Guild Wars 2 vs The Elder Scrolls Online
Every attribute in the database, side by side — MMOlist scores Guild Wars 2 at 81 and The Elder Scrolls Online at 75, but the right pick depends on how you play.
Guild Wars 2
2012 · Buy-to-Play · Hybrid
The Elder Scrolls Online
2014 · Buy-to-Play + Sub Option · Soft-lock Action
The short version
What they share: a themepark world and no open-world PvP.
Compared with Guild Wars 2, The Elder Scrolls Online is less PvP-focused, less grindy and more solo-friendly, with soft-lock action combat instead of hybrid combat and a buy-to-play + sub option model instead of buy-to-play.
Guild Wars 2 — strengths: Horizontal progression respects your time; Best mount system in the genre. Watch out for: Endgame direction can feel aimless.
The Elder Scrolls Online — strengths: Every zone is viable at any level; Massive amount of fully voiced quests. Watch out for: Floaty combat feel divides players.
| Guild Wars 2 | The Elder Scrolls Online | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Live | Live |
| Release year | 2012 | 2014 |
| Developer | ArenaNet | ZeniMax Online Studios |
| Business model | Buy-to-Play | Buy-to-Play + Sub Option |
| Platforms | PC | PC, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox |
| Combat type | Hybrid | Soft-lock Action |
| World design | Themepark | Themepark |
| MMOlist score | 81 | 75 |
| Steam rating | 87% | 81% |
| User score | 8/10 | 7.2/10 |
| Critic score | 74 | 70 |
| Steam peak CCU | 27K | 45K |
| PvE focus | ||
| PvP focus | ||
| Grindiness | ||
| Solo friendly | ||
| Duo friendly | ||
| Casual friendly | ||
| Typical session | 30–60 min | 30–60 min |
| Time to endgame | Under 40h | 40–100h |
| Catch-up friendly | ||
| Chore pressure | ||
| Endgame progression | Horizontal | Hybrid |
| Alt friendly | ||
| Crafting depth | ||
| Guild importance | ||
| P2W perception | Low | Moderate |
| Open-world PvP | No | No |
| Full-loot PvP | No | No |
| Housing | Instanced | Instanced |
| Steam Deck | Playable | Verified |
| Cross-play | Partial / N/A | No |
| Cross-progression | Partial / N/A | No |
| Update cadence | Active | Active |
| Best for | Explorers; Players who hate gear treadmills; WvW large-scale PvP fans; Altoholics | Elder Scrolls fans; Solo questers; Explorers; Housing enthusiasts |
Pick Guild Wars 2 if you want…
- Explorers
- Players who hate gear treadmills
- WvW large-scale PvP fans
- Altoholics
Pick The Elder Scrolls Online if you want…
- Elder Scrolls fans
- Solo questers
- Explorers
- Housing enthusiasts
Keep exploring
Still torn? Add a third game, or let the quiz decide from how you actually play.