Players of World of Warcraft go through several phases, from joy to frustration. Which one are you currently in?
World of Warcraft has become more than just a game for many players. Over the course of 20 years, this MMORPG has become an integral part of life and many players are inseparable from the world of Azeroth. However, in more than a decade, each of us has probably had a time when WoW simply didn’t bring the usual fun – particularly the looming content drought in Shadowlands has driven some players to take a break.
But each of us knows them and has probably experienced them: the 10 phases in the life of a WoW player.
Note: The article originally dates back to 2020, we updated it to reflect The War Within in 2024.
You can view the trailer for the next WoW expansion here:
Phase 1: The Perfect World
“There’s so much to do and always something to experience. Time flies, and I can’t keep up with all the content!”
The happiest time for every WoW player. There are many different experiences to be had, and something new awaits at every corner of Azeroth. Whether it’s dungeons, PvP battles, pet battles, hunting achievements, or simply cozy campfire RP at the lake in Stormwind.
Everything can be exciting, as much is new and unknown. Newcomers experience this phase, as do veterans returning after a long time who have to find their way again.
Phase 2: The Specialization
“Finally raiding and tackling mythic dungeons. I want to improve and constantly set new records with the guild!”
Sooner or later, everyone specializes a bit in World of Warcraft. Some focus on PvP, others on PvE or small side activities. One enjoys collecting pets, while another loves increasing achievement points. Some even play the “auction house game” and collect as much gold as possible. Why? Because they can.
Other activities lose value, and those who could previously be excited about many things now focus all their attention on the one goal: the best equipment, the highest PvP rating, or the largest pet collection.
Phase 3: Beginning of Frustration
“Another belt in the loot box… can’t there be something in there that I still need?”
Slowly but surely, you become an expert in the area you chose. Improvements from dungeons and raids are now hard to come by. Most pets have been caught. In PvP, the peak of what is possible seems to have been reached. Although you could still improve a bit in all areas, it would take a lot of time and effort. Meanwhile, the content is starting to feel a bit stale – after all, you’ve been doing nothing else for months.
Frustration arises and the longing for something new. At the same time, you don’t want to give up what you’ve achieved. After all, you’ve invested so many hours into this task!
Phase 4: Sense of Duty
“Yeah, come on. Let’s quickly down the last boss so we can get it over with.”
Fun has been pushed to the background for a long time now. Nowadays, most activities are pursued out of a sense of duty or habit. After all, you don’t want to let the guild down, and what would they do without you? Besides, every Friday evening has been a group activity in WoW, and humans are creatures of habit.
Apart from these mandatory dates, you’re still online in World of Warcraft, but not doing anything really productive. You’re standing in Orgrimmar and Stormwind, waiting around, following the server troll’s discussions in the trade chat, and feeling a bit unsatisfied with everything – but not so unsatisfied that you would stop playing.
Phase 5: Maximum Irritation
“How does Blizzard always come up with such garbage ideas? It’s obvious that the developers don’t play their own game. Even I could do it better.”
Not only are you clearly annoyed by the game, but your teammates are also starting to get irritated by you – even if you don’t realize it. The current game design is trash and “always the same.” The changes announced for the future are also garbage, and you can’t understand what kind of idiots must be working there.
Your bad mood also affects your teammates, whose enjoyment in group activities is slowly diminishing as a result. Little by little, everyone loses the fun, and ultimately, you end up canceling your subscription.
Phase 6: The Devilization of the Game
“Why are you still playing this game? Since the developers made [any change], everything has been crap! Back in the day, WoW was still challenging, today it’s just for casuals!”
Finally, you see clearly. You were addicted to World of Warcraft. You were foolish. You simply didn’t know what a really good game should look like and wasted your time on the biggest trash ever programmed.
Don’t all the other stupid sheep see that Blizzard just wants to take their money? Don’t they realize that new content is solely intended to keep the mindless player herd trapped in the spiral for as long as possible?
Obviously, they don’t, because they aren’t as enlightened as you. But you know how to fix that. On news sites, in the subreddit, and in the official forum, you repeatedly proclaim that you haven’t played WoW in a long time because everyone needs to know that. Maybe, you hope, all those players will wake up.
After all, you’ve just discovered [any game] and it is the gaming revelation of the century! If you just repeat it often and persistently enough, surely the WoW idiots will appreciate your game too.
Phase 7: Crystal Ball of Disappointment
“Oh lol, now they’re really ruining the character. If [former Blizzard employee] saw what they made of his character, he would turn in his grave.”
Blizzard has announced a new expansion for World of Warcraft. Amazing that this garbage game, which probably no one plays anymore, is getting another addon.
Well, it’s probably going to be the same old crap as always. New dungeons, new continents. They can shove that old graphics and outdated combat system where the sun doesn’t shine.
Most importantly: What kind of stupid story is in that trailer? Why is [Character X] suddenly so different? Why has [Character Y] become so weak? Blizzard is once again ruining its own lore, but you have been used to that for a long time.
The developers even blatantly claim that this time they will implement feedback and want to improve some aspects of the game. Luckily, you’re already familiar with that blah blah. Ever since [Developer A] left, everything has gone downhill!
Phase 8: Dissatisfaction with Lack of Insight
“You’ve always been a Blizzard fanboy. You would still defend WoW even if the developers wanted a euro for every login.”
One of your friends got into the beta and raves about how great the new areas are. But he is one of those incorrigible sheep who will hang onto WoW for their entire life and will never be able to let go. What a knob.
Sure, what he’s saying does sound kind of cool – but he’s probably seeing it through rose-colored glasses.
You continue to let your skepticism run free. You eagerly comment on announcements, developer interviews, or player speculations. After all, the others must stop having fun. Don’t they still see that the addon is going to be trash and WoW is being pushed even further in another direction?
Phase 9: The Sweet Temptation
“You still play WoW? Aren’t you getting too old for that? I’ve outgrown it. The graphics give me eye cancer.”
The expansion has been released. All your friends are playing again, hanging out on Discord and experiencing their first adventures in the new world. You haven’t managed to convert them to [any game]. If you’re honest, you’re not really playing it anymore either, as there’s also a bit of air out of that.
Cunning as Blizzard is, they’ve given you a test access for 3 days so you can check out the new expansion.
Well, what could it hurt? At least you can see for yourself that World of Warcraft is practically dead and that this expansion is the final nail in the coffin that will surely bury the game for good.
Phase 10: The Cycle
“Damn.”
You couldn’t resist and renewed your WoW subscription. Return to Phase 1.
So, which phase are you currently in?
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