The Elder Scrolls® Online
" Immersive MMORPG with rich Elder Scrolls lore and vast world but aggressive monetization "
The Elder Scrolls® Online Review
The Elder Scrolls® Online (ESO) is a vast MMORPG set in the beloved Elder Scrolls universe, offering rich lore, expansive exploration, and a variety of gameplay modes including solo questing, group dungeons, PvP, crafting, and housing. Many players appreciate its deep storytelling, voice acting, and the freedom to create diverse character builds. The game features an extensive world with hand-crafted quests and a unique card game mini-activity. However, ESO's monetization model, including subscriptions and a premium Crown Store, is frequently criticized for being aggressive and limiting free-to-play enjoyment. Inventory management and crafting systems often push players toward paid subscriptions. The game is welcoming to solo players but can feel overwhelming for newcomers due to complexity and horizontal scaling of difficulty. While the community is often praised for friendliness, some players report issues with cheating and unbalanced PvP. Technical problems, including account recovery and long maintenance downtimes, also affect the experience. Overall, ESO is loved for its lore and content depth but marred by monetization and accessibility concerns.
Highlights
Players consistently praise ESO's rich lore and storytelling, with well-voiced characters and immersive quests that capture the Elder Scrolls spirit. The open world exploration and diverse environments are celebrated for their detail and atmosphere. Character customization and class flexibility allow for creative playstyles, and the crafting and housing systems are regarded as some of the best in MMOs. Additionally, the inclusion of a unique card game and a variety of PvE and PvP content adds depth and replayability. The community is often described as friendly and helpful, enhancing the social experience.
Criticisms
Common criticisms focus on ESO's predatory monetization, including paywalls for content, limited inventory space without subscription, and expensive cosmetic and convenience items. Players find the inventory and crafting systems cumbersome without paid perks, making gameplay feel like a chore. PvP is noted as unbalanced and gear-dependent, often frustrating new players. The game’s difficulty scaling is too easy, reducing challenge and immersion. Technical issues like account recovery failures, long maintenance periods, and bugs detract from enjoyment. Additionally, the game’s complexity and horizontal progression can overwhelm newcomers, and some feel the world lacks vitality due to scattered player populations.
Pros
- • Rich, immersive Elder Scrolls lore and compelling voice-acted quests.
- • Vast, detailed open world with diverse environments to explore.
- • Flexible class and skill customization enabling diverse playstyles.
- • Robust crafting system with deep mechanics and meaningful progression.
- • Extensive housing system allowing creative decoration and personalization.
- • Engaging solo and group content including dungeons, raids, and PvP.
- • Unique in-game card game adds variety and fun side activities.
Cons
- • Aggressive monetization with paywalls and expensive premium items.
- • Inventory and crafting heavily limited without costly subscription.
- • PvP is gear-dependent and unbalanced, frustrating new players.
- • Difficulty is generally too easy, reducing challenge and engagement.
- • Technical issues: account recovery, bugs, and lengthy maintenance downtimes.
- • Complexity and horizontal scaling overwhelm new players initially.
- • Repetitive gameplay loops, especially when leveling multiple characters.
Rating Criteria
About This Game
The Elder Scrolls Online: 2025 Content Pass
In a direct sequel to the ESO main story, the Worm Cult is back and seeking revenge for its defeat during the Planemeld. Travel to the island of Solstice and help unite the Three Alliances against an old foe that has mysteriously returned.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Housing Starter Pack
Begin (or bolster!) your housing adventure in Tamriel with the Housing Starter Pack, featuring a brand-new Unfurnished House and 800 Crowns for Furnishings to decorate your new home with (or anything else you desire in ESO’s in-game shop, the Crown Store)!
This bundle includes:
• Seabloom Villa Unfurnished House
• 800 Crowns
Seabloom Villa Unfurnished House
Blossom lovers will delight in this picturesque villa perched on the western coastline of Auridon! With its elegant design, this cozy home awaits any who seek to nurture its blooms to life while enjoying how the light dances on the nearby rippling waters.
800 Crowns
The Crowns are for use in the Crown Store. The Crown Store can be accessed in-game to browse and purchase unique furnishings, houses, pets, mounts, costumes for your character, and other virtual goods and services.
The Elder Scrolls Online: The Hailcinder Mount Pack
Ride into your Tamrielic journey with the Hailcinder Mount Pack, featuring an exclusive Vale Elk Mount, 3000 Crowns for use in the Crown Store, as well as a Pledge of Mara Scroll to aid in your adventures.
This bundle includes:
• Exclusive Mount: Hailcinder Vale Elk
• 3000 Crowns
• Pledge of Mara Scroll
Mount: Hailcinder Vale Elk
Some claim a ghost possesses this proud steed, providing it with a haunting glow. Others point to its chosen diet: glowing flora and fungi. Regardless, riders feel as if they're gliding on air.
3000 Crowns
The Crowns are for use in The Crown Store. The Crown Store can be accessed in-game to browse and purchase unique pets, mounts, costumes for your character, and other virtual goods and services.
Pledge of Mara Scroll
Pledge commitment on sacred ground to bond a single character to another. Both will earn 10% more experience while adventuring together. Pledge is consumed on use.
About the Game
Every legend starts somewhere and in The Elder Scrolls Online, it starts with you. Write your story into a vibrant chapter of Tamriel’s distant past that takes place nearly 1,000 years before the iconic TES V: Skyrim, and discover a world steeped in adventure and possibility.
A DIVERSE FANTASY WORLD – Travel the vast land of Tamriel and discover a world of adventure. Explore the mushroom forests of Morrowind, battle Daedric foes in the realms of Oblivion, or face off against other players in PvP combat.
RICH STORIES ON A SHARED CANVAS - Immerse yourself in award-winning storytelling that's crafted with the same spirit as your favorite Elder Scrolls games. Discover an ever-growing world with friends or solo.
PURPOSE IN EVERY PATH - Choose from an array of quests and challenges that fit your desires and ambitions. Grab a fishing rod and relax at the shore, seek lost treasures, conquer group dungeons, or craft new armor. Make this Elder Scrolls world your own - you belong here.
Every legend starts somewhere and in The Elder Scrolls Online, it starts with you. Join millions of players in an online, fantasy RPG set in a vast living Elder Scrolls world.
