World of Warcraft - Which WoW should you play in 2025?

In the World of Warcraft universe, there are two versions that offer very different experiences: WoW Retail and WoW Classic. Although both share the same essence, they represent radically different approaches to what it means to play WoW. On one hand, WoW Retail embraces modernity, with revamped mechanics, improved quality of life, and an updated narrative that evolves with each expansion. On the other hand, WoW Classic aims to revive nostalgia, faithfully recreating the original game experience with higher difficulty and a community focused on effort and cooperation. Each version has its own advantages, audiences, and ways of understanding the game. In this blog, we want to help you decide which of these two versions is more worthwhile to play today, highlighting their main features, strengths, and weaknesses. That way, you can choose the experience that best suits your playstyle and expectations as a player.

Is it worth playing WoW Retail in 2025?

World of Warcraft Retail is the version of the game that has remained active and constantly evolving for over 20 years. Over time, it has received numerous expansions, content updates, and quality-of-life improvements that have turned it into a modern and versatile experience. Its current expansion, The War Within, continues to expand the universe with new stories, zones, and gameplay systems.

In WoW Retail, you can choose your own adventure. Want to take on old content and face legends like Illidan or Arthas solo? You can do that. Prefer enjoying the latest expansion content, running Mythic dungeons with scaling difficulty, joining raids at your preferred level, or engaging in competitive PvP? That’s all available to you. It's a game where there's always something new to do whether progressing, exploring, collecting, or competing.

One of its biggest strengths is the vast amount of content and customization options. There's a wide variety of classes, races, combinations, and playstyles for every type of player. Plus, WoW Retail adapts to you: if you're worried about starting late and falling behind, don’t be. Thanks to its seasonal system, part of the game’s progress resets from time to time, offering new opportunities to gear up easily whether it’s your first character or one of your many alts.

Among the main content offerings are raids, where you face powerful bosses with varying difficulty levels from normal to mythic, which demands coordination and skill. There are also Mythic+ dungeons, where the difficulty scales (+2, +5, +10…) and special modifiers are added, all under a timer that brings excitement and challenge to the run. This content is highly repeatable and supported by an active community.

As for PvP, modes like 2v2 and 3v3 arenas or large-scale battlegrounds still exist, although they’ve lost some prominence due to a lack of attention from Blizzard. Even so, it's still a valid and fun option for players who enjoy direct competition.

WoW Retail also offers content for solo players, such as The Delves, where you can explore at your own pace. However, since it’s an MMORPG, the game truly shines when shared with others.

Is it worth playing WoW Classic in 2025?

Time to talk about the legendary World of Warcraft Classic. And yes, I say “legendary” because it’s the version that captured the hearts of millions of players and marked a turning point in video game history. It was in Classic where many fell in love with the WoW universe for the first time, and its impact was so massive that in 2019, Blizzard decided to split the game into two branches: WoW Retail, which continues to move forward with new expansions, and WoW Classic, a return to the game’s roots that has evolved at its own pace.

Over time, WoW Classic has become more than just a replica of the past. It now offers several variations. There's Classic Era (the original untouched experience), Hardcore (where death is permanent), and the Anniversary Editions, which blend nostalgia with some modern tweaks. Then there's Season of Discovery, an innovative iteration that recently came to an end, closing a special chapter for Classic fans.

But beyond the different versions, they all share a common essence: the goal isn’t to rush to the end, but to enjoy the journey. WoW Classic is a slow and deliberate adventure. Before you even get your first mount, you’ll walk long distances, uncovering hidden corners of the world, forming real connections with the environment, and learning to appreciate every step you take. Exploration feels genuine. You realize how massive Azeroth really is, and how small your character is in this vast universe.

This version rewards your effort. Every bit of progress feels meaningful, and every rare item you see on another player reflects hours of dedication. There isn’t as much visual customization as in Retail and yes, your character might not be the best-looking but that simplicity has its own charm. Achievements feel well-earned and authentic.

And WoW Classic doesn’t fall short in endgame content. Iconic raids like Molten Core or Naxxramas offer classic, memorable challenges, while PvP is without a doubt one of its strongest aspects. 

Although Season of Discovery has ended, this seems to be just the beginning. All signs point to the arrival of Classic Plus, a definitive version that would preserve the original spirit while introducing new, exclusive content a concept that excites much of the community.