If you’ve scrolled past social media ads for the latest WoW expansion, gotten a text from an old guildmate begging you to come back, or just stumbled on old clips of your favorite Wrath of the Lich King raids, you’ve probably asked yourself is world of warcraft still worth playing. I’ve logged thousands of hours in the game on and off since 2009, and I’ve seen it at its absolute best and its most frustrating low points. A lot has changed over the last 15 years, from the way progression works to the types of content available, and the answer isn’t the same for every type of player. I’m breaking down exactly what you can expect if you jump in now, no fluff or biased fanboying included.
Is World of Warcraft Still Worth Playing? What You Get For Your Subscription
Unlike most modern MMOs that are free-to-play with cash shop paywalls, WoW runs on a $14.99 monthly subscription model, so it’s fair to want to know exactly what you’re paying for first. You don’t have to buy every old expansion to catch up anymore, which is one of the biggest improvements from just a few years ago. Your subscription gives you access to every single previous expansion, plus all seasonal content, all server regions, and every game mode except the very latest paid expansion, which you only need to buy if you want to access current endgame content.
For new players, that means thousands of hours of content right out of the gate, even if you never buy the latest expansion. You can play through 9 full expansion storylines, collect hundreds of mounts and pets, run low-level raids and dungeons, or even mess around in casual PvP battlegrounds without spending extra cash. If you only play 3-4 hours a week, you could easily go 6 months or more without running out of free content included with your subscription.
Even if you do buy the latest expansion, you’re getting far more content than most $70 single-player games offer. Most expansions come with 30+ hours of main quest content, multiple new zones, new raids and dungeons, and 2 years of regular content patches that add more free stuff before the next expansion drops. It’s a far better value than most live service games that charge you for tiny cosmetic bundles or battle passes every few months.
The Biggest Pros of Playing WoW Right Now
If you’re on the fence about subscribing, these are the biggest perks that make WoW stand out from every other MMO on the market right now:
I came back to the game last year after a 4 year break, and I was shocked at how quickly I was able to catch up to my friends who had been playing nonstop. I didn’t have to run dozens of old dungeons to get good gear, and the game even walked me through all the new class changes I had missed. I was running endgame raids with my guild within 2 weeks of resubscribing, which would have been unheard of back in the Legion or Battle for Azeroth eras.
Who Should Avoid Playing WoW Right Now
For all its good points, WoW isn’t for everyone, and there are a few groups of players who will probably be disappointed if they subscribe. First, if you hate paying recurring subscription fees, WoW is not going to be a good fit. There’s no permanent free-to-play option beyond level 20, and you’ll lose access to all your characters if you stop paying your subscription, even if you bought all the expansions.
If you prefer short, self-contained gaming sessions, WoW might not fit your schedule either. A lot of endgame activities like normal raids or high-level mythic+ dungeons take 1-2 hours minimum to complete, and you can’t save your progress halfway through. If you only have 30 minutes to play most days, you might feel like you can’t progress meaningfully past the early questing stages, even though there are some small daily activities you can do in that time.
You should also skip WoW if you hate any sort of in-game cash shop. While WoW isn’t pay-to-win, the shop sells expensive cosmetic mounts, pets, and transmog sets that a lot of players feel cheapen the reward of earning rare items in game. There’s also a paid character boost service that lets you skip straight to max level, which can make the game feel less rewarding for players who like to earn their progress through gameplay.
Tips For Getting The Most Out Of WoW If You Decide To Play
If you’ve read through all the pros and cons and decide you want to give WoW a shot, these tips will help you avoid the common mistakes that make new and returning players quit early. Start with the free trial first before you pay for a subscription. The free trial lets you play up to level 20 with no time limit, so you can test the combat, questing, and general feel of the game without spending any money. You can even carry over your progress if you decide to subscribe later.
If you’re a returning player, don’t jump straight into the latest expansion first. Take a few hours to play through the new player experience or a few old expansion zones you missed to get used to the controls and class mechanics again. A lot has changed even if you only took a 1 or 2 year break, and jumping straight into high-level content will leave you confused and frustrated if you don’t know how your abilities work.
Join a casual guild as soon as you can, even if you don’t plan on doing group content right away. Guilds are a great way to get answers to random questions, find free gear and crafting materials, and make the game feel less lonely. You don’t have to participate in every guild event or chat 24/7, just having a group of people you can ask for help makes the game 10 times more fun.
Finally, don’t feel like you have to grind to keep up with other players. A lot of new players get burnt out because they think they have to get every single reward every season or hit the highest gear score possible. I only play 4-6 hours a week, and I still get to do all the content I care about, from casual raids to pet battle tournaments. The best part of WoW is that you can play at your own pace, no pressure required.
At the end of the day, is world of warcraft still worth playing? The answer depends entirely on what you’re looking for in a game. If you want a massive, social game with constant new content and a community that’s been around for 20 years, it’s absolutely worth your time and money. If you prefer single-player games or don’t want to pay a monthly subscription, you’re probably better off looking elsewhere. There’s a reason WoW is still the most popular subscription MMO in the world even after all these years, and if you go in with the right expectations, you might just find your new favorite gaming hobby.
