When it comes to high fantasy, the Warcraft franchise has left its mark thanks to its amazing games. From a simple premise that pitted Humans against Orcs in base-building combat, Activision/Blizzard has then made a hugely popular and memorable MMORPG and even a card game based from its gargantuan in-game world and larger-than-life characters.
18 RTS Games That Are Perfect For Newcomers To The Genre
Jumping into the RTS genre can be pretty overwhelming for newcomers. Here are some games that are beginner-friendly.
But which games from this much-lauded franchise are the best? From its roots in strategic army-building beginnings to its massive online RPG title that lets players experience the trials and tribulations of the Alliance and the Horde, the following Warcraft games are worth checking out.
6 Warcraft: Orcs and Humans
The first game of the franchise, Warcraft: Orcs and Humans is a Real-Time Strategy (RTS) game that sees players control either Human or Orc forces as they strive to take out the opposing faction with the might of their respective armies. Players need to manage their base which include gathering resources, training units, and bolstering their defenses against possible attacks from the opposition.
While not the first game to introduce the concept or functionality, Warcraft: Orcs and Humans ushered in the possibility of multiplayer gameplay as a viable mechanic for RTS titles. This, along with incorporating Mission-based levels and gameplay elements like micromanaging made this game a great starting point for the subsequent Warcraft games.
5 Warcraft 2: Tides of Darkness
Warcraft 2: Tides of Darkness is the sequel to Warcraft: Orcs and Humans. This game added new units and introduced abilities to certain units to provide more dynamic options for players and further differentiate the Humans from the Orcs as far as tactics are concerned. Orcs, for example, are more dangerous when fighting head-on and on the ground, while Humans have better spellcasters.
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Blizzard Entertainment also made it a point to ingrain the ongoing narrative between Orcs and Humans by refining the Missions into more engaging scenarios and adding more story to the plight between the warring races.
4 Hearthstone
Hearthstone
Hearthstone is Blizzard’s take on a card battle game. It uses various characters in the Warcraft franchise, from popular Heroes like Thrall, Jaina Proudmoore, and Garrosh Hellscream to original and zany characters like Reno Jackson.
As far as gameplay, each card takes inspiration from their counterpart in Warcraft lore and their abilities are well-represented when they are played into the field. Every card added from numerous expansions make for an ever-changing meta that keeps players engaged when creating or refining their decks. From a card-collection point of view, Hearthstone has amazingly-designed cards that capture the world of Azeroth in its overly serious and utterly silly moments.
3 Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos (dupe)
- Released
- July 3, 2002
- Developer(s)
- Blizzard Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos is widely considered by many to be one of the best RTS titles ever. Fans of the Warcraft games waited for the next chapter of the franchise for seven years, and this title delivered. Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos further fleshed out Azeroth and introduced two new Races with the Night Elves and the Undead on top of the different Heroes that possess formidable abilities.
Apart from tight gameplay, amazing and unique units that help identify each race from one another, Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos set the stage for its characters in each race to have varying yet important roles in their respective campaigns. These additions set the tone for future RTS games.
2 Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne
Coming from the success of Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos, its expansion, Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne further cultivated the narrative of the Undead forces and their leader’s quest for conquering Azeroth. With the core game mechanics still pristine from its predecessor, the developers made it a point to dive deeper into the story arcs of the characters as a new threat emerges from Northrend in the form of the Lich King. This expansion would ultimately set the scene for everything that would follow in World of Warcraft, and it's first two expansions.
The game added new units and Heroes in each race to give players even more options to diversify and refine their play styles during skirmishes. Its World Editor is also well-known as the birthplace of the original Defense of the Ancients game mod, which led to the creation of DOTA 2 and countless other MOBA games like League of Legends.
1 World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is one of the best MMORPGs in the past two decades. Set in Azeroth, this mammoth of a game further progressed and cultivated the narrative of Warcraft’s lore by its numerous campaigns and expansions that dive deeper into specific events that shape its world, for better or worse. World of Warcraft initially took place four years after the events of Warcraft 3, it has gone on to cover 15 years (as of Dragonflight) of events that have taken place in Azeroth since the shift from RTS to MMORPG.
Players choose which race and class they will play as, and which faction they will fall under: the Horde or the Alliance. From here, they can venture out to level up their characters, progress the story of whatever version or expansion they are playing which usually means encountering legendary heroes and villains like Tyrande Whisperwind and Arthas Menethil, and even team up with other players and try to complete challenging quests and take down extremely powerful bosses for some epic loot.