The Elder Scrolls® Online
SteamZeniMax Online Studios · Bethesda Softworks
Design Risk Score
Estimated19/100
3 mechanics flagged
Why this score
- Loot Boxes+12
Randomised paid containers — gambling-like mechanics, cosmetic outcomes.
Why this counts
Loot boxes have been regulated or banned in Belgium and the Netherlands as gambling products. Research has found correlations between loot box spending and problem gambling symptom severity (Zendle & Cairns, 2018).
- Belgium & Netherlands gambling regulators — loot boxes classified as gambling (2018)
- Zendle & Cairns, PLOS ONE — loot boxes linked to problem gambling (2018)
- ESRB 'In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items)' interactive element (2020)
- Paid DLC+5
6 paid add-ons beyond the base game.
- Microtransactions+2
In-game purchases sells cosmetic items only — no gameplay advantage.
Points reflect severity, not just presence — cosmetic-only purchases score far lower than pay-for-power. Total: 19/100. This game was scored from its Steam store listing, so its mechanics are an estimate. How scoring works →
Joy Index
81/100
Excellent
Community score: 81/100
Joy is the share of players who recommend it on Steam, published as-is.
Verdict
Mindful
Enjoy mindfully
Some mild monetization exists, but the core game offers genuine value. Stay aware of spending triggers.
- Set a monthly cosmetics budget
- Ignore FOMO event pressure
- Focus on what you genuinely enjoy
Where to buy
Price & availability
Best price now
$16.79−16%
at Fanatical→
Lowest ever
$1.99
at Steam · 3/13/2025
Real recorded prices & subscription data via IsThereAnyDeal.
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The Elder Scrolls® Online: your questions, answered
Estimated from store data- Is The Elder Scrolls® Online pay to win?
- No. The Elder Scrolls® Online's real-money purchases don't sell gameplay power — Sifter found no pay-to-win mechanics.
- Does The Elder Scrolls® Online have loot boxes or gacha?
- Yes. The Elder Scrolls® Online includes loot boxes — paid randomised rewards, which Sifter weighs heavily in the grade.
- Does The Elder Scrolls® Online have microtransactions?
- Yes. The Elder Scrolls® Online has in-game purchases (an in-game store). They buy cosmetic items only — no gameplay advantage.
- How aggressively is The Elder Scrolls® Online monetised?
- Sifter grades The Elder Scrolls® Online B — 19/100 on the Design Risk scale, where a higher number means more aggressive monetisation. 3 mechanics were flagged. The grade is computed from a public checklist, not opinion.
- Does The Elder Scrolls® Online respect your time?
- The Elder Scrolls® Online scores 100/100 on Sifter's Time Respect scale — no energy system, daily-login streaks, or limited-time events designed to pull you back.
Mods
Upload a mod →Detected Design Patterns
Paid containers with randomised contents; item value varies by rarity.
Players report
Community-reported mechanics from players who own The Elder Scrolls® Online. Shown separately — this never changes The Elder Scrolls® Online’s Design Risk grade.
Own this game? Connect your Steam library to report a mechanic Sifter missed.
Time Respect
EstimatedNo time-coercive mechanics detected — this game lets you play on your own schedule.
Ownership
This game is yours to keep
- Plays offline — no server dependency, so it can't be switched off remotely.
- Steam lists a third-party account/launcher for this game: "Elder Scrolls Online Account (Supports Linking to Steam Account)". Part of your access lives outside Steam, so it can be affected if that account is banned or the service is retired.
Whether you keep what you paid for is its own question, separate from the score. How Sifter measures games →
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