What is World of Warcraft?
World of Warcraft (WoW) is an online role-playing game. You make one hero, explore a huge fantasy world, and play alongside thousands of other real people at the same time.
Updated October 4, 2026. Prices are U.S. list prices; check the official shop before you buy.
The 60-second answer
WoW came out in 2004 and is still one of the biggest online games. It is an MMORPG: a "massively multiplayer online role-playing game." That means the world is shared and always online.
You pick a side (Alliance or Horde), a race, and a class. Then you do quests, beat dungeons with a group, collect gear, and level up. The newest expansion, Midnight, raised the top level to 90.
It runs on Windows PC and Mac. It costs $14.99 a month, and you can try it free up to level 20.
What do you actually do in WoW?
- Quest. People in the world give you tasks. Finishing them gives you experience points, gold and gear.
- Level up. Each level makes your hero stronger and unlocks new skills.
- Team up. Dungeons are short group challenges for 5 players. Raids are big ones for 10 to 30 players.
- Go solo. Most leveling is solo. Delves are short challenges you can do alone or with a friend or two.
- Collect. Mounts, pets, outfits and achievements. Many players keep playing just for these.
- Fight other players (optional). Battlegrounds and arenas are player-versus-player modes.
Who is it for?
WoW suits you if you like a long game you can play for months, a mix of solo and group play, and steady progress. It is a poor fit if you want short matches, or if you will not pay a monthly fee.