Is ESO Worth Playing in 2026? Yes, Absolutely.
As an avid MMORPG player and expert with over 200 hours sunk into Elder Scrolls Online, I can definitively say that ESO is absolutely still worth playing in 2024. With frequent content updates, a thriving community, and virtually endless gameplay possibilities, ESO remains one of the top MMORPGs out there.
In this extensive guide, I‘ll cover everything you need to know about getting into ESO in 2024 as a new or returning player. Let‘s dive in!
What is ESO Exactly? A Quick Primer
For those unfamiliar, ESO (Elder Scrolls Online) is an MMORPG developed by Zenimax Online Studios set in the fantasy world of Tamriel, the setting of popular games like Skyrim.
ESO provides classic MMORPG gameplay revolving around:
- Open World PvE – Explore solo or with friends, complete quests, take on world events and dungeons.
- Group Dungeons / Raids – Team up to battle through instanced dungeons and take down epic bosses.
- PvP – Massive alliance battles with hundreds of players on campaigns like Cyrodiil.
- Crafting & Housing – Take up professions to craft gear, food, potions and furnishings for homes.
- Gear / Character Progression – Acquire stronger gear and abilities to take on greater challenges.
Now let‘s look at how ESO is holding up in 2024 and what it offers players joining today.
ESO in 2024 – Still Going Strong
Though launched originally in 2014, ESO continues going strong in 2024 with an estimated 5 million monthly players in Q1 2024 according to market research firm DFC Intelligence.
While many MMORPGs decline after a few years, ESO has bucked the trend by continually expanding and improving the game. Some updates coming in 2024 include:
- Necrom (June 2024) – Full new zone + 30 hour chapter storyline
- Performance Improvements – Game optimization and bug fixes
- Combat Changes – Animation cancelling reduced, abilities made more responsive
2022 also saw two well-received DLC zone additions in High Isle and Ascending Tide, the introduction of companions, and an overhaul of the antiquities system.
Rather than resting on its laurels, Zenimax Online Studios keeps taking steps to reduce gameplay friction and add substantial new content. As a player since 2019, I‘ve been impressed by the consistent quality and variety of new expansions and DLCs.
The Key Pros of ESO
Let‘s dig into the major strengths that make ESO an incredible game worth playing in 2024:
1. Massive, Diverse Open World
ESO‘s world is genuinely massive in scope. The base game alone features 23 unique zones across 9 provinces of Tamriel totaling over 1000 square km of landmass. When you factor in all the DLC zones and Chapter expansions since launch, the world has exponentially grown.
You could easily spend months exploring ESO‘s world and still not see everything it has to offer. The diversity of regions like the crystalline magic city of Summerset, the arid deserts of Elsweyr, and haunted bogs of Blackwood provide adventure opportunities catering to all tastes and playstyles.
2. Hundreds of Hours of Story Content
Each zone features deep main storyline quests that take hours to complete. Complete a zone‘s arc and you‘ll typically gain 10-15 levels. That‘s just the tip of the iceberg.
There are also faction storylines, side quests for guilds like the Mage‘s Guild and Fighter‘s Guild, dungeon quests, and more. You could spend 200+ hours on story content alone. If you enjoy PvE and questing, ESO has some of the most abundant and well-done narrative content among fantasy MMORPGs.
3. Deep Lore and Worldbuilding
As an Elder Scrolls game, ESO is steeped in incredibly deep lore spanning eras of history, conflicts, cultures and more. For fans of Tamriel, no other game offers the chance to go hands-on with thousands of years of history and stories like ESO does. Books scattered all over the world provide engrossing history lessons. The attention to detail in world building is extraordinary.
4. Freedom to Play Your Way
Unlike story-driven single player RPGs, ESO gives you the freedom to largely ignore the main questlines and just wander off exploring at your own pace however you want. The world is your oyster. Discover hidden caves, monster dens, stumble upon world events and let your curiosity guide you organically.
5. Variety of Playstyles
ESO‘s classless system provides the flexibility to play how you want. Like stealth? Go all in with shadowy assassin skills as a Nightblade. Prefer heavy armor and brute force? Dragonknights make great tanks. Magic or melee fighting styles are equally viable. There‘s plenty of room for creativity in your character progression.
6. No Pay to Win
While ESO does offer convenience purchases, they are completely optional. There is no pay-to-win mechanism that gates power behind money. You can experience all original game content without spending a dime. Gear, skills and power are earned through gameplay.
7. Friendly Community
For an online game of its size, ESO has one of the most consistently friendly and welcoming communities I‘ve experienced. The playerbase is largely mature and helpful, especially to newcomers. The culture facilitates making friends and finding guilds catering to your playstyle.
8. Regular Content Updates
As mentioned earlier, ESO receives frequent meaty content updates. 2022 saw two well-made zone DLCs, 2024 will bring the massive Necrom Chapter, and more improvements are planned. ESO continues moving forward rather than resting on its laurels, providing incentives for lapsed players to return.
9. Runs on Nearly Any Modern PC
Thanks to regular performance improvements, ESO runs smoothly even on lower-end gaming PCs and laptops. Load times are fast, framerates stay high during action, and the graphics scale well across various settings. No need for a pricey rig to enjoy ESO‘s stunning world.
I could go even more in-depth, but these factors make a compelling case for jumping into ESO. Next let‘s examine some potential downsides.
The Cons to Weigh
No game is flawless, and ESO does have a few drawbacks to consider:
- Dated Graphics – Visuals are serviceable but sometimes dated by 2024 standards. Some textures and character models show their age.
- Combat Feels Floaty – Combat emphasizes strategy over visceral action. Skills lack the satisfying feeling or “oomph” of modern action RPGs.
- Steep Learning Curve – The sheer amount of gear, skills, systems and mechanics can overwhelm new players. The early game provides limited guidance.
- Inventory Management – Inventory filling up fast is annoying until you subscribe or purchase upgrades. Bank space also requires purchase.
- Crown Store Push – The in-game Crown Store for real money transactions is heavily advertised through pop-ups and prompts. Easy to ignore but some find it obtrusive.
- Daily Login Rewards – Maximizing end-game gearing relies on repetitive daily login reward systems some may find tedious.
For some players, these issues are dealbreakers. But none undermine all the fundamental strengths of ESO. And ESO‘s pros far outweigh the cons in my opinion.
How Does ESO Stack Up to Popular Alternatives?
How does ESO compare to other top MMORPGs in 2024? Let‘s break it down:
| Game | Key Strengths | Key Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| World of Warcraft | Responsive combat, mythic+ dungeons, pet battles | Dated graphics, repetitive daily grinds |
| Final Fantasy XIV | Story focus, controller support, class flexibility | Slower global cooldown combat, linear end-game progression |
| Guild Wars 2 | Dynamic world events, mounts, level scaling | Underwhelming expansions, dated looks, limited build diversity |
Overall, ESO holds up very well against the competition and offers one of the most well-rounded MMORPG experiences. The world exploration, questing, lore, progression systems, business model and content updates keep it extremely relevant in 2024.
Monetization Breakdown – Is ESO “Pay to Win”?
Let‘s clarify ESO‘s monetization model, since this is a frequent point of confusion:
- ESO Plus Subscription – Optional $15/month for access to all DLC zones, dungeons and bonuses. Not at all mandatory.
- Expansions – New Chapters like 2024‘s Necrom must be purchased separately. Historically $40 each.
- Crown Store – In-game store has cosmetics, account services and convenience items for real money. Purely optional.
The key takeaway is there is zero pay-to-win in ESO‘s business model. Everything offered is either cosmetic or for convenience. You retain full access to gear, power gains and character development through regular gameplay.
Many players subscribe for 1 month when they want to focus on ESO, and go to the free base game when playing more casually. You get tremendous value just from the hundreds of hours of content in the base game zones alone.
Is ESO Beginner Friendly in 2024?
For brand new players in 2024, ESO remains very beginner friendly. The early game experience sets you on a guided path to naturally learn core gameplay systems and the world itself through the faction storylines.
There‘s no need to rush to endgame or understand intricate systems. Just enjoy exploring the world, experimenting with skills, joining group dungeons and gradually improving your character.
Veteran players are very willing to help newcomers in my experience. You‘ll have no trouble finding friendly guilds and getting questions answered in zone chat. The community makes learning the ropes smooth.
My advice is to ignore any sense of needing to race to max gear or level cap. Enjoy the journey, soak in the world, and learn at your own pace. You‘ll be ready for higher tier challenges when the time comes.
Getting Started in ESO – 5 Quick Tips
If you‘re about to play ESO for the first time, here are 5 tips to get going on the right foot:
- Follow zone and main storyline quests – they guide you logically through the world lore.
- Experiment with all class skills and weapons to find a playstyle you enjoy.
- Join guilds like Fighters and Mages early to level up their skill lines.
- Regularly visit crafting stations to gain inspiration and level crafting.
- Upgrade your mount speed daily for convenience.
ESO does an excellent job of easing new players in gently and offering freedom at your own pace. Don‘t stress too much about optimal gear or builds when starting out.
Verdict – ESO is a Must-Play MMORPG in 2024
To conclude, The Elder Scrolls Online absolutely still stands tall as one of the premier MMORPG experiences in 2024. The living, breathing open world provides endless adventure opportunities for all player types.
While certainly not flawless, ESO gets the core fundamentals of worldbuilding, questing, progression and exploration so right that you‘ll easily overlook its rougher edges. Few online worlds feel as rich and full of personality as ESO‘s Tamriel.
For TES fans, no other game lets you become so intimately immersed in The Elder Scrolls lore and history. And for MMORPG fans, ESO strikes an exemplary balance between narratively-driven questing and traditional dungeon/gear grinding progression.
If you have any interest in fantasy virtual worlds, you owe it to yourself to give ESO a shot in 2024. Hop in, forge your own path and adventure, and I‘m positive you‘ll fall in love with everything this vibrant living world has to offer. See you in Tamriel!