replaced.
What Shadows of Oblivion is
Chip Theory Games describes Shadows of Oblivion as the first volume of an expansion for The Elder Scrolls: Betrayal of the Second Era. Its stated purpose is to give players new ways to approach the board game, including changes to character builds, party composition, and strategy. The publisher says the goal is to make players rethink their approach to the existing game, not to present a new standalone video-game RPG. Chip Theory Games’ October 16, 2025 update explains the expansion.
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Daedric prince content changes the challenge
The update describes content for Daedric princes in the form of a side-quest-like blessing and curse. The publisher recommends using both, while players who want to adjust the difficulty can choose one or the other. Its October 2025 campaign update named Hermaeus Mora, Sheogorath, Mehrunes Dagon, Azura, and Sanguine for the first volume, and described Peryite as a future stretch goal at that time. That campaign-era list should not be treated as a verified final component inventory.
How it differs from a traditional Elder Scrolls RPG
| Question | Shadows of Oblivion | Traditional Elder Scrolls RPG |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Tabletop expansion for Betrayal of the Second Era. | Video game. |
| Can it be played as a standalone game? | It is described as an expansion for the board game; the publisher’s description does not present it as a standalone product. | Not applicable to this expansion-versus-game distinction. |
| What is the experience? | New options for builds, party composition, strategy, and challenge in the tabletop game. | A separate video-game role-playing experience. |
| What does the available description establish? | The publisher explains its expansion relationship and design goals; no independent comparative gameplay testing is established. | No change to Bethesda’s traditional RPG plans is established by the available sources. |
If you want an Elder Scrolls video game, this expansion is not a substitute. If you already play—or want to play—the tabletop Betrayal of the Second Era, its described appeal is added ways to shape a campaign’s difficulty and rethink party strategy.
#1 Best Overall
- ENTER THE WORLD OF SKYRIM: Experience the legendary open-world RPG as a tabletop adventure, exploring Tamriel through branching quests, iconic factions, and rich Elder Scrolls lore.
- COOPERATIVE OR SOLO PLAY: Designed for 1–4 players, allowing you to adventure solo or team up to face dragons, uncover conspiracies, and shape the fate of Skyrim together.
- OPEN-ENDED QUEST SYSTEM: Choose how you approach each mission—diplomacy, stealth, or combat—as your decisions permanently impact the story and the world around you.
- DEEP CHARACTER PROGRESSION: Build unique heroes with evolving skills, gear, and abilities inspired by the video game’s iconic progression systems.
- HIGH REPLAYABILITY: Modular scenarios, multiple quest paths, and varied character builds ensure every campaign feels fresh and every journey through Skyrim is different.
Don’t confuse it with ESO’s Gates of Oblivion
Shadows of Oblivion is also easy to mix up with Gates of Oblivion, a separate The Elder Scrolls Online story saga. ESO’s official update history associates Gates of Oblivion with Blackwood, Waking Flame, and Deadlands. The official ESO updates page provides that context.
Bethesda’s preview of Necrom discusses Apocrypha and its Daedric inhabitants as part of the Shadow Over Morrowind adventure; it does not identify that content as Shadows of Oblivion. The similar names and shared Elder Scrolls setting do not make these the same product or story. Bethesda’s Necrom preview describes that video-game context.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Winner of more than 200 Game of the Year Awards, Skyrim Special Edition brings the epic fantasy to life in stunning detail.
- The Special Edition includes the critically acclaimed game and add-ons with all-new features.
- All-new features include remastered art and effects, volumetric god rays, dynamic depth of field, screen-space reflections, and more.
- Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Blood and gore, intense violence, sexual themes, use of alcohol
Rank #3
- THIS IS AN EXPANSION TO THE SKYRIM BOARD GAME: This is not a standalone game. You will need the Skyrim base game in order to play with this expansion.
- THE ELDER SCROLLS COMES TO YOUR TABLETOP: Skyrim The Adventure Game is a resettable legacy experience that allows you to delve into Tamriel’s past, battle foes, hoard treasures and thwart a plot that threatens the whole of Skyrim.
- MINIATURES UPGRADE SET: Upgrade your game experience by switching out wandering monster counters for 32mm scale miniatures of all the map-based adversaries in the game. This set includes 53 Wandering Monster Miniatures to replace the Monster Tokens found in the core game & Dawnguard along with 10 new alternative sculpts for the Heroic Miniatures.
- INCLUDES A NEW SKIRMISH GAME: As a bonus, this set includes an Adventurer's Primer Skirmish Game. This standalone game is compatible with the Call to Arms Wargame and includes the rulebook, hero, follower and adversary cards as well as dice.
- NUMBER OF PLAYERS AND AVERAGE PLAYTIME: This thrilling dungeon crawling adventure game for teens and adults is designed for 1 to 4 players and is suitable for ages 14 and older. Average playtime is approximately 60 to 120 minutes.
Rank #2
- Live another life in another world, create and play any character you can imagine
- An all-new combat and magic system brings first person role-playing to a new level of intensity
- Groundbreaking AI system gives characters full 24/7 schedules
- New lands to explore in the Shivering Isles expansion
- Challenging new foes, hideous insects, Flesh Atronachs, skeletal Shambles, amphibeous Grummites and more
What to check before considering the expansion
- Confirm you want the tabletop format. This is an expansion to a board game, not a new video game.
- Check the base-game relationship. The expansion is designed for Betrayal of the Second Era; the publisher’s description does not present it as a replacement or standalone Elder Scrolls RPG.
- Verify current retail details. A retailer listing has described it as an English-language preorder, but that time-sensitive listing does not establish present stock, a final delivery date, or availability at other retailers. The retailer listing should be checked for current product details.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
