Midwood Isle offers another world beyond The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition

Image credit: Screenshot by wizkid34; courtesy of the Midwood Isle author gallery (DdsLedg / Will Evans)

At some point, even the Dragonborn deserves a change of scenery. Preferably somewhere that doesn't involve trudging through another snowstorm while being yelled at by a dragon. Will Evans' Midwood Isle offers a substantial adventure away from Skyrim's familiar landscape, transporting players to an island northwest of Tamriel inhabited by the Sonmer, or Sun Elves. The expansion comes with its own history, settlements, characters, and an extensive collection of quests, along with a mysterious spirit realm called Lastendell. It's a considerable undertaking, with Evans describing the island itself as roughly the size of two Skyrim holds, and another similarly expansive realm waiting beyond it.

There's also a Hearthfire-style home to build, complete with numerous furnishings and layout choices, alongside new spells, shouts, equipment, and encounters. The normal adventure begins after completing The Way of the Voice, and Evans recommends arriving around level 20 rather than charging in as a newly created character. Current downloads offer heavier and lighter texture packages, while players using DynDOLOD should follow the project's specific instructions for its custom worldspaces. Midwood Isle isn't a recent release, and its creator considers the major content complete, but for anyone who's exhausted Skyrim's familiar horizons, there's something wonderful about discovering that an entirely new journey has been waiting just offshore.