There are about 200 years between the events of Oblivion and Skyrim in the Elder Scrolls timeline.

Quick Scoop

  • In-universe timeline: Oblivion is set in 3E 433, while Skyrim takes place around 4E 201, which works out to roughly a 200-year gap in the lore.
  • What that means for the world: In those two centuries, the Empire declines, the Septim bloodline is gone, the Oblivion Crisis becomes distant history, and new powers like the Aldmeri Dominion rise, reshaping politics and everyday life across Tamriel.
  • Why it feels so different: That long timeskip is intentional; it lets Skyrim feel like a new chapter instead of a direct follow-up, with fresh conflicts, mostly new characters, and a world that only remembers Oblivion as legend and history.

So if you’re wondering how long between Oblivion and Skyrim in the story, think “two full centuries of change,” not just a handful of years.