1. World of Warcraft
Blizzard Entertainment | Blizzard Entertainment | 2004
The game that brought MMORPGs to the masses - by improving on the best elements of the genre while cutting out the worst
What made it so great?
Completing quests in the immersive land of Azeroth made it feel like every step you took was part of an epic never-ending adventure starring you. But even after reaching the maximum level of 60, there's still a wealth of quests to complete, dungeons to conquer and rewards to claim by competing in the Horde vs Alliance battlegrounds.
Accusing WoW of having too many time sinks is like complaining that Master Chief has too many guns. Those with the slightest penchant for RPGs will soon be introduced to the level-up whore that's been sleeping inside them since birth. Is there any wonder it's the most popular game in the world right now?
Get ready to play
Chances are high that you already know someone who plays. Ask them what realm they play on and whether their main character belongs to the Alliance or Horde so you can play with them. Questing and exploring new areas with friends is ten times as fun.
A new copy of WoW can be found for as little as $19.99. However, your first 30 days, you'll need to start coughing up between $12.99 and $14.99 a month to continue - depending on which payment plan you choose. It seems like a lot, but once the game sinks its claws into you, you'll start finding ways to justify the recurring charge... as you no longer buy any new games.
Been there, done that?
If elves and orcs aren't your cup of tea, then make your comic book wishes and superhero dreams come true with City of Heroes. It's an excellent MMORPG in its own right and features an extremely flexible character creation system that guarantees you'll never bump into a doppelganger when fighting crime in colorful tights.
Be sure to check out the rest of our Games that Shaped a Generation coveragehere.
