World of Warcrafthas been out since 2004. With 20 years of content, multiple expansions, many updates, and countless memorable moments, it continues to attract players with its rich lore, diverse gameplay, and ever-evolving world. However,startingWorld of Warcraftas a new player can seem overwhelming, which turns many potential players away. This is due to the game’s various features, mechanics, and storylines that continue to be released and evolve even in present times.
Fortunately,World of Warcraftoffers ways to acclimate new players into its continuously evolving world. So, for those who haven’t started yet but are tempted,World of Warcraftis still worth pursuing in 2024 and beyond, especially if you’re a fan of MMORPGs. Whether players want to dive in from the beginning or skip ahead with expansion packs likeShadowlands, they can find a path to make the game a more enjoyable and accessible experience.
Why You Can Still Start WoW In 2024 (& 2025)
WoW Offers Newcomers Plenty Of Ways To Catch Up
World of Warcraftis a game that has continued to evolve and surpass player expectations. Since its release,World of Warcrafthas had significant success. It quickly became one of the most popular MMORPGs upon its release and still holds that title today, andis often considered among thegreatest video games of all time.
Every World Of Warcraft Expansion, Ranked By Popularity
Over the past twenty years, World of Warcraft has released a total of 10 expansions for the massive game, with some received better than others.
World of Warcrafthas 10 major expansion packs, with two more announced in 2023 and included on theWoW’s 2024 roadmap.
As one of the longest-running MMORPGs, it can be daunting to even think about investing inWorld of Warcraft. There’s so much lore and narrative to explore and, besides the base game itself,there’s also the expansion packs and DLC to consider. Despite its complexity and age, startingWorld of Warcraftin the present is easier than you might think.
World of Warcraftis easy to pick up for new and returning players. There’s an active community across websites and forums and plenty of YouTube videos that can help newer players learn the ropes. Exile’s Reach, introduced in theShadowlandsexpansion,aims to help new players learn the mechanics and in-game commands. It’s a great place to start.
World of Warcraftrequires a subscription, which costs $14.99 per month. However, players can buy a 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month subscription and save between $12 and $24.
Other benefits for new players are the Chromie Time flexibility, solo-friendly features, and customizable difficulty settings for things like Raids. With so many ways to tailor the experience to an individual’s playstyle,World of Warcraftallows all players to enjoy the game at their own pace, keeping the game fresh in 2024 and, hopefully, for years to come.
What WoW Offers For Newcomers To Catch Up
An Active Community Provides Support To Newcomers
World of Warcrafthas a lot of ways for newcomers to catch up. For many,it might seem more rewarding to start from the beginning and work your way up, especially if you enjoy experiencing a game from start to finish. However, many others prefer not to waste too much time catching up on a 20-year-old game and would prefer to skip straight to the latest expansion to experience the newest content and features.
Which Version Of World Of Warcraft You Should Start With (& Why)
In the past 20 years, World of Warcraft has both grown and branched off into many different iterations, leaving new players wondering where to start.
Some are also just now joining in the game to play with family and friends who have been playing since the beginning, and playing catch up can seem intimidating with so much content to go through. No matter your decision, whether you want to experience everything the game has to offer or skip ahead,the game offers plenty of ways to enjoy both paths.
World of Warcraftreceives constant updates that add new content, fix bugs, and improve gameplay.
Starting out, new players can participate in guided tutorials that teach them all about the game’s mechanics, though it might be easy enough for MMORPG fans to figure out the mechanics independently. Then there’s the Exile’s Reach,the starting zone for newShadowlandsplayers under level 10. Players automatically start here to learn more about the game. There are alsodifferent versions ofWorld of Warcraftto choose from.
World Of Warcraft’s Upcoming Midnight Expansion Teases Player Housing
World of Warcraft’s Midnight expansion will be unveiled next year with the exciting new game mechanic of player housing for heroes in Azeroth.
Chromie Time is a feature introduced inShadowlandsthat allows players to reach level 50 in any zone, which is helpful for those looking to experience older expansions without feeling left behind.
ThoughWorld of Warcraftonce heavily focused more on team-based content, it has become more solo-friendly over the years, allowing individuals to play without worrying about grouping up. This is also partly thanks toThe War Withinexpansion, whichallows solo players to participate in end-game content.
Aside from expansion packs and updates,World of Warcraftfeatures an online shop where players can purchase cosmetics, pets, mounts, and other goodies.
The developers ofWorld of Warcrafthave obviously listened to their fans and new players' concerns when implementing the above features. Customizable difficulty settings, new player events, andfast leveling techniquesand catch-up mechanics make it easy for newcomers to catch up. Not to mention,World of Warcraftcontinues to have an active, friendly, and helpful player base that supports new players with advice, tips, and resources for navigating the game.
How Difficult Is WoW For A Beginner?
WoW Is An Easy MMORPG To Pick Up And Play
World of Warcraftis relatively easy for beginners to pick up and play. The game features a user-friendly interface and guided starting zones that keep things accessible for newcomers. Even for those without experience in MMORPGs or gaming in general,World of Warcraftoffers helpful tutorials and in-game tips that make the learning process seamless.
However, that’s not to say that there won’t be challenges along the way. Dungeons and raids may be difficult for newcomers, and the learning curve can sometimes be steep, but the game offers plenty of resources to help. With a helpful community of long-time fans and plenty of resources available, newcomers can quickly overcome any obstacles inWorld of Warcraftand still enjoy the world of Azeroth.
World of Warcraft
Created and published by Blizzard Entertainment, World of Warcraft is a long-running massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG) that features the lush and expanding lands of Azeroth. Released in 2004, the game has seen a multitude of DLC updates and still sees tons of players logging in each day.
