Polygon’s coverage of Bethesda’s June 2026 update gave Elder Scrolls Online a real reason to come back: new region, new story arc, and the kind of class shake-up the game hasn’t shipped in years. Even with the patch, the genre is in a good spot — Final Fantasy XIV is mid-expansion, Guild Wars 2 just shipped a major release, and Throne and Liberty has matured into a real contender. These Elder Scrolls Online alternatives cover what ESO does well, with twists.
We played seven Elder Scrolls Online alternatives on PC in 2026. The picks below cover three veins: long-running theme-park MMOs, modern action-MMOs, and a couple of niche picks for players who came to ESO for the solo questing.
Quick comparison
| Game | Best for | Combat | Sub model | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final Fantasy XIV | Story-led MMO | Tab target | Free trial + sub | Free to start |
| World of Warcraft | The reference theme-park MMO | Tab target | Sub or Game Time tokens | $14.99/mo |
| Guild Wars 2 | Buy-once MMO | Action with dodge | None (B2P) | $29.99 base |
| New World: Aeternum | Modern action MMO | Action FPS-style | None (B2P) | $39.99 |
| Lost Ark | Free-to-play action MMO | ARPG-style | F2P | Free |
| Throne and Liberty | New-school action MMO | Action | F2P with cash shop | Free |
| Black Desert | Action MMO with deep crafting | Action combo | F2P (with paid pets) | Free |
Why ESO has a sticky audience
ESO is the most “play how you want” MMO on the market. The threads asking for what’s next keep landing on five anchors.
- No subscription wall for the base game. Pay once, play forever; ESO Plus is optional.
- Single-player friendly. The questing campaign holds up solo, end-to-end.
- Tamriel as a world. It’s the second-most-loved fantasy MMO setting after Azeroth.
- PvP that exists. Cyrodiil isn’t most players’ main thing, but it’s there.
- Endless cosmetic and class horizontal progression. Builds matter more than gear levels.
The alternatives
Final Fantasy XIV — Best story-led MMO
Final Fantasy XIV is the consensus best MMO for story since A Realm Reborn finally pulled together. The Dawntrail expansion (2024) landed a strong run, and the patch series through 2025 added the Phase Two raids and the new Cosmic Exploration system. The free trial covers up to and including Stormblood.
Where it falls short: The early hours (A Realm Reborn) are the weakest content. Subscription model returns once you exhaust the free trial. PvP is functional, not the main attraction.
Pricing:
- Free: yes (free trial, no time limit)
- Paid: $14.99/mo sub plus $39.99 per expansion
- vs ESO: deeper story, weaker open-world freedom
Download: Final Fantasy XIV Online on Steam
Bottom line: Pick this for the best-written MMO storyline in the genre.
World of Warcraft — Best reference theme-park MMO
World of Warcraft is the reference MMO. The War Within (2024) and the Worldsoul Saga continue the steady delivery of one expansion a year. Mythic+ keys, Mythic raiding, and a healthy delve scene give it the deepest endgame ladder.
Where it falls short: Subscription required to do anything serious. Some classic systems show their 2004 origins. Tab-target combat is dated next to action MMOs.
Pricing:
- Free: no
- Paid: $14.99/mo sub or in-game gold via Game Time tokens
- vs ESO: deeper endgame raiding, more classic feel
Download: World of Warcraft on Battle.net
Bottom line: Pick this when you want the deepest endgame ladder in the genre.
Guild Wars 2 — Best buy-once MMO
Guild Wars 2 matches ESO’s “no required subscription” model and beats it on horizontal-progression sentiment. Janthir Wilds (2024) and the 2025 secret-of-the-obscure micro-expansion expanded the world. The trinity-free combat reads differently than ESO’s traditional roles.
Where it falls short: Story scenes are uneven. Some old content feels dated. Mounts are fun but tied to the Path of Fire expansion onward.
Pricing:
- Free: yes (Core trial)
- Paid: $29.99 base bundle; expansions $24.99 each, often bundled
- vs ESO: similar buy-once approach, more action-y combat, faster pace
Download: Guild Wars 2 on Steam
Bottom line: Pick this when the buy-once aspect of ESO was the main reason you stayed.
New World: Aeternum — Best modern action MMO
New World: Aeternum is the 2024 console launch and full overhaul of New World. Combat is action-FPS-style; gathering and crafting are deeper than ESO’s; the territory war system is real. The 2025 Season of Opportunity added a new expedition and a refreshed PvP track.
Where it falls short: Population dipped between updates; servers consolidated more than once. End-game progression has been re-tuned three times. Crafting can be a second job.
Pricing:
- Free: no
- Paid: $39.99, often $19.99 on sale
- vs ESO: action combat, deeper crafting, less mature world content
Download: New World: Aeternum on Steam
Bottom line: Pick this when you want an action-MMO with serious crafting.
Lost Ark — Best free-to-play action MMO
Lost Ark is an isometric action MMO that plays closer to Diablo than to ESO. Korean-MMO depth in the endgame; Smilegate’s content cadence keeps the raid tier moving. Recent updates added story-skip tokens so new players don’t have to grind through years of content.
Where it falls short: Daily/weekly checklist creep is real. Some players bounce off the cash shop pressure. The story is functional, not gripping.
Pricing:
- Free: yes (F2P)
- Paid: cosmetics, conveniences, founder packs
- vs ESO: faster action combat, deeper raid tier, F2P pressure
Download: Lost Ark on Steam
Bottom line: Pick this for a free action-MMO with the deepest raid tier in this list.
Throne and Liberty — Best new-school action MMO
Throne and Liberty went F2P in late 2024 and matured into a real contender through 2025. Weapon-swap class system, real action combat, large-scale PvP, and crossover content with Diablo IV early in 2025 gave it a player base outside the usual MMO crowd.
Where it falls short: Cash shop friction is real; battle pass is the default. Some classes still need balance work. Story is functional, not memorable.
Pricing:
- Free: yes (F2P)
- Paid: cosmetics, battle pass, founder packs
- vs ESO: newer engine, action combat, less mature questing
Download: Throne and Liberty on Steam
Bottom line: Pick this when you want the newest action MMO that already has a real population.
Black Desert — Best for deep crafting
Black Desert has been quietly delivering content for over a decade. Combat combos are still some of the best in the genre, life skills (fishing, trading, horse training) have unmatched depth, and the 2025 Land of the Morning Light expansion added a new region and gameplay layer.
Where it falls short: Cash-shop pets and inventory pressure. Some classes are gender-locked. The grind for top-tier gear is real.
Pricing:
- Free: yes (often free on Steam)
- Paid: cosmetics, pets (functional), value pack
- vs ESO: deeper combat combos and life skills, harsher grind
Download: Black Desert on Steam
Bottom line: Pick this when crafting and combat depth matter more than subscription friendliness.
How to choose
Pick Final Fantasy XIV when story is the reason you’d play an MMO at all. Pick World of Warcraft for the deepest endgame ladder. Pick Guild Wars 2 when the “no required subscription” feel was your reason to play ESO. Pick New World: Aeternum for the modern action-combat take on a buy-once MMO. Pick Lost Ark for free action MMO with the deepest raid tier. Pick Throne and Liberty when you want the newest popular action MMO. Pick Black Desert when crafting and combat combos are what hook you.
Stay on Elder Scrolls Online if the June 2026 update is what your guild is currently chasing. ESO Plus still gives the best questing-while-subscribed value in the genre.
FAQ
What game is most like Elder Scrolls Online?
Guild Wars 2 is the closest match because of the buy-once model and horizontal progression. Final Fantasy XIV is the closest in solo-friendly questing once you accept the subscription model.
Is The Elder Scrolls 6 out?
No. The Elder Scrolls VI remains in development at Bethesda Game Studios. Polygon’s June 2026 coverage confirmed it is still post-Starfield-expansion priority but no release window.
What is the cheapest Elder Scrolls Online alternative?
Lost Ark, Throne and Liberty, Black Desert, and Final Fantasy XIV’s free trial are all zero-dollar entry points. Guild Wars 2’s Core trial is free; the paid bundle hits $9.99 on sale.
Are these MMOs playable on Mac?
Final Fantasy XIV ships a native macOS client. World of Warcraft has a native Mac client. The others run via crossover or are Windows-only on the launcher.
Can I solo Elder Scrolls Online alternatives?
Mostly yes. Final Fantasy XIV, Guild Wars 2, ESO itself, and New World are all solo-friendly for the main story. WoW solo questing is fine. Black Desert and Lost Ark expect more group content as you climb.
