World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft is the definitive massively multiplayer online RPG that dominated the genre for over a decade and shaped modern online gaming. Set in the Warcraft universe, it allows players to create characters from iconic factions and explore the vast continents of Azeroth. Its success lies in its accessible yet deep gameplay loop of questing, dungeon-running, player-versus-player combat, and large-scale raiding, all within a rich, persistent world filled with lore. It ranks for its unprecedented cultural impact, social features, and the sheer volume of content accumulated over nearly two decades of expansions.

It operates on a subscription model with optional microtransactions.