Star Wars: The Old Republic vs The Elder Scrolls Online
Every attribute in the database, side by side — MMOlist scores Star Wars: The Old Republic at 81 and The Elder Scrolls Online at 75, but the right pick depends on how you play.
Star Wars: The Old Republic
2011 · Free-to-Play + Sub Option · Tab Target
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 Star Wars: The Old Republic, The Elder Scrolls Online is deeper on crafting, less alt-friendly and more PvP-focused, with soft-lock action combat instead of tab-target combat and a buy-to-play + sub option model instead of free-to-play + sub option.
Star Wars: The Old Republic — strengths: Eight fully voiced class storylines; Great solo KOTOR-style experience. Watch out for: Years of slow content cadence (picking back up with the 8.0 expansion).
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.
| Star Wars: The Old Republic | The Elder Scrolls Online | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Live | Live |
| Release year | 2011 | 2014 |
| Developer | Broadsword Online Games | ZeniMax Online Studios |
| Business model | Free-to-Play + Sub Option | Buy-to-Play + Sub Option |
| Platforms | PC | PC, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox |
| Combat type | Tab Target | Soft-lock Action |
| World design | Themepark | Themepark |
| MMOlist score | 81 | 75 |
| Steam rating | 81% | 81% |
| User score | 7.6/10 | 7.2/10 |
| Critic score | 85 | 70 |
| Steam peak CCU | 24K | 45K |
| PvE focus | ||
| PvP focus | ||
| Grindiness | ||
| Solo friendly | ||
| Duo friendly | ||
| Casual friendly | ||
| Typical session | 1–2 hours | 30–60 min |
| Time to endgame | Under 40h | 40–100h |
| Catch-up friendly | ||
| Chore pressure | ||
| Endgame progression | Vertical | 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 | Slow | Active |
| Best for | Star Wars fans; Story soloers; Altoholics who want eight class stories | Elder Scrolls fans; Solo questers; Explorers; Housing enthusiasts |
Pick Star Wars: The Old Republic if you want…
- Star Wars fans
- Story soloers
- Altoholics who want eight class stories
Pick The Elder Scrolls Online if you want…
- Elder Scrolls fans
- Solo questers
- Explorers
- Housing enthusiasts
Keep exploring
Other matchups
Still torn? Add a third game, or let the quiz decide from how you actually play.