Will Any MMORPG Story Surpass the Battle Against Warcraft’s Lich King?

My passion lies in the storytelling aspect of MMORPGs. Whether it’s free-to-play, subscription-based, or box fee, none of those factors deter me. If I believe a game has a captivating narrative, I will certainly give it a chance, even if it seems to lack my preferred combat style or features that I’m dubious about. For me, the narrative comes first. Titles like Final Fantasy, World of Warcraft, and The Elder Scrolls Online hold a special place in my heart due to their rich histories in storytelling across both multiplayer and single-player experiences.

While I generally lean towards Final Fantasy, I still recall one particular narrative moment as the pinnacle of what MMOs have to offer. I often wonder if anything will ever surpass it in the future.

I spent a good amount of time playing Warcraft and Warcraft II back in the day. However, my focus was primarily on online PvP against friends; I didn’t engage with the narrative at that time. It wasn’t until years later that I revisited the storyline, but by then, I had already missed the launch of World of Warcraft’s Wrath of the Lich King expansion in 2008.

I mention this to clarify that I wasn’t just some die-hard Warcraft enthusiast eagerly awaiting a familiar tale in an MMO format. On the contrary, I had no grasp of Arthas’ story, didn’t realize he was the Lich King, and couldn’t even tell you what “Icecrown Citadel” referred to back then. This makes the narrative delivery of Blizzard’s MMO expansion even more remarkable to me.

Wrath of the Lich King is often associated with the “golden days” of WoW, and it’s not hard to see why. Long-time players were eager for a story they had been anticipating, while new players experienced some of the best narrative designs the genre has to offer. That said, the expansion had its drawbacks. The zone instancing wasn’t optimal, some of the lesser dungeons felt lackluster, and the leveling grind had its slow spots. Still, moving from one cinematic to the next was absolutely captivating.

Witnessing the Battle of the Wrathgate and the Lich King’s near demise (yes, he has vulnerabilities!) while pursuing Arthas through Icecrown was exhilarating. Finally gaining entry into Icecrown Citadel was an unforgettable moment. I was immensely excited to uncover what lay within. Up until then, my favorite raid in WoW was Karazhan, which raised the question: could ICC surpass it? For many, it did. It falls just short for me, mainly due to the atmospheric preference I have for Karazhan. Nonetheless, ICC boasts a superior storyline and a more fulfilling conclusion to the raid.

And this all overlooks the backstory surrounding the sword Frostmourne or the return of Naxxramas!

Final Fantasy certainly has its share of impactful story moments. However, I can’t help but ponder whether any MMO narrative could ever reach such levels of anticipation again. I doubt it. Firstly, the landscape has changed too much. We are no longer in an era where few MMOs exist, and WoW boasts millions of players. Secondly, I believe that setting the stage like Lich King requires a recognizable IP to some extent. It’s unlikely that an unknown IP would garner the same level of excitement.

Even LOTRO‘s Mordor expansion didn’t feel as electrifying, and I’m unsure if any “notable IP’s major moment” can surpass that experience.

Thirdly, I think modern MMO design actually hinders this. It’s challenging to build anticipation when players can become frustrated with the time between patches. Nowadays, if your next update takes too long, plenty of other MMOs are available, and players will likely explore those options.

I doubt I’ll experience something like that again, and I am grateful for the memories I have. I cherish certain moments in Final Fantasy XI, but I never anticipated a “villain” in the same way… even in my all-time favorite MMO.

Is it merely my personal preferences influencing my view, or is there a legitimate case to be made? Share with me if you believe there’s another moment that rivals the Lich King’s ultimate downfall in an MMO.