World of Warcraft (WoW) – The best Subscription MMORPG
Developer/Publisher: Blizzard/Activision Blizzard | Release: February 11, 2005 | Model: Subscription | Platform: PC | Download: WoW Homepage
What kind of game is this? World of Warcraft is a cornerstone of the MMORPG genre and has been successful for over 16 years. The game has received eight expansions, which have been received with varying success by players.
At its core, WoW is still a colorful old-school MMORPG, where you take aim at enemies using tab-targeting and then smash them with your skills.
The game’s setting is the world of Azeroth, with occasional excursions to other worlds. Players either join the Horde or fight for the Alliance. Depending on your affiliation, you have a choice between unique races, such as Orcs, Humans, Goblins, Night Elves, or wolf-like Worgen.
WoW is primarily a PvE game, where you either explore the world alone or tackle dungeons and raids in a team, but it also offers many PvP opportunities.
To play WoW, you need to maintain a subscription. A free trial is only possible up to level 20. If you want to keep playing, you will have to pay.
What are the highlights? WoW has existed for many years and has continuously been optimized and improved over time. Therefore, even after more than 16 years, you can look forward to a high-quality game, where the developers constantly refine the gameplay and the content to provide you with the best possible gaming experience.
Regular updates and new expansions appear, like the latest Shadowlands. Additionally, there are always new gameplay features, such as the covenants you can join to earn special goodies in the game.
What are the drawbacks? Even though WoW still receives some graphics and performance updates, it doesn’t look fresh anymore in 2021. Also, the gameplay with classic tab-targeting is disappointing for all players who prefer dynamic combat.
Moreover, the subscription model is not very flexible, and you have to decide every month whether the subscription is worth it and whether you plan to play enough WoW to justify the expense.
Why is it particularly good for beginners? World of Warcraft is a cornerstone of the genre and remains fresh and attractive for newcomers. Thanks to detailed tutorials, a free demo version, and years of optimized and polished gameplay, beginners can hardly go wrong here. Additionally, there is a large, helpful player base and numerous beginner guides, as new players are always starting the game.
Only the subscription fees may be daunting, but WoW simply offers an immense amount of content that is unparalleled after over 16 years of runtime.
