The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle

If MMORPGs are an endless time-sink for players, they must be an equally bottomless pit for developers. Long time players need new content, and new players need enticement. There has to be a feeling of evolution, but not so much as to alienate the faithful. Does the Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle expansion find the balance between rewarding the base and welcoming the novice? It absolutely does.

The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle may not be a total home run, but it is another solid installment to the MMORPG despite its weak story. High Isle itself is a gorgeously realized location that feels more alive than other settings have thanks to the incredible attention to detail by the art team, and the gameplay is a lot of fun where it matters most. The inclusion of Tales of Tribute works wonderfully, and the game itself was clearly well-designed and executed. However, it could have been even stronger as a base game feature that all players could enjoy. This might have added to the social a...

Explore a scenic archipelago in The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle and the Legacy of the Bretons, the newest Chapter in the now eight-year-old MMO. A story of deceit and corruption hidden within bayside towns are coupled with new companions and an intriguing in-game trading card game. After our preview earlier in the year, does this more grounded tale add value to an already abundant world?

It's hard to pin down my thoughts exactly on The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle. The latest chapter in the long-running MMO by ZeniMax Online Studios, High Isle, strives to bring the narrative of ESO back to Nirn. As such, the focus of High Isle is on not some cosmic Daedric threat, but rather one of political upheaval and sedition from within. But can the narrative's focus on the inhabitants of Tamriel, their motivations, and its desire to bring the MMO to its roots break the formulaic shac...

High Isle offers a number of fun, entertaining experiences. However, it focuses on mostly delivering more of the same rather than building and properly expanding on the game’s core ideas. It’s completely fine that it does this, but I just personally wish it strived to be a little more.

Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle adds a huge new area to explore, with one of the key features being a card game. While Trails of Tribute, and the large amount of lore are fun, the expansion isn't enough to win players of other MMORPG's like Final Fantasy 14 over.

For returning players who were worried that High Isle may not be worth the outlay, there is plenty to get involved with at launch, with more updates expected on the horizon. Working in a more confined overground space has forced the developer to get creative with their explorable areas, and the expansion is better for it. Instead of an enormous land mass that feels relatively barren, this dense land feels exciting and populated to every corner. For new players considering giving ESO or any ot...