The Elder Scrolls Online

The Elder Scrolls Online transforms the world of Tamriel into a large online RPG set long before the events of Skyrim. The player picks a race and alliance, starts out as a prisoner in the realm of a Daedric prince, and gradually travels through provinces the series has so far only shown individually. The main story is a classic fantasy save-the-world plot, but the game's real strength lies in dozens of smaller zone stories, written and voiced with a care much closer to a single-player RPG than what's typical for an MMO. Exploring, reading books, and finding caves feels exactly as a fan of the series would expect.

System-wise, the game is surprisingly open. Race and class determine only part of your abilities; the rest is built around the weapon and armor you use, so practically any class can be built as offensive, defensive, or healing. Combat is action-oriented, with blocking, spell interruption, and dodging, and the hotbar only holds a few abilities, forcing thoughtful loadout choices. Enemy levels scale to the player, so you can go practically anywhere and play with anyone. Alongside the story, the game offers extensive dungeons, twelve-player trials, massive PvP battles over keeps in Cyrodiil, fishing, thieving, player housing, and deep crafting.

Technically, this is a demanding MMO that looks good on a modern PC, mainly thanks to its city architecture and atmospheric effects, though it requires a decent processor in areas with lots of players. The music follows the series' sound and, in some zones, ranks among the best the genre has to offer. The game's launch was rocky, but the studio reshaped it over several years, dropped the mandatory monthly subscription, and regularly added major chapters. Today it's one of the most extensive MMOs on the market, and for Elder Scrolls fans, the largest available slice of Tamriel there is. What's pleasant for a new player is that they can start practically anywhere and play only the stories that interest them, since individual chapters aren't as tightly linked as you'd expect from such a sprawling game.