Choose EVE Online
Choose EVE Online if you want a Strategy and Free To Play game with Adjustable Text Size and Color Alternatives. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. 22,693 Steam reviews back the pick.
EVE Online vs The Elder Scrolls® Online
EVE Online and The Elder Scrolls® Online 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. EVE Online (2010) is 7 years older than The Elder Scrolls® Online (2017). The Elder Scrolls® Online scores higher on Steam reviews (81.6% positive) than EVE Online (72.9% 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 HDR available, Camera Comfort, and Playable without Timed Input. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 81.6% positive across 73,647 reviews.
Both EVE Online and The Elder Scrolls® Online 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
 EVE Online |  The Elder Scrolls® Online | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2010 | 2017 |
| Genres | Action, Strategy, Massively Multiplayer, RPG, Free To Play | Action, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | Free to play | 19.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 72.9% positive (22,693 reviews) | 81.6% positive (73,647 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | CCP | ZeniMax Online Studios |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Massively Multiplayer, RPG on Steam.
- EVE Online (2010) is 7 years older than The Elder Scrolls® Online (2017).
- The Elder Scrolls® Online scores higher on Steam reviews (81.6% positive) than EVE Online (72.9% positive).
- EVE Online is free; The Elder Scrolls® Online is paid (19.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Both are Deck Playable.
EVE Online vs The Elder Scrolls® Online — FAQ
- Which is better, EVE Online or The Elder Scrolls® Online?
- On Steam reviews The Elder Scrolls® Online scores higher (81.6% positive) than EVE Online (72.9% 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 EVE Online or The Elder Scrolls® Online first?
- If you want chronology, EVE Online (2010) came out before The Elder Scrolls® Online (2017). 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 EVE Online and The Elder Scrolls® Online 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 EVE Online and The Elder Scrolls® Online have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: EVE Online ships Online Co-op, Co-op; The Elder Scrolls® Online ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
- Is EVE Online free?
- Yes — EVE Online is a free-to-play Steam title. The Elder Scrolls® Online is paid (19.99 USD).