Why Guild Wars 2 Is A Good Entry Point For MMO Newcomers

Talking about MMOs these days makes me feel like I’m back in the late 2000s, booting up World of Warcraft for the very first time. This genre certainly has a sort of undying appeal, as I keep coming back to WoW even now. Between the never-ending grind and the endless supply of endgame raids, there’s always something to do in the virtual world of MMORPGs. But enough about WoW, and even FFXIV. Today, let’s dedicate this piece to another.

That, my friends, is none other than Guild Wars 2. This monumental MMORPG that started in 2012 has gone through its fair share of ups and downs over the years. Yet despite the economic crisis, it pulled itself up and has become one of the easiest and most rewarding MMOs to get into today. If you’re itching for another long-term commitment, might I suggest giving Guild Wars 2 a try? Let’s see if I can’t convince you.

Horizontal Progress Is A Delight

At this point, you’ll be well familiar with the ins and outs of an MMO, so I’ll keep my argument to the point. Guild Wars 2 is an engaging RPG that can keep you hooked for years, and that’s not an exaggeration. The open-world exploration and depth alone are to die for, and this is one of the major selling points. Guild Wars 2 handles its massive sandbox pretty well, as the world is filled with interesting things to do. Seems up your alley? Whip up a quick character to join in, and maybe platforms like CoinLooting can give you an economic headstart.

Open-world isn’t the only factor here, either. Guild Wars 2 has a consistent supply of seasonal content, but above all, the MMO has an amazing sense of growth and progress. It doesn’t actively cap your potential like games like WoW and Final Fantasy XIV do. Instead, you’re free to spread your character’s growth across a variety of archetypes, which promotes a horizontal progress sort of model. At a glance, it may seem daunting to spread out your cards and learn a lot of new stuff, but over time, you grow fond of the freedom of approach.

YES THIS GAME IS STILL WORTH IT.
byu/SillyJoey_ inGuildwars2

Similarly, the game also handles its gear system and character stats a bit better than your traditional MMOs. The grind here is a lot more forgiving, and you can do a lot more with a lot less impressive gear. Your efforts and time really start to feel rewarding here. From a content and growth point of view, Guild Wars 2 is in a pretty good spot right now. Solid content variety, a substantial open-world, better gear management, and significant horizontal progress are some of the perks here.

Guild Wars 2 Is More Accessible

I think I’ve made a good case for Guild Wars 2 here from a content perspective, but what does it all cost? Well, that’s my second point, accessibility. MMOs by design are meant to go on for years, and they sustain themselves with a premium and in-game transactions. There’s no escaping this if you want to get into this genre, so better prepare yourself. Still, I’ll say Guild Wars 2 is somewhat more forgiving in this matter.

Unlike WoW and FFXIV that charge a monthly premium, Guild Wars 2 is permanent once you purchase it. Of course, the expansions cost extra, as with other MMOs, but they, too, are a one-time purchase. In this regard, Guild Wars 2 is easier to get into, not only from a financial perspective but also in terms of gameplay. There is a learning curve here, but it’s not as steep, and you have considerable build variety to pick whatever you like.

I know Item Shops in MMOs are generally hated, but Guildwars2 Gem 💎 Store seem pretty fair and I like it.
byu/Knighthonor inGuildwars2

Beyond that, the game is also a little less inclined towards pay-to-win. Don’t get me wrong, there is monetization here, probably much more aggressive than the premium MMOs, but the game doesn’t lock genuine progress too much behind the paywall. You can manage the content with F2P gear and builds, and still see growth without spending too much. Microtransactions are inevitable, but at least you can make good progress. Plus, there’s a lot of good stuff in this game for an RPG fan, so it’s definitely worth checking out.