The Elder Scrolls Online is a Buy2Play MMORPG. In order to gain access and try the game, you usually have to pay money upfront. However, it is currently free to play. MeinMMO editor Alexander Leitsch reveals how long you can test ESO and for which player types it is particularly suitable.
How long is ESO free to play? The so-called QuakeCon 2021 event for ESO is currently running. During this event, you can play the MMORPG for free. The event runs until Monday, August 30 at 4:00 PM German time.
During this event, you can create a free account on PC, Mac, Xbox, PlayStation, or Google Stadia and spend as many hours in ESO as you want.
What content is available for free? The event gives you access to the base game of ESO as well as the Vvardenfell area from the first expansion Morrowind. In general, you can:
- Try out the four base classes
- Explore 23 unique areas
- Experience the entire story of the base game
- Play with friends who already own ESO and have been trying to convince you to give it a try
You can also try out the prologue to the latest expansion Blackwood, which was released in June 2021.
However, access to the content of other expansions or DLCs is denied to you.
ESO is an MMORPG for solo players and fans of good stories
What makes ESO special? The Elder Scrolls Online is not a classic MMORPG, as it places a heavy emphasis on many single-player content and easy access to the game world.
For example, you can explore any area in ESO at any level, as your character dynamically adapts to the respective content. You can go straight into one of the endgame areas and the latest expansion without ever having explored the “old game world”.
In addition to scaling, ESO excels at allowing you to essentially avoid contact with other players. All stories can be experienced alone. In addition, there is the new companion system introduced with Blackwood, which allows you to experience all content with an NPC by your side.
What does ESO offer in total?
- A huge game world in the universe of The Elder Scrolls
- An action-packed combat system with active dodging and blocking
- Exciting story content that has been fully voiced in German
- Over 40 different dungeons, which also come with a more challenging veteran mode
- Raids in the form of so-called Trials for 12 players
- Various PvP content, including the massive area of Cyrodiil where the 3 factions battle
- A new update every quarter and a new expansion each year
What type of players is ESO particularly suitable for? ESO is primarily aimed at fans of good stories and action-packed combat systems. Because in both areas, the game excels and is among the best that the genre has to offer.
Most content can be completed solo, making it one of the MMORPGs that you can best play alone. With the new companions, this aspect has also improved again.
Although dungeons and raids in the endgame are challenging, they are by no means as demanding as those in genre competitors WoW and FFXIV. Additionally, ESO struggles somewhat with technical issues, especially when it comes to the large PvP area of Cyrodiil. Here, the MMORPG unfortunately does not shine. Criticism is also directed at the update culture, which runs the same way every year and essentially offers no surprises.
By the way, ESO will receive the latest DLC Waking Flame next week. We have summarized everything important about it here:
ESO: Everything we know about the new DLC Waking Flame – Release, dungeons, armor sets
