The Elder Scrolls Online (TESO or ESO) is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), a part of the Elder Scrolls series, that was first released on April 4th, 2014. The game was developed by ZeniMax Online Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks and was renamed The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited after adopting a buy-to-play model (with optional subscription) that replaced the original-subscription based model.

Plot

Players explore most parts (but not all) of the continent of Tamriel during the Second Era - this means that the events are set a millennium before The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and some 800 years before The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Some parts of the continent are available through DLCs.

Players have two main missions: to defeat Prince Molag Bal and decide the fate of the world and two win the vacant imperial throne. To obtain the supreme power over Tamriel, the player has to confront three alliances of the mortal races and recover their soul, which has been stolen by Molag Bal.

Just like other Elder Scrolls games, TESO starts with the character being held as a prisoner that has to escape.

Gameplay

As mentioned above, The Elder Scrolls Online is an MMORPG, which means that interactions happen in real-time. In this game, however, there is no offline single-player campaign. When creating their characters, players have to choose between ten different races and six different classes, which results in different attacks, spells, and passive effects. Once they start the game, players have the possibility to explore the world freely, undergo various quests, and participate in random events.

Elder Scrolls Online Classes: The six classes are the following: Nightblade, Dragonknight, Sorcerer, Necromancer, Templar, and Warden. The ten Elder Scrolls Online races are Human (Nords, Redguards, Bretons, and Imperials), Elves (Dark Elves (Dunmer), High Elves (Altmer), Wood Elves (Bosmer), and Orcs (Orsimer)), and Bestial (Khajiit and Argonians).
Elder Scrolls Online Timeline: The story in the game keeps evolving - this is possible thanks to the multiple updates, DLCs, and chapters. In TESO, chapters are similar to game expansions.
Elder Scrolls Online Crafting Skill Lines: Alchemy, Blacksmithing, Clothier, Enchanting, Woodworking, Provisioning, and Jewelry crafting.

What do the reviews say?

When it was first released, the game received mixed reception and a score of 71 points on Metacritic. However, thanks to constant updates and added content, The Elder Scrolls Online sold over 15 million copies by 2020. Here is what the critics have to say about Blackwood:

"The Elder Scrolls Online: Blackwood delivers more of the same – albeit this new helping is a step up from last year’s Greymoor expansion in its often funny writing and striking map layout. Blackwood leans hard on its nostalgia, but it actually manages to feel like an appropriate prequel to Oblivion without forcing you down too many of the same paths. Its companion system is definitely worth checking out, too, but it may not be enough gameplay variety to recommit a fan who is tired of ESO in general. For those of us who are still happily jogging along on the treadmill, though, there’s plenty to do and see here, if for no other reason than to simply fortify your understanding of Elder Scrolls lore." (IGN)

Age rating

The game is rated with a PEGI 18 label. It may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language. Another argument for that label is that real-time interactions may make the experience quite addictive.

Is Elder Scrolls Online free?

No, the game is not free, even though there are some official free-to-play periods. You can purchase the Standard edition (base game + The Morrowind Chapter) for $19.99. Players can also opt for a monthly subscription plan with the ESO Plus Membership. Prices start at $11.67 per month. Membership is billed annually.

Is Elder Scrolls Online cross-platform?

No, PC gamers have their own servers and can't join Xbox or PlayStation players. When it comes to the Elder Scrolls Online crossplay possibilities, you can only play the game within the same console family. In other words, there is a shared server for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S (only), as well as a shared server for PS4 and PS5 (only). The next-gen release is set for June 15th, 2021.

What are the minimum system requirements for The Elder Scrolls Online?

Operating System: Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit).
Processor: Intel® Core i3 540 or AMD A6-3620 or higher.
Memory: 3GB RAM.
Graphic Card: Direct X 11.0 compliant video card with 1GB RAM (NVidia GeForce 460 or AMD Radeon 6850).
Free Space: 85 GB available space.
Network: Broadband Internet connection.