39 GUILD WARS 2

Release year 2012 Last position New entry

Phil For all of the social promise offered by MMOs, it’s amazing how many fall apart when you try to play with friends. That Guild Wars 2 doesn’t is why I’ve spent nearly 500 hours playing it—hanging out with pals while also maybe killing a dragon. The lack of a subscription means it doesn’t feel like an obligation; the level downscaling makes it easy to group with anyone; and, even if playing alone, the multitude of events ensures there’s always someone to maybe kill a dragon with.

Chris When Guild Wars 2 was released, I was convinced that it marked the end of the World of Warcraft formula— from quests to subscriptions. That wasn’t quite right, as it turned out, but this is still the best game in its genre. Combat is fast, clear, and skill-based, and players have freedom to chart their own course through the world.