The Elder Scrolls Online

About The Elder Scrolls Online

ZeniMax Online Studios launched this massively multiplayer RPG back in April 2014 for PC and Mac. It later expanded to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and current gen consoles. The game drops you into the Second Era of Tamriel, nearly a thousand years before Skyrim. You play as an adventurer whose soul was harvested by the Daedric Prince Molag Bal but can return to life repeatedly. Your main job involves stopping Dark Anchors from pulling the world into Coldharbour while navigating political schemes involving Empress Regent Clivia Tharn and Mannimarco the King of Worms.

Gameplay

You spend your time leveling up characters by completing quests and exploring open zones on foot or by fast traveling. Combat relies on a skill bar system where you rotate between heavy attacks, light attacks, and ability spells to manage resources like magicka and stamina. The game features three distinct guild quest lines that guide you through the main narrative while letting you tackle world bosses for better loot. You can team up with others in dungeons or join massive player versus player battles in Cyrodiil. The controls feel responsive whether you are playing on a controller or keyboard, though movement speeds vary significantly between zones.

What Players Think

Players rate this title at 71.1 out of 100 based on 358 IGDB reviews. Community sentiment leans heavily toward story-driven experiences with atmospheric vibes appearing in three separate votes. Two users specifically highlighted the cooperative aspect as a key feature. The average playtime suggests people invest hundreds of hours exploring the world and completing achievements. Twitch rankings currently place it at number 75 for trending games, showing steady viewer interest despite its age. Most reviews focus on the depth of the lore rather than technical performance issues found at launch.

PlayPile's Take

This game suits players who want a deep lore-heavy RPG without needing to pay full price right now. You can grab it for $3.44 at Green Man Gaming which represents a 78 percent discount. The achievement system offers plenty of long-term goals if you enjoy grinding for completion. It works best as a single-player experience or with a small group rather than in chaotic mass battles. Avoid this if you want fast-paced action without any narrative weight. The low price point makes it an easy purchase for anyone curious about the Elder Scrolls universe.

Storyline

The game is set in the Second Era, in 2E 583, during a period of time known as the Interregnum. It was a period of time known for its political instability. Daedric prince Molag Bal has taken advantage of this instability to try and pull all of Tamriel into his realm of Coldharbour. Bal is doing so by sending devices called "Dark Anchors" into Tamriel. The Fighters Guild have taken it upon themselves to remove them. The Tharn family, current rulers of Cyrodiil through Empress Regent Clivia Tharn, has made a pact with the King of Worms, who has agreed to supplement the Imperial's forces by resurrecting their soldiers. Secretly, Mannimarco is conspiring with Molag Bal, the Daedric Prince of Corruption and Domination, to take over Mundus. Molag Bal is also harvesting the souls of mortals. The Hero is an adventurer whose soul has been taken, which allows them to constantly return to life.