Is it worth playing World of Warcraft in 2024?
The answer is "yes" for returning players. But for totally new players, it's a bit more complicated. World of Warcraft is arguably in a better place than it has been in years, with vastly improved base game systems, improved visuals, and more investment in story delivery. The previous expansion Dragonflight was well-received, albeit a bit on the "safe" side. The story delivery overall was good, giving players a breather from the apocalyptic plot beats of the previous saga. Professions and talent trees got a much-needed depth pass, and the game is arguably more balanced than ever, although some classes still pull ahead in certain situations. Where WoW fails (still) is inducting new players into the game. Returning players will enjoy what the latest expansion, The War Within has to offer. New players will be met with messed up story pacing, poor tutorials, and overlapping content, frustrating the game for anyone without a hand-holding friend to guide them. Read on for more detail.
