Choose The Elder Scrolls® Online
Choose The Elder Scrolls® Online if you want an Action and Adventure game with Online PvP, Online Co-op, and PvP. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 81.6% positive across 73,647 reviews.
The Elder Scrolls® Online vs Water Margin Online
The Elder Scrolls® Online and Water Margin Online both land in 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 Massively Multiplayer, RPG on Steam. The Elder Scrolls® Online (2017) is 9 years older than Water Margin Online (2026). The Elder Scrolls® Online scores higher on Steam reviews (81.6% positive) than Water Margin Online (78.4% 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 Water Margin Online
Choose Water Margin Online if you want a Free To Play experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Water Margin Online launched in 2026.
Both The Elder Scrolls® Online and Water Margin Online sit in Massively Multiplayer and RPG on Steam and both list Multi-player and MMO, 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 |  Water Margin Online | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2026 |
| Genres | Action, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, RPG | Massively Multiplayer, RPG, Free To Play |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Playable |
| Price | 19.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 81.6% positive (73,647 reviews) | 78.4% positive (385 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player |
| Developers | ZeniMax Online Studios | Hong Kong Gamestar Limited |
Side by side
- Both share Massively Multiplayer, RPG on Steam.
- The Elder Scrolls® Online (2017) is 9 years older than Water Margin Online (2026).
- The Elder Scrolls® Online scores higher on Steam reviews (81.6% positive) than Water Margin Online (78.4% positive).
- Water Margin Online is free; The Elder Scrolls® Online is paid (19.99 USD).
- The Elder Scrolls® Online has co-op; Water Margin Online does not.
- Steam Deck: The Elder Scrolls® Online is Deck Verified, Water Margin Online is Deck Playable.
The Elder Scrolls® Online vs Water Margin Online — FAQ
- Which is better, The Elder Scrolls® Online or Water Margin Online?
- On Steam reviews The Elder Scrolls® Online scores higher (81.6% positive) than Water Margin Online (78.4% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, The Elder Scrolls® Online is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play The Elder Scrolls® Online or Water Margin Online first?
- If you want chronology, The Elder Scrolls® Online (2017) came out before Water Margin Online (2026). 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 Water Margin Online similar?
- They overlap on 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.
- Is Water Margin Online free?
- Yes — Water Margin Online is a free-to-play Steam title. The Elder Scrolls® Online is paid (19.99 USD).