Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The Elder Scrolls IV: Knights of the Nine seamlessly integrates a focused questline into the sprawling open world of Oblivion, tasking players with hunting down the legendary Crusaders’ Relics. From the moment you pledge yourself to the holy order, your journey becomes one of pilgrimage: you must visit the nine shrines dedicated to the Divines, unearthing powerful artifacts and earning your place among the Knights of the Nine. Each relic recovered unlocks new dialogue options, unique armor sets, and the satisfaction of progressing through a narrative that feels both tightly structured and open-ended.

Unlike many faction quests in Oblivion, this expansion enforces a strict code of conduct: stray from the path of righteousness by committing a crime, and you’ll find yourself repeating the pilgrimage all over again. This penalty system adds genuine weight to moral choices, encouraging players to think twice before resorting to theft or violence. By intertwining reputation with mechanics, the expansion heightens tension and rewards careful play, making each shrine encounter feel meaningful.

The expansion also brings a wealth of new locations, enemies, and NPCs tied directly to the knightly order. As you travel across Cyrodiil—from sun-drenched plains to shadowy forests—you’ll confront bandits, undead horrors, and divine guardians protecting the relics. Side activities such as recruiting new members to rebuild the order’s fallen fortress offer optional challenges that bolster your sense of progression and investment in the knights’ cause.

Graphics

Knights of the Nine takes full advantage of Oblivion’s acclaimed visuals, introducing stunning new interiors and shrine designs bathed in ethereal light. The nine shrines are each given distinct architectural styles, ranging from marble temples to woodland grottos, and feature intricate murals depicting the history of the Divines. These detailed environments pop against the base game’s already lush Cyrodiilic backdrop, making each pilgrimage stop feel like a miniature pilgrimage in its own right.

The Crusaders’ Relics themselves are crafted with care: polished silver swords, ornate helms, and gleaming shields that catch every ray of light. Equipped armor has a satisfying weight and silhouette, both in third-person view and on the player-character’s model. Enemies and NPCs also receive new outfits and designs that align with the holy order’s theme, helping to immerse you further in the faction’s iconography.

Performance remains rock-solid on modern systems, with no major frame drops even when exploring the largest dungeons or during intense shrine battles. Bethesda’s engine handles dynamic lighting and particle effects for holy auras and divine spells with ease, adding an extra layer of polish to combat encounters. Whether you’re exploring a forgotten temple or restoring the order’s base, the visual presentation consistently supports the expansion’s lofty tone.

Story

At its core, Knights of the Nine tells a classic tale of redemption, faith, and heroism. Players assume the role of a pilgrim chosen to restore the sacred order by recovering the lost relics of the Nine Divines. Each shrine visit reveals lore-rich texts and NPC anecdotes that deepen your understanding of Cyrodiil’s religious history and the order’s tragic downfall.

Your journey is punctuated by moral choices and spiritual challenges: assist a struggling village beset by undead raiders, defend a shrine from daedra cultists, or bring hope to skeptical townsfolk. These narrative vignettes are woven into the fetch quests for each relic, making them feel more than just collect-a-thon tasks. The result is a cohesive storyline that balances personal trials with world-saving stakes.

By the time you reconstruct the order’s fortress and witness its resurgence, you’ve become more than a mere adventurer—you’re the living embodiment of Cyrodiil’s divine legacy. The expansion’s finale, a climactic confrontation with the forces that shattered the order centuries ago, offers a satisfying conclusion that ties together threads of faith, sacrifice, and knighthood.

Overall Experience

Knights of the Nine breathes fresh life into Oblivion without overhauling its core systems. Its modest scope is its strength: a concise, morally driven questline that feels as rewarding as any full-priced expansion. The strict code of conduct and fame-based progression add depth to your actions, while the pilgrimage structure provides a clear sense of direction in an otherwise open-ended world.

Owners of the retail Windows version receive even more value, as this edition bundles all previously released bonus content. That means immediate access to the Horse Armor Pack, The Orrery, The Wizard’s Tower, The Thieves’ Den, Mehrunes’ Razor, The Vile Lair, and the Spell Tomes DLCs. These extra quests and items complement the Knights of the Nine storyline, offering hours of additional exploration and rewards for both new and returning players.

Whether you’re a die-hard fan of The Elder Scrolls series or a newcomer curious about its divine lore, Knights of the Nine delivers an engaging, thematically rich adventure. It strikes a near-perfect balance between structured questing and open-world freedom, making it an essential addition to Oblivion’s already legendary legacy. For those seeking a pilgrimage of purpose and a taste of medieval chivalry, this expansion is an easy recommendation.

Retro Replay Score

7.7/10