IMHO.

The Elder Scrolls® Online vs PlayM2M

The Elder Scrolls® Online and PlayM2M both land in Action, Massively Multiplayer, RPG on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Action, Massively Multiplayer, RPG on Steam. The Elder Scrolls® Online (2017) is 8 years older than PlayM2M (2025). The Elder Scrolls® Online scores higher on Steam reviews (81.6% positive) than PlayM2M (52.3% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.

Which should you pick?

Choose The Elder Scrolls® Online

Choose The Elder Scrolls® Online if you want an Adventure game with Camera Comfort, Custom Volume Controls, and Stereo Sound. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. 73,647 Steam reviews back the pick.

Choose PlayM2M

Choose PlayM2M if you want a Free To Play and Early Access experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. PlayM2M launched in 2025.

Both The Elder Scrolls® Online and PlayM2M sit in Action, Massively Multiplayer, and RPG on Steam and both list Multi-player, MMO, and Online PvP, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.

Side-by-side comparison

The Elder Scrolls® Online vs PlayM2M — Steam metadata comparison
The Elder Scrolls® Online — Steam game coverThe Elder Scrolls® OnlinePlayM2M — Steam game coverPlayM2M
Released20172025
GenresAction, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, RPGAction, Massively Multiplayer, RPG, Free To Play, Early Access
PlatformsWindows, macOSWindows
Steam DeckDeck VerifiedUnrated
Price19.99 USDFree to play
Steam reviews81.6% positive (73,647 reviews)52.3% positive (86 reviews)
MultiplayerMulti-player, Online Co-op, Co-opMulti-player, Online Co-op, Co-op
DevelopersZeniMax Online StudiosLaniatus LLC

Side by side

The Elder Scrolls® Online vs PlayM2M — FAQ

Should I play The Elder Scrolls® Online or PlayM2M first?
If you want chronology, The Elder Scrolls® Online (2017) came out before PlayM2M (2025). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
Are The Elder Scrolls® Online and PlayM2M similar?
They overlap on Action, Massively Multiplayer, RPG on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
Do both The Elder Scrolls® Online and PlayM2M have co-op?
Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: The Elder Scrolls® Online ships Online Co-op, Co-op; PlayM2M ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
Is PlayM2M free?
Yes — PlayM2M is a free-to-play Steam title. The Elder Scrolls® Online is paid (19.99 USD).
Does The Elder Scrolls® Online run on Steam Deck?
Yes — The Elder Scrolls® Online is rated Deck Verified by Valve. PlayM2M doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.
The Elder Scrolls® Online vs PlayM2M — Verdict (2026) · imho.run