Minecraft is perhaps the most famous virtual sandbox in the world for people to let their creativity soar and shine. With a simple, yet robust foundation that is its gameplay loop, supported by a healthy and thriving modding scene, Minecraft players can shape and build entire worlds to their liking – usually drawing inspiration from their other favorite games.
In this case, the other game in question is Skyrim, the fifth installment of The Elder Scrolls franchise. A Reddit user named Branman1234, already known for his other Skyrim recreations in Minecraft, posted yet another build on the game’s subreddit, this time featuring the snow-swept city of Windhelm.
Windhelm in The Elder Scrolls lore is known as the oldest human settlement still standing on the face of Tamriel, and within the context of the game, it represents the central hub of the Stormcloaks, one of two major political factions in Skyrim that the player can choose from. The city features a towering palace where the leader of the Stormcloaks resides, but Windhelm is unfortunately also known for its racial segregation, confining the Dunmer refugees fleeing the eruption of Red Mountain – as well as the Argonian dock workers – strictly to the more run-down parts of the city.
The build respectfully recreates the entirety of the nordic City of Kings – from its tall walls and elaborate bridge, to the Gray Quarter and the harbor tethered along the eastern end of Windhelm. As with the creator’s College of Winterhold recreation, it is safe to assume that only the exterior of the city has been built thus far.
Given that the creator pointed out in their College of Winterhold showcase that it was part of a larger project to recreate the rest of Skyrim’s settlements, as well as other breathtaking locations for a themed Minecraft server, this Windhelm build seems to be a part of it.
With the release of Cliffs and Caves, the latest major updates 1.17 and 1.18 for Minecraft, Skyrim’s Reddit community pointed out that it was the perfect opportunity to properly recreate the rugged mountains surrounding the north of Windhelm, utilizing all the new features added to the game.
From Riverwood and Dragon Bridge to Winterhold and Castle Volkihar, Branman1234’s work on recreating the iconic locations found in The Elder Scrolls games is nothing short of impressive, and one can’t help but wonder how the completed project will look like.
Minecraft is available now for Mobile, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
