GUILD WARS 2

Fraser Brown, Online Editor: Phil told me to jump back into Guild Wars 2 many, many times before I finally returned last year, and I wish I’d listened to him sooner. I hadn’t played for eight years, so I’m still catching up now. Apart from a whirlwind tour of the new zones and a huge meta-event, I’ve hardly touched this year’s flashy expansion, but it’s still the best online romp of 2022. The quest design and combat shits all over most MMOs, and even playing around with stuff that was designed years ago remains a delight.

This year ArenaNet also brought back season 1 of its living world. Unlike the proceeding seasons, ArenaNet planned for season 1 to be fleeting, and after it was gone nobody could experience the story of Scarlet or the destruction of Lion’s Arch (which was rebuilt very differently) again. But now you can play the complete story right from the start, instead of jumping in at season 2 and being perpetually baffled.

Of course that does mean my already gargantuan list of tasks has grown even larger. GW2 keeps you busy, but I couldn’t be happier.

Phil Savage, UK Editor-in-Chief: Before 2022, you’d be forgiven for assuming Guild Wars 2 was winding down. This year, on the game’s tenth anniversary, ArenaNet proved it was here to stay. As Fraser mentioned, Season 1 of the Living World returned this year, giving newer players a way to experience the game’s full story. Raids were updated to add Emboldened mode, a new training system designed to get players to try end-game encounters.

It’s not all been smooth sailing, though. A balance patch early in the year sparked anger and controversy. But in response to the backlash, ArenaNet showed a willingness to change. For all the updates, though, perhaps the biggest thing Guild Wars 2 did this year is let players know it has a future. After End of Dragons’ launch, ArenaNet announced new maps and even a fourth expansion—a clear statement that the studio wants to keep Guild Wars 2 alive for years to come.