I love the graphics, even if they are getting dated too (still, compared to WoW.), I like the realistic-ish style (aiming for the right proportions, using not overly bright, natural-like colours, etc), I love the voiceover (was instant turn away in other MMOs for me. My personal favorite pve over the years was GW2 living story. I'm a mmorpg fan, not so much a Elder Scroll fan. I think most will generally agree with you, & it shows considering ESO popularity. In other MMO's you have to grind since low levels and the level cap (the level cap in ESO is CP160). Yes, grinding is indeed optional! The CP cap is meant to be hit as a lifetime goal, not sth you achieve in a week. This causes other issues, but you can go anywhere and do anything from the get-go. In ESO there is lore and flavour text for every skill/mount/costume etc! How can I get into using my skills all the time if they don't feel meaningful and cohesive? Something trivial that I find important is skill description. The lack of cutscenes limits this, but the lore and books everywhere help. The ESO world is so fleshed out that you feel like you are entering a real world.

Omg 2.5 seconds of global cooldown feel like an eternity! Pair it with tab-targetting and it doesn't feel like a real game at all. ESO's hybrid combat feels more realistic, you actually have to aim at your opponent. Ugly floating pins kill the mood when you're exploring a zone and tab targetting reminds you this is a game. It's refreshing to have dressed female villains too. Just notice how the Queen Elf is fully dressed and wields a sword! In any other game I've seen, Queens are kawaii and/or half-naked. Sure, we did get some hot Darien scenes, but that was about it. in FFXIV I had to fetch someone's sandwhich or something. Side quests in other games are so silly, e.g. Similarly, the quests handle mature themes.In ESO they have a background and a letter behind them explaining their thoughts, there are relations between NPCs in different zones or in the same zone, they are just sympathetic and you get to like or dislike them. In other MMO's I can't get into their characters not only due to lack of VA but also because they don't have a backstory. Quests are meaningful and characters have depth.Furthermore, a game written by native speakers for English speakers can utilise word plays, poetry, songs, etc, in a way that other games fail to do due to poor writing or bad localisation (idk much about ESO's localisation though). Most MMORPGs on the market are Asian and as a result all names, skills, etc sound exotic enough in the native languages, but when translated into English they're just cringey. Perfect English (or whatever language).It's massively more immersive when an NPC runs into you begging for help with her quest, rather than simply reading fine print. Stylised yet realistic character models.As a result, I cannot get into any other MMO anymore because they pale in comparison and I have zero nostalgia or familiarity tying me to any game. So ESO became the first fantasy MMORPG I played and formed my baseline. ESO seemed the most appealing based on analyses I read and footage I saw. I had zero previous experience with any of them, including TES games, so I was tabula rasa. During lockdown I made the conscious decision to start one so I researched options. I had purposely avoided playing MMOs because I know they are a money and time-sink. I think we don't realise how much past experiences drive us in what we do, may think we like a game because it's 'great', but it's often just that the game is 'familiar'. then I go and try them out and I'm like 'whaa. So I often hear people say how some MMOs are much better than ESO. I would arguably say the same about wow, its artwork and several mechanics are kind of outdated. Why is this game so popular given how dated it is? One of the main reason is nostalgia. Of course there are a looot of problems associated with ESO but I cannot help but notice it's one of the most immersive MMOs ever.Ī lot of people may disagree with this for a variety of reasons, but I think that one the main reasons that draws people to specific games is nostalgia or habit.

Runescape time sink