Expansions, DLCs, and Chapters in The Elder Scrolls Online outnumber just about every other MMO's offerings to date. Every year, the Elder Scrolls Online team releases a new major Chapter featuring a large zone, two DLCs that add dungeons, and a mini-expansion that adds another explorable area.
It's pretty amazing to be able to see most of Tamriel in The Elder Scrolls Online, but not all expansions are exactly fan-favorites. Some add useful Skill Lines or side content, while others shine because of their main story. Some, though, are considered a bit lackluster when compared to the game's grander, more fleshed-out expansions.
Summerset Chapter
- Released: 2018
- Associated DLCs: Dragon Bones, Wolfhunter, Murkmire
The Summerset expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online was one of the most highly-anticipated as it was finally a chance to see the homeland of the High Elves in-person rather than through legends and second accounts. Even though there's plenty of mystery and beauty ascribed to Summerset in the Elder Scrolls series, the actual DLC zone didn't live up to expectations.
This expansion saw the eponymous Summerset chapter as well as the Dragon Bones and Wolfhunter dungeon DLCs and the Murkmire mini-expansion. The saving grace of this expansion is the Psijic Order skill line and the culmination of the story that began with the Morrowind expansion. Ultimately, though, it's not what it was hyped up to be.
Blackwood Chapter
- Released: 2021
- Associated DLCs: Flames of Ambition, Waking Flame, Deadlands
The Blackwood expansion came hot on the heels of the Greymoor expansion, which was criticized particularly for its unoriginal narrative and is regarded by many as a bit of a nostalgia trip (in a bad way). Blackwood is not much different, although it does have some elements that make it worth checking out.
The companion system was introduced with Blackwood, adding Mirri and Bastian. The Deadlands mini-expansion was hailed as a success for its unique zone and Fargrave, but in general, fans thought Blackwood was lacking in content. It didn't help that its overarching story was to save the world from Mehrunes Dagon once again.
The "Guilds and Glory Mega-Pack" DLCs
- Released: 2015/2016
- Associated DLCs: Orsinium, Thieves Guild, Dark Brotherhood
While it's not technically an expansion on its own, the Guilds and Glory Pack contains the Orsinium, Thieves Guild, and Dark Brotherhood DLCs. Each of these DLCs works independently from the others, but they add engaging stories, powerful skill lines, and beautiful zones to experience.
Orsinium adds Wrothgar and the home city of the Orsimer, Orsinium, to Elder Scrolls Online and features one of the best-written storylines in the game. Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood also have great stories that take place in Abah's Landing near Hammerfell and the Gold Coast of Cyrodiil, respectively. They would rank higher if not for their relatively short questlines.
Greymoor Chapter
- Released: 2020
- Associated DLCs: Harrowstorm, Stonethorn, Markarth
The Greymoor chapter for The Elder Scrolls Online brought players back to a location that has become a household name across the world: Skyrim, specifically Western Skyrim. Players could see Solitude thousands of years before Skyrim, and it also introduced the extremely popular Antiquities activity, which grants relics for completing excavations across Tamriel.
The main complaint against the Greymoor chapter was the lack of originality, as many believe it leans too heavily on nostalgia for Skyrim to make a proper name for itself. However, the Markarth mini-expansion bumps the entire expansion up a notch and is generally regarded by Elder Scrolls Online players as one of the best expansions available.
Elsweyr Chapter
- Released: 2019
- Associated DLCs: Wrathstone, Scalebreaker, Dragonhold
Where the Summerset chapter fell short of player expectations, the Elsweyr DLC far exceeded them. Little was previously known about the Khajiit homeland save for passing tales and books throughout the Elder Scrolls series. Seeing it in-person for the first time in ESO is a magical experience – and it features the return of Dragons to boot.
The Elsweyr chapter also added the Wrathstone and Scalebreaker dungeon DLCs and the Dragonhold mini-expansion. On launch, it added the Necromancer class, too, which quickly has become one of the most-used classes in Elder Scrolls Online. It's held in such high regard by fans for its beautiful zone design, compelling characters, and for setting a high narrative benchmark for DLC to come.
Morrowind Chapter
- Released: 2017
- Associated DLCs: Clockwork City
The Morrowind chapter for The Elder Scrolls Online is bar none the best expansion that the MMO has seen to date, so much so that it now comes included with basic copies of the game. It takes players back to Vvardenfell to see the homeland of the Dunmer at the height of their civilization – It's also a chance for players to see the Dark Elf Tribunal at their full power.
The storyline harkens back to Morrowind with its own take on the reincarnation of the Nerevarine, and the zone of Vvardenfell is one of the most gorgeous (and alien) in all of Tamriel. The Clockwork City DLC is the only place in the entire Elder Scrolls series where players can actually talk to the Living God Sotha Sil, who has more than a few things to say about his involvement at the Battle of Red Mountain and the... "meta"... aspects of being a God. It's an incredibly well-designed expansion that set a high bar and has yet to be surpassed by an Elder Scrolls Online DLC.
The Elder Scrolls Online is available for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S