The Elder Scrolls Online
Developer: Zenimax Online | Platform: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One | Release Date: April 4, 2014 | Model: Buy2Play with optional subscription | Combat System: Action
What is this game? The Elder Scrolls Online is not a traditional MMORPG, as you can experience almost everything without joining a guild or interacting with other players. Especially in the open world and while following the story, other players feel more like NPCs accompanying you.
Those coming from the single-player titles of The Elder Scrolls will find it easy to navigate. You can visit familiar areas like Skyrim, Morrowind, or Blackwood and instead of a minimap, you’ll have the familiar compass.
But MMORPG fans will also find something for themselves, such as in the regular new dungeons, raids, or PvP, where battlegrounds or the vast Cyrodiil are available. In Cyrodiil, you fight in large battles between the three playable factions for fortifications – similar to the World vs. World in Guild Wars 2.
ESO uses an action combat system, which requires you to block, dodge, and aim with your abilities.
Another special feature is the update structure of the game. Throughout all quarters of the past years, there have been DLCs with either new dungeons or areas, the annual chapter, featuring 30 hours of story, new areas, and a new raid, or at least a packed update with new content that all players can benefit from.
Last year, they switched to a seasonal system, which is expected to really take off in 2026.
Who is this interesting for? Players looking for well-voiced stories or those who don’t want to grind in endgame. Because even the latest expansion can be experienced with a freshly created character. As new sets are released but no new gear tiers, you also save a lot of grind.
ESO is the ideal MMORPG for solo players because the story is so good and you hardly need help from other players at any point. In addition, companions were introduced in 2021, NPCs that you can add to your group who can fulfill roles like tank or healer. This allows you to handle everything without other players except for group dungeons and raids.
Additionally, the console version of the game is positively received. It is well implemented and generally receives updates just a few days after the PC version. This makes ESO one of the best MMORPGs for PS5 or Xbox Series X/S.
Is there a catch? The combat system of ESO is not very reactive. When you hit enemies, you can hardly feel it. Also, the constant scaling annoys some players because it makes the open world feel too easy for many veterans.
There is also criticism of the monetization. Fans of the MMORPG must take out the optional subscription for €12.99 per month if they want access to various DLC content, the important crafting bag, and other benefits. Added to this are the well-known Crown Store, the purchase price for the main game, and, from 2026, several Battle Pass variants.
However, in 2026, some content that was previously subject to a fee will be transferred to the base game. In addition, all gameplay-related innovations will now be available on the servers free of charge.
For console players, it is currently still annoying that there is no cross-play with other platforms. PlayStation fans, for example, cannot hunt together with Xbox players, even if the updates are released at the same time. The good news is that cross-play is in the works. And starting this year, patches are to be released simultaneously on all platforms.
Is it still worth starting in 2026? The last few years have been special for ESO because, for the first time since 2018, the familiar update schedule has been broken up and new seasons have been introduced. The foreseeable future brings many improvements that players have been wanting for years.
In addition, the developers promise all kinds of experiments, such as a particularly challenging event zone, ship battles on the high seas, and solo dungeons. Find out what’s planned for 2026 in our overview: The Elder Scrolls Online is revamping its payment model again in 2026 and introducing some unusual experiments.
