ESO has been on the market for over 8 years now and is one of the top MMORPGs. But what accounts for long-lasting success?
The Elder Scrolls Online launched in 2014 and has had an impressive track record ever since. The game thrilled right from the start with fully voiced quests, atmospheric use of phasing and a particularly large elder scrolls world.
Initial points of criticism were also quickly remedied, and at the latest with the updates “Tamriel Unlimited” and “One Tamriel” ESO finally became a game that feels like a typical game in the series that you can experience both alone and with masses of other players .
ESO: Firesong Prologue Trailer
Reasons why The Elder Scrolls Online rocks
Especially in 2022, the year of the “Legacy of the Bretons”, the developers have improved and optimized some of the game. Players were therefore able to reap the fruits of this long-term work this year. In the following paragraphs you will learn which aspects are particularly responsible for the popularity of ESO.
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It’s beginner friendly
Large MMORPGs are often complex games that are difficult to get into as a newcomer if you only want to get started years after release. But that only applies to a limited extent for ESO. Sure, you have to invest some time to master the class and skill system, but ESO offers a few features that make it much easier to get started.
The area guide is particularly useful for beginners. This is an in-game tool that tells you exactly where to go if you want certain quests or achievements. Also, you can visit any area in ESO, no matter what level you are.
So if you’d rather quest in Catland Elsweyr instead of Argonian Swamp, just do it. Territories scale with your hero, so you’re never at such a disadvantage that you can’t play.
This feature is particularly attractive for players who would like to start with a new chapter. Because unlike many other MMORPGs, you don’t have to grind up a hero forever for the new areas. If you, as a Skyrim fan, are interested in the areas from the Greymoor chapter, then go there directly with your low-level hero or create a new character that starts directly in Greymoor.
It is constantly being optimized and gets new features
ESO does not stand still and thanks to the special update structure, there is always new content and optimizations. The game receives four major updates each year and dozens of smaller fixes and patches in between.
The big changes are often fundamental optimizations of the game system. Among other things, the size of the game on the hard drive has been massively reduced and there has also been a major next-gen graphics update. In addition, fundamental elements of the combat system and the items have recently been massively revised. So ESO is not a game that is only half-heartedly maintained by the developers. There’s always something in the works, and every year The Elder Scrolls Online becomes more player-friendly.
In addition to these diverse measures and changes to the game’s substructure, there are also tangible innovations that bring additional features into play. In the past there was housing, transmog stations, antique searches and the cool companions, which mainly support solo players.
In the Year of the Bretons, a completely new mini-game appeared. In the “Fame Stories” you play a strategic and tactical card game. You can earn different decks and use them to challenge players and NPCs around the world.
So ESO never stands still. New cool elements are added every year and there is more to experience.
All-new Elder Scrolls regions are introduced
A typical Elder Scrolls game, like Morrowind or Skyrim, presents a region of Tamriel in detail. But if you want to leave Skyrim or Vvardenfell, then that just wasn’t possible in the games mentioned.
In ESO, on the other hand, large parts of the continent of Tamriel and various external worlds are freely accessible. So you can roam around in well-known areas like the Gold Coast or Skyrim and enjoy their special flair known from the other games.
But in addition to these well-known regions, you can explore completely new lands in ESO that – apart perhaps from the ancestor game Arena – have never been seen in a title in the series. For example, you can travel to the Khajiit home of Elsweyr or the remote elven islands of Sommerset.
In 2022 there was even a region that really had never been reached in any game in the series: The mysterious Systren Islands were to be explored for the first time this year and in the final DLC Firesong the exciting story about intrigues, druids and old secrets became impressive accomplished.
Every type of player gets content
Finally, perhaps the most important feature and recipe for success of ESO: It appeals to a large number of players. No matter what your gaming heart beats for, there is something to do and experience for everyone.
This is what Solo players get: If you like to travel alone, then ESO is the place for you. Almost all aspects of the game are easy to do alone. With the new companions you even dominate some dungeons. So if you prefer to play MMOs solo and want the full Elder Scrolls feeling from a solo RPG, you won’t go wrong with ESO.
This is offered to series fans: Anyone interested in the lore and story behind the Elder Scrolls games will enjoy ESO. Because the action takes place centuries before all other games in the series, it offers valuable insight into the past and story of Tamriel and its peoples and gods.
This is what ESO offers for roleplayers: If you play MMORPGs with an RPG focus, ESO offers you a special opportunity. Because on the one hand you have tons of cool emotes that make your characters even more lively and let them immerse themselves perfectly in the game world. In addition, you can be a member of several guilds in ESO. So there’s nothing wrong with having your own guild with like-minded players for proper RP.
This is what core gamers enjoy: Are you a hardcore gamer who is primarily looking for challenges in MMOs? Then look forward to the trials (raids), of which there is a new copy every year. If the regular version is too easy for you, then try advanced variants of the raids and bag special loot and special achievements.
This is for PvP fans: Players who like to knock out other players have three options here. First of all, you can challenge every other player in the game world to duels. Then there are special arenas in which three teams either knock each other down or complete mission objectives. On the other hand, those who like really hearty brawls will report for service in the battle for the imperial city and may even be able to climb the throne for a short time in the end.
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So much for the benefits of The Elder Scrolls Online so far. In the coming year 2023, however, ESO will deviate somewhat from the previous path and dare to innovate. You can find out what there is already to know about it here: MMORPG ESO wants to do everything differently in 2023 – promises big innovations, but does without 2 DLCs