The Elder Scrolls Online
Developer: Zenimax | Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series | Release Date: April 4, 2014 | Payment Model: Buy2Play
The MMORPG for Elder Scrolls offers a similar promise to Guild Wars 2: from character creation, you will experience maximum freedom. You decide where you go when and which contents you play. This is made possible by the flexible level scaling that applies to almost all content of the MMORPG.
Unlike WoW, you can start directly in the region of the latest expansion without needing to reach a certain character level beforehand. If you need support, you can call on an NPC companion by your side. They can tank, heal, or deal damage so well that it’s even sufficient for certain dungeons and raids.
ESO is also well-suited for casual players because the focus is only partially on group or guild content. More important are exploring the game world, experiencing the story (especially through fully voiced dialogues), and mastering quests. All things that can be enjoyed solo or with a few friends at your own pace.
Additionally, there are various side activities such as housing, the card game Tales of Glory, or the search for antiquities. The scope is immense, but there is no pressure to do everything. The base version can often be obtained on sale for just a few euros.
The current premium edition with all chapters and the current season is only available at full price (around 80 euros). However, the ESO Plus subscription is only optional – as a casual player, you don’t necessarily need the benefits. Also possibly interesting for some: The Elder Scrolls Online can be easily played from the couch with a controller. The developers are even working on a crossplay feature for ESO.
