"Oblivion Remastered's 'Spookmane' Ghost Hunt: Community Seeks Origins"

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is filled with eerie elements like skeletons, spirits, and zombies, yet no one recalls encountering a 'ghost horse' in either the original 2006 release or the 2025 remaster. The mystery began with a Reddit post by user TaricIsNotASupport, who spotted what appeared to be a spectral horse waiting to be discovered.

Uhhhh, guys, is this new?
byu/TaricIsNotASupport inoblivion

TaricIsNotASupport shared their experience, "So I was crafting stupid spells in Frostcrag Spire, as it's possibly my favorite way to have fun in this game. However, this time when I left the Cosy Chaos Spire—a feature that has divided this community—I noticed something suuuuuuper strange in the distance. I did what any of us with the right mind would do and B-lined it over there like a maniac. To my amazement, there was this spectral horse with no name.

"I have played thousands of hours of the original Oblivion—and have already sunk over a hundred hours into the Remaster—yet this is the first time I've ever seen this horse. I don't know if it's something new that's been added, or if I've just missed out on it before and never knew."

TaricIsNotASupport called on the community to help unravel the mystery, sparking a digital ghost hunt. Players scoured the Unofficial Elder Scrolls Pages website for any mention of a spectral mount in the original game, but found nothing.

To the people asking if I can ride or interact with the spooky horse, yes! 1/2
byu/TaricIsNotASupport inoblivion

Could it be a mod? TaricIsNotASupport clarified they were playing on PlayStation 5, where mods are not available. They also shared a clip of their character riding the horse. Despite its ethereal appearance, the horse functions like any other in Oblivion. "He fast travels and even gets stabled!" TaricIsNotASupport exclaimed. "By all accounts, it's now my steed!"

Some speculate that this ghost horse might be the result of a glitch, possibly triggered by a spell gone awry. Bethesda games are notorious for their bugs, and this ghost horse could be another addition to that list.

"Very weird, the wiki says there's only 2 unique horses, Shadowmere and unicorns," commented ClaymoreBeatz. "And there's no horse mods that I can see that do this, so I highly doubt you're lying about not being on PC. This is probably some sort of glitch that the new Remastered has or a glitched magical effect. Armored horses' names change to Armored horse, I think, so maybe it's an Armored horse that got hit by a spell, and now its name and spell effect are glitched."

I was asked if Spookmane* can be buffed and if it stays spectral; the answer is yes!
byu/TaricIsNotASupport inoblivion

Others wonder if developers Bethesda and Virtuos might have secretly added this ghost horse to the game as a spooky Easter egg for players to discover in Oblivion Remastered. While less likely, it's an exciting possibility that hints at other hidden secrets within the remaster.

Many players are eager to replicate the spectral steed for themselves, but so far, no specific method has been uncovered. In the absence of an official in-game name, TaricIsNotASupport has dubbed their ghost horse 'Spookmane,' a fitting moniker. TaricIsNotASupport has vowed to continue their adventure with Spookmane by their side. Whether it's a one-off occurrence, a hidden secret, or a bug, Spookmane has captivated the Oblivion community and its fans.

"This creature might be my favorite new friend I've made," TaricIsNotASupport said. "Spookmane, you're glorious and I love you."

Oblivion Remastered, developed by remake specialist Virtuos using Unreal Engine 5, boasts a plethora of visual and feature enhancements. It runs at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second, as expected, but also includes significant improvements to leveling systems, character creation, combat animations, and in-game menus. New dialogue, a proper third-person view, and advanced lip sync technology enhance the experience. Fans have been receptive, with some suggesting that Oblivion Remastered is more of a remake than a remaster. Bethesda, however, has clarified their choice to go with a remaster.

As players explore the remastered world, warnings have been issued about tackling Kvatch early to avoid the level scaling making it overly challenging. There are also reports of a player who managed to escape Cyrodiil to explore neighboring regions like Valenwood, Skyrim, and Hammerfell—the speculated setting for The Elder Scrolls VI.

For a deeper dive into Oblivion Remastered, check out our comprehensive guide, which includes an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, tips on How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, every PC Cheat Code, and much more.