World of Warcraft vs The Elder Scrolls Online
Every attribute in the database, side by side — MMOlist scores World of Warcraft at 85 and The Elder Scrolls Online at 75, but the right pick depends on how you play.
World of Warcraft
2004 · Subscription · 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 World of Warcraft, The Elder Scrolls Online is less guild-dependent, less PvE-focused and less grindy, with soft-lock action combat instead of tab-target combat and a buy-to-play + sub option model instead of subscription.
World of Warcraft — strengths: Best-in-class dungeon and raid design; Huge content backlog and frequent patches. Watch out for: Subscription plus expansion cost.
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.
| World of Warcraft | The Elder Scrolls Online | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Live | Live |
| Release year | 2004 | 2014 |
| Developer | Blizzard Entertainment | ZeniMax Online Studios |
| Business model | Subscription | Buy-to-Play + Sub Option |
| Platforms | PC, Mac | PC, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox |
| Combat type | Tab Target | Soft-lock Action |
| World design | Themepark | Themepark |
| MMOlist score | 85 | 75 |
| Steam rating | — | 81% |
| User score | 8.4/10 | 7.2/10 |
| Critic score | 86 | 70 |
| Steam peak CCU | — | 45K |
| PvE focus | ||
| PvP focus | ||
| Grindiness | ||
| Solo friendly | ||
| Duo friendly | ||
| Casual friendly | ||
| Typical session | 1–2 hours | 30–60 min |
| Time to endgame | 40–100h | 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 | No Steam release | Verified |
| Cross-play | Partial / N/A | No |
| Cross-progression | Partial / N/A | No |
| Update cadence | Very Active | Active |
| Best for | Raiders; Mythic+ dungeon runners; Players who want the genre's most polished themepark | Elder Scrolls fans; Solo questers; Explorers; Housing enthusiasts |
Pick World of Warcraft if you want…
- Raiders
- Mythic+ dungeon runners
- Players who want the genre's most polished themepark
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.