When Was ESO at It's Best?

Stamicka

In which year was ESO at it's peak? When did you feel the most positive about the game, have the most fun, and feel like the game was in the best shape.

madman65

2022

Early part of 2022 we had Update 34 but when update 35 was released that is when I released that things are going downhill.

Tyrant_Tim

2017

Morrowind dropped in 2017, and it had to be the best chapter release we got, having brought content for everyone.

It didn’t matter if you enjoyed PvE, Overland/RP, or PvP, you got content. That should have been the way every chapter proceeded.

LunaFlora

2023

current eso is best to me.
we have antiquities, jewelry crafting, housing, the outfit system, Tales of Tribute, the Archive, 7 classes, beautiful zones like Summerset, and so much more nice stuff we did not have at launch.

i have the most fun in eso now and in the future

Destai

2022

There's always been issues, but I think overall I'd say U34 era was the strongest. I remember most classes having good balance and there was good build diversity. That was the last patch I felt a major difference between stamina and magicka on most classes. Those differences are still there now, but feel a bit muted.

That being said, I honestly do feel positive about the game right now. I've got my gripes like anyone, but I'm optimistic. There's been a steady amount of QoL fixes, they've slowed down on wild combat changes, and the feature list is really strong. I finally dug into Infinite Archive over the holidays; started enjoying it. I think if they can keep focusing on QoL, shore up some of the weaker classes, and give us stronger rewards, the game will be in a sweet spot.

Casul

2018

2018 was the last time I had a ton of fun, but I’m not stupid that the vast QoL updates have been a godsend. If PvP got more love I’d easily say 2024.

tsaescishoeshiner

2023

Set collections, new classes, Mythic items, Tribute, skill hybridization, the Archive, great community.

There were definitely times in the past when I enjoyed BGs and Cyro more, but we've gotten a lot of quality-of-life improvements over the years that have really added up.

Dungeons definitely peaked with Unhallowed Grave, though. Megaskeletor, fighting in an air fryer, AND grappling hook combos? Hard to beat.

Hamfast

2016

2016 after the release of "One Tamriel", it made playing with friends a lot better.

Braffin

2016

Tyrant_Tim wrote: »

Morrowind dropped in 2017, and it had to be the best chapter release we got, having brought content for everyone.

It didn’t matter if you enjoyed PvE, Overland/RP, or PvP, you got content. That should have been the way every chapter proceeded.

Definitely agree with your statement regarding content. It unfortunately has become increasingly one-sided in the subsequent updates (although 2023 was a bit better in this regard).

Gameplay-wise I personally prefer the time right before the release of morrowind tho. PvE endgame and PvP offered both a rewarding and enjoyable experience, mechanics were more relevant and even overland was somewhat entertaining.

SmellyUnlimited

2015

For me it was soon after launch, between about 2015-2017. Granted I took a break from the end of 2018 to 2023, but I just recall the veteran Trials still being exceptionally hard, and the hard modes that much harder. There weren’t Mythics to trivialize solo arenas, and PvP was more about ragtag 24 man groups over 12 man ball groups.

But above all, I think the most fun I’ve ever had in this game is when Imperial City dropped. Large groups of players in IC trying to farm, fighting, battling Molag Bal for the coveted dye and loot.

Tandor

2021

I found the game was good when it launched, I didn't experience the issues others had with it, and it improved every year up its peak for me 2021. Then we had AwA in Update 33 which was a massive issue for me, although I had no problem with the following controversial changes in Update 35 and I've enjoyed the subsequent content releases.

NeuroticPixels

I don’t know. I can’t remember. But I do remember some time around 4-7 years ago, I hyped up my friends about this game and bragged that “the devs are so involved with the player community! It’s great!”
🫣

Brakkish

Any prior years for me.
For me it's less about what features, and more about player population these days.

Keep in mind while reading, I'm listing these items as seen through the lense of a player who's played since 2014 and absolutely remembers population state then, watched it's continual decline through the years, and to its current state today.

Doesn't matter if it's the perfect MMO today with all the bells and whistles when population decline contributes to:

• Longer PVP Queue times
• Longer Dungeon Queue times
• A group finder that came years too late (and now underutilized *population)
• Guild events no longer a thing. (I'm sure they still occur, though I don't see them anymore as I once did frequently - any guild, others guilds out an about doing things together ie mount show, fashion show, group screenshots etc)
• People not getting an abundance of responses for help in zone chat as they once did.
• New players not getting crafters to respond to their request as they once did.
• Zone chat now devoid of game dialogue, but riddled with the bored antics of trolls.
• Diminished availability of items through traders - contributing factor; population shrink.
• Ghost town effect. Once great cities now vacant shells of their former glory.
• Extremely low new player retention. They come, they try, they move on. Not because a lack of content - because a lack of others to share content and experiences with.

No single entry is game breaking, but you add many of these up and it just paints an impression for a new player contemplating whether or not to invest into a 10yr old game, feeling like it's player base doesn't properly support it's own features.

PVP hasn't seen any love for 5 years, and that section of the forum is a Ghost Town now - though when you dig through older threads, the time between posts and dates will indicate a much much busier time. No love, people will move on.

Tornaad

LunaFlora wrote: »

current eso is best to me.
we have antiquities, jewelry crafting, housing, the outfit system, Tales of Tribute, the Archive, 7 classes, beautiful zones like Summerset, and so much more nice stuff we did not have at launch.

i have the most fun in eso now and in the future

I agree. ESO is at its best right now and is only looking better going forward.

OtarTheMad

2016

I picked this because this was when more of my friends played and it was just so fun. 2023 though turned out good and hopefully started to head eso in a good direction

Araneae6537

2021

I can’t judge before 2019 except to say that what I heard about the game early on (vet levels and all) turned me off from trying it until several years later.

2019 was good but there were some significant improvements with multiple systems after that, including drop curation, the armory, and improvements in housing. To me, things took a sharp turn early in 2022 with how AWA was implemented and then the infamous U35.

The new content of 2023 has been much better than last year in my opinion, but the changes to established classes and abilities continues to be poorly implemented: templar jabs, dual-wield flurry, now nightblade grim focus

I AM glad for the cessation of drastic changes to combat and balance, but I do wish the altered abilities would be reverted and that classes lacking effective options (necro and no-pet sorc) would finally be addressed.

Kendaric

2017

2017 with the release of Morrowind for me, since it introduced my favorite class and I like Morrowind as a setting.

francesinhalover

2023

Now... Well... Untill they destroy arcanist i guess.

Even than, IA , Sharp as night , Arcanist, Cheaper jewelary , A new Trial that is really difficulty friendly...

DrNukenstein

2022

Update 34, the start of hybridization, was the most fun this game ever was. Then they arbitrarily took power out of light and heavy attacks and turned dots into like these things that itch every 2 seconds for 20 seconds.

chessalavakia_ESO

2018

I tried ESO in Beta but, I didn't enjoy it enough to think it was good enough to sub for.

I got it with a group of friends a bit after it swapped to not being a monthly sub but, I ended up hitting a point where the combat was just a slog and the story wasn't good enough to be worth putting up with the gameplay and all of my friends had already quit.

I came back to ESO in early 2018 and had a blast with the Morrowind content and with Battlegrounds.

But, after I burned through the Morrowind content I got bored and ended up quitting again.

I came back to ESO a few years later as I was bored with everything else but, I haven't really had as much fun as back in 2018.

My nostalgia for Morrowind helped make the experience then be better and in 2018 people were also worse at PvP which made the experience a bit better.

I think ESO still runs into many of the same issues it hit in beta when it comes to story and combat.

Morimizo

2017

There have been highlights since, but Clockwork City is my fave zone (convo with Sotha Sil was top notch, unique music that doesn't have wailing violins or high-pitched choir, different resource nodes, etc.), and seeing Vvardenfell realized in a more modern game engine was great (tho the content can't begin to compare with the original).

For me, 2023 was the most disappointing year for this game. The world builders for the new areas once again did their usual magnificent job, but the Infinite Archive (and the Bastion Nymic) could not be further from what I wanted if they had asked me personally to add something horrid. I know many others felt that way about ToT, and now its my turn to avoid a feature. I wouldn't mind near as much (or at all really, happy for others with different tastes to get features they like) if they didn't pepper it with aspects I do engage with, like the additions to cards, antiquities, and endeavors. If there ever is another PVP zone/battleground/etc., better hope its access isn't placed inside vet trials, arenas, or Talos forbid, ToT; tho it would fit the trend.

TaSheen

2017

And outside of Morrowind (and all the Dunmer content - I've never liked some of the races in TES; and I never finished the FIRST Morrowind) I've enjoyed ESO ever since mid-2017.

loaganb16_ESO

I don't remember the year. But it was right up until they cut all damage from players to players in Cyrodiil by 50%.

Artim_X

2018

Our lord and savior blessed us one last time, but we were too blind to see it!

Lumsdenml

2023

Brakkish wrote: »

Any prior years for me.


Keep in mind while reading, I'm listing these items as seen through the lense of a player who's played since 2014 and absolutely remembers population state then, watched it's continual decline through the years, and to its current state today.

Are you trying to say that the population at game launch was the high point, and it has been in a continual state of decline since then? There are always people who just throw out statements and people assume that they are true. Here are the population numbers from December (just picking a month, but it shows a trend) from steamchart. Now before you try to pick this apart with the argument "steam is just a small part of the overall population" I'll say I know that, but there are enough people on steam to accurately represent trends...

2014 - 843.5
2015 - 3,271.0
2016 - 9,664.4
2017 - 11,648.3
2018 - 12,020.5
2019 - 12,472.2
2020 - 17,804.6
2021 - 17,003.8
2022 - 14,037.7
2023 - 12,263.1

Now, it has pulled back from 2020's December high, however, my guess is that whatever they have planned for the 10th anniversary, it will pull people back in...

TaSheen

2017

Lumsdenml wrote: »

Brakkish wrote: »

Any prior years for me.


Keep in mind while reading, I'm listing these items as seen through the lense of a player who's played since 2014 and absolutely remembers population state then, watched it's continual decline through the years, and to its current state today.

Are you trying to say that the population at game launch was the high point, and it has been in a continual state of decline since then? There are always people who just throw out statements and people assume that they are true. Here are the population numbers from December (just picking a month, but it shows a trend) from steamchart. Now before you try to pick this apart with the argument "steam is just a small part of the overall population" I'll say I know that, but there are enough people on steam to accurately represent trends...

2014 - 843.5
2015 - 3,271.0
2016 - 9,664.4
2017 - 11,648.3
2018 - 12,020.5
2019 - 12,472.2
2020 - 17,804.6
2021 - 17,003.8
2022 - 14,037.7
2023 - 12,263.1

Now, it has pulled back from 2020's December high, however, my guess is that whatever they have planned for the 10th anniversary, it will pull people back in...

Eh, you have to consider covid and lockdowns in those 2020/2021 numbers, y'know?

JoeCapricorn

2023

It's a complicated answer, honestly.

2014 - the game was new, everything was new, every zone was new. I was new, and I got my butt kicked in Rivenspire at Vet-Rank 3. It was fun learning the game by grouping with people and hearing advice - stuff that nowadays is common sense, but back then I didn't know to pad my gear with item sets

2016 - One Tamriel. This update changed everything. The big problem with 2014 ESO is that once you get through a zone, you have no real reason to go back. The quests might be worth the XP, but eventually the mobs just don't drop anything for you. One Tamriel changed this, and it made going back into the vanilla zones rewarding again.

PVP-wise, I think I had the most fun around the 2015-2017 eras. I'm not saying those were the best years for PVP (it's always had its issues) but it was far more fun with 24-people groups.

But ultimately, all of the features and play-styles and options and things to do have built up over time, and if I were to rewind the clock, there will always be something that I feel is missing. I'm so used to 2023/2024 ESO now... and I find that my drive to play is still just as strong. I may need to take breaks, pull back from the game for a bit and only do endeavors daily, but that helps me keep away from burnout.

Lags

2018

Lumsdenml wrote: »

Brakkish wrote: »

Any prior years for me.


Keep in mind while reading, I'm listing these items as seen through the lense of a player who's played since 2014 and absolutely remembers population state then, watched it's continual decline through the years, and to its current state today.

Are you trying to say that the population at game launch was the high point, and it has been in a continual state of decline since then? There are always people who just throw out statements and people assume that they are true. Here are the population numbers from December (just picking a month, but it shows a trend) from steamchart. Now before you try to pick this apart with the argument "steam is just a small part of the overall population" I'll say I know that, but there are enough people on steam to accurately represent trends...

2014 - 843.5
2015 - 3,271.0
2016 - 9,664.4
2017 - 11,648.3
2018 - 12,020.5
2019 - 12,472.2
2020 - 17,804.6
2021 - 17,003.8
2022 - 14,037.7
2023 - 12,263.1

Now, it has pulled back from 2020's December high, however, my guess is that whatever they have planned for the 10th anniversary, it will pull people back in...

people can link steam charts all they want, it doesnt matter. The game doesn't feel as populated as it once did, and steam charts are a small amount of the games players, considering many people dont use it and a ton of people on console.

If you were here back then, fantastic. If you were not, oh well. In one tamriel, morrowind, or really any time before around 2020 i could go to any capitol city and see dozens of people dueling, countless people in chat trading or LFG for dungeons or dailies. I could go to the gold coast or hews bane or any older dlc zone and see people around doing stuff. At various points in time you would see so many people in craglorn it would sometimes be laggy.

We had multiple pvp campaign's each populated. The no cp campaign was always full. The under lv 50 campaign was always full. Even when we had BGs. You could go to imperial city and it was populated and fun.

I just dont see the population. Even on the steam charts its on a a solid decline. But all those steam charts have ever said to me is that more newer players get the game on steam than through the eso website or whatever. The games population today feels terrible compared to the past.

You can take into account that the game is bigger. That will always play a small part. But I just think population is decreasing at an unfortunate rate, for various reasons. And many vet players are being replaced by a revolving door of new/casual players. Its been happening in pvp for a long time. The under lv 50 camp is dead, and has been for years. Same with no CP. Imperial city is a ghost town, besides the regulars and the zergs that decide to plow through while waiting for a que, or to farm 2 stones off every boss they kill. Captiol cities are also nothing like they used to be, but mainly its the people dueling. Sure in wayrest there will be some, but anywhere else not so much most of the time.

And i think all of this is a result of many things. Some things are not zos' fault, and others are. Most are, to be fair. When you chase away veteran players, it hurts the game. Catering to a revolving door of causal players hurts the game. A lack of incentive and in game rewards, in all zones, across the board, hurts the game. Terrible performance declining over the years. Same old issues and the same old game plan every year. Too many useless sets, although they have toned it down slightly now.

If they just added in better rewards, fixed performance, and shook things up a bit, i feel like many people would come back to the game, and many would have a reason to stay. But they have shown they cannot fix performance, they refuse to add a reasonable amount of better rewards through the whole game( besides slightly better rewards in the 2 recent dlcs), and im not sure they know how to do things different. So here we are.

ssewallb14_ESO

2022

U34 overall. Just needed a couple obvious outlier tweaks.

Thieve's Guild was peak PvP.

TaSheen

2017

Game feels far more populated to me lately, both PC NA and EU. And I don't even play PC NA on peak. Vivec is so busy I have to go somewhere else to craft daily writs to get AWAY from people. And the event - I can't even see Breda's reticle most of the time until I do some "maneuvering". No matter where I go in the world (outside of some of the really wierd areas in Coldharbour) there are people everywhere. Even in Murkmire....

Yes I'm aware of the instancing "phenomenon" - but my reality is that no matter where I go on which server, there are WAY more people around than I'm interested in dealing with....

DirtyDeeds765

2023

ESO is always going be the best, overall, present day due to the piling up of content and great QOL improvements.

@DirtyDeeds765