Fans of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion might recall the legendary “Domino Days,” where players used the game’s physics engine to create elaborate chain reactions with in-game objects. This quirky tradition has carried over into other Bethesda titles, including Starfield, thanks to its more refined physics system. Now, with Oblivion Remastered, the trend has resurfaced—this time with books.
One determined player invested seven grueling hours meticulously arranging books to achieve the perfect domino effect. The result? A mesmerizing sequence where each book topples the next in a smooth, satisfying motion.
The Painstaking Process Behind the Book Dominoes
The player, known as Muaxh03 on Reddit, shared a clip of their creation. They revealed that no mods were used to position the books—each one was placed manually. While they did spawn the books to save time, the setup still required extreme patience.
Muaxh03 explained that reloading the save often caused issues, with books falling unpredictably or glitching. Some would drop faster or slower than others, disrupting the synchronization. To avoid further chaos, NPCs were disabled—because having wandering characters bump into the carefully arranged books would have been a nightmare.
Why Oblivion’s Physics Make This Extra Challenging
While past Bethesda games have seen even more elaborate domino setups, Oblivion presents unique challenges. Unlike Skyrim or Starfield, the game doesn’t allow precise object rotation or placement, making the task far more frustrating.
Muaxh03 admitted that the first couple of hours were spent just figuring out how to position the books correctly. The staircase section alone took another two to three hours, as each test run yielded different results.
The Oblivion community has responded with admiration and amusement. Many were stunned by the dedication required to pull this off in a game known for its finicky physics.
One fan joked that filling a bookcase would be an even greater challenge, quipping that they’d rather take on a god bare-handed than attempt it. Another referenced the game’s infamous physics, recalling how simply trying to return a book to a shelf could trigger total chaos.
What Oblivion Remastered Brings to the Table
Developed by Virtuos using Unreal Engine 5, Oblivion Remastered delivers significant visual and gameplay upgrades. Alongside 4K resolution and 60 FPS support, the remaster enhances leveling systems, character creation, combat animations, and menus. New dialogue, improved third-person view, and advanced lip-sync technology further modernize the experience.
While some fans argue the changes are substantial enough to call it a remake, Bethesda has clarified why they opted for a remaster instead. Either way, players are clearly finding creative ways to enjoy the updated classic—one painstakingly placed book at a time.