World of Warcraft has been out since 2004. With 20 years of content, multiple expansions, many updates, and countless memorable moments, it continues to attract players with its rich lore, diverse gameplay, and ever-evolving world. However, starting World of Warcraft as a new player can seem overwhelming, which turns many potential players away. This is due to the game's various features, mechanics, and storylines that continue to be released and evolve even in present times.

Fortunately, World of Warcraft offers ways to acclimate new players into its continuously evolving world. So, for those who haven't started yet but are tempted, World of Warcraft is still worth pursuing in 2024 and beyond, especially if you're a fan of MMORPGs. Whether players want to dive in from the beginning or skip ahead with expansion packs like Shadowlands, they can find a path to make the game a more enjoyable and accessible experience.

Why You Can Still Start WoW In 2024 (& 2025)

WoW Offers Newcomers Plenty Of Ways To Catch Up

World of Warcraft is a game that has continued to evolve and sur player expectations. Since its release, World of Warcraft has had significant success. It quickly became one of the most popular MMORPGs upon its release and still holds that title today, and is often considered among the greatest video games of all time.

In 2010, World of Warcraft hit its peak of 12 million subscribers. Even today, it continues to have an extremely active player base. Some fans have played since the beginning, while others were late to the party. Those who have yet to dive into the world of Azeroth may have some trepidations about starting World of Warcraft so late.

World of Warcraft has 10 major expansion packs, with two more announced in 2023 and included on the WoW's 2024 roap.

As one of the longest-running MMORPGs, it can be daunting to even think about investing in World of Warcraft. There's so much lore and narrative to explore and, besides the base game itself, there's also the expansion packs and DLC to consider. Despite its complexity and age, starting World of Warcraft in the present is easier than you might think.

World of Warcraft is easy to pick up for new and returning players. There's an active community across websites and forums and plenty of YouTube videos that can help newer players learn the ropes. Exile's Reach, introduced in the Shadowlands expansion, aims to help new players learn the mechanics and in-game commands. It's a great place to start.

World of Warcraft requires a subscription, which costs $14.99 per month. However, players can buy a 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month subscription and save between $12 and $24.

Other benefits for new players are the Chromie Time flexibility, solo-friendly features, and customizable difficulty settings for things like Raids. With so many ways to tailor the experience to an individual's playstyle, World of Warcraft allows all players to enjoy the game at their own pace, keeping the game fresh in 2024 and, hopefully, for years to come.

What WoW Offers For Newcomers To Catch Up

An Active Community Provides To Newcomers

World of Warcraft has a lot of ways for newcomers to catch up. For many, it might seem more rewarding to start from the beginning and work your way up, especially if you enjoy experiencing a game from start to finish. However, many others prefer not to waste too much time catching up on a 20-year-old game and would prefer to skip straight to the latest expansion to experience the newest content and features.

Some are also just now ing in the game to play with family and friends who have been playing since the beginning, and playing catch up can seem intimidating with so much content to go through. No matter your decision, whether you want to experience everything the game has to offer or skip ahead, the game offers plenty of ways to enjoy both paths.

World of Warcraft receives constant updates that add new content, fix bugs, and improve gameplay.

Starting out, new players can participate in guided tutorials that teach them all about the game's mechanics, though it might be easy enough for MMORPG fans to figure out the mechanics independently. Then there's the Exile's Reach, the starting zone for new Shadowlands players under level 10. Players automatically start here to learn more about the game. There are also different versions of World of Warcraft to choose from.

Chromie Time is a feature introduced in Shadowlands that allows players to reach level 50 in any zone, which is helpful for those looking to experience older expansions without feeling left behind.

Though World of Warcraft once heavily focused more on team-based content, it has become more solo-friendly over the years, allowing individuals to play without worrying about grouping up. This is also partly thanks to The War Within expansion, which allows solo players to participate in end-game content.

Aside from expansion packs and updates, World of Warcraft features an online shop where players can purchase cosmetics, pets, mounts, and other goodies.

The developers of World of Warcraft have obviously listened to their fans and new players' concerns when implementing the above features. Customizable difficulty settings, new player events, and fast leveling techniques and catch-up mechanics make it easy for newcomers to catch up. Not to mention, World of Warcraft continues to have an active, friendly, and helpful player base that s new players with advice, tips, and resources for navigating the game.

How Difficult Is WoW For A Beginner?

WoW Is An Easy MMORPG To Pick Up And Play

World of Warcraft is relatively easy for beginners to pick up and play. The game features a -friendly interface and guided starting zones that keep things accessible for newcomers. Even for those without experience in MMORPGs or gaming in general, World of Warcraft offers helpful tutorials and in-game tips that make the learning process seamless.

However, that's not to say that there won't be challenges along the way. Dungeons and raids may be difficult for newcomers, and the learning curve can sometimes be steep, but the game offers plenty of resources to help. With a helpful community of long-time fans and plenty of resources available, newcomers can quickly overcome any obstacles in World of Warcraft and still enjoy the world of Azeroth.