World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King

 PC
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1545 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,127 out of 1545
  2. Mixed: 188 out of 1545
  3. Negative: 230 out of 1545
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  1. sandreid
    Sep 11, 2023
    4
    WotLK butchered WoW.
    All the philosophies implemented in this expansion, is ultimately what lead WoW on it's slow but steady decline:
    - Bring the Player, Not the Class: A train of thought that ultimately just made the Enhancement Shaman completely obsolete, being replaced entirely by the Death Knight (Which was just better in every way, except for Bloodlust/Heroism). Giving BL/Heroism to    WotLK butchered WoW.
    All the philosophies implemented in this expansion, is ultimately what lead WoW on it's slow but steady decline:
    - Bring the Player, Not the Class: A train of thought that ultimately just made the Enhancement Shaman completely obsolete, being replaced entirely by the Death Knight (Which was just better in every way, except for Bloodlust/Heroism). Giving BL/Heroism to Mages, and later Hunters, making Shamans more or less obsolete, in general.
    - Looking for Group, which lead to Looking for Raid - Making traveling around the world at max level obsolete, and forever forcing you in groups with bad players, that you can't kick for the first 30 mins... Which is the entire dungeon.
    - Hero Classes, which by their very design core, is supposed to be overpowered.
    - Retconning of the lore in many, many major ways (No, Arthas, your power doesn't come from Frostmourne... It was only a tool, used to tempt you, and corruption you....)
    - "Additional Instances Cannot Be Launched. Please Try Again Later."
    - Downright broken balance between all the classes in PvP, until 6-12 months into the expansion (Patch 3.2+).
    - Far from optimal PvE balance, between the classes.
    - I hope you like grey and turquise, A LOT.
    - Phasing: A mechanic isolating players from each other completely in zones, in a multiplayer game.
    - Laughable easy PvE-content the first year of the game. When Ulduar finally hit, it was a challenging - Then it got nerfed 14 days after it got launched, becoming moderately easy, as well.
    - Ugliest uncommon and rare gear in the game's entire 20+ year history.
    - Combined Spell Damage and Spell Healing, into Spell Power, making Healers overpowered in PvP.
    - Gave Tanks a ridiculous amount of damage, making them top-damage in dungeons while leveling, and overpowered in PvP, at level 80.
    - Copy/paste of pre-existing things: Trolls -> Undead Trolls, Tauren -> Taunka, Naxx (40) -> Naxx (10/25), Murlok -> Gorloc (I could keep going).
    - Copy/paste of Norse Mythology, pretending to be original, by slightly modifying the God's names.

    Imbalanced gameplay, build around just rushing, brain-dead mechanics, and an awful story that has NOTHING to do with WC3, nor The Frozen Throne. This expansion scared away the vast majority of the original player base, and brought in a whole new generation of younger players (That, for the most parts, hadn't played WC3). These are mainly the players, who like this expansion - The ones who hadn't seen WoW, before this point.

    Only positive things I can say about this iteration of WoW, is that inscription is a cool profession, that Glyphs add a cool mechanic to the game. And that, abilities like Thunderstorm, are pretty fun and satisfying to use.    … Expand
  2. Bimmy_Time
    Sep 8, 2023
    9
    By far my favorite World of Warcraft expansion, blew vanilla and bc out of the water imo. Had a very strong story and was a great conclusion to Warcraft 3.
  3. Obadiah_Jenkins
    Sep 6, 2023
    9
    This was by far my favorite expansion for World of Warcraft, it was the most story driven expansion out of all of them, and a great finale to Warcraft 3. The following expansions after this were pretty terrible aside Dragonflight where it seems to have peaked again in quality. Beware this game is all consuming and will destroy your life if you want to be competitive.
  4. arkantos869
    Aug 10, 2023
    10
    The absolute GOAT of MMORPG gaming. World of Warcraft found the perfect balance between being an RPG and an MMO at this point in it's life. The storytelling was done correctly, the new continue of Northrend looked great and was also incredibly efficient from a leveling perspective compared to The Burning Crusade and "Vanilla" WoW. The continuation of Arthas Menethil's story into the LichThe absolute GOAT of MMORPG gaming. World of Warcraft found the perfect balance between being an RPG and an MMO at this point in it's life. The storytelling was done correctly, the new continue of Northrend looked great and was also incredibly efficient from a leveling perspective compared to The Burning Crusade and "Vanilla" WoW. The continuation of Arthas Menethil's story into the Lich King from Warcraft III made this expansion special for many. It gave plenty to do for the casual and hardcore players alike.… Expand
  5. res0nancer
    Jul 26, 2023
    9
    Раз в год возвращаюсь на пару недель, чтобы покачаться, хватануть дозу кайфа от прокачки (онли), поностальгировать и снова забить на год. Эндгейм был практически весь пройден, от инстов уже тошнит, на аренах происходит тотальное доминирование противника, а ощущение того, что прожигается время, которого и так нет с каждым днем только усиливается (потому возвращение не длиться больше парыРаз в год возвращаюсь на пару недель, чтобы покачаться, хватануть дозу кайфа от прокачки (онли), поностальгировать и снова забить на год. Эндгейм был практически весь пройден, от инстов уже тошнит, на аренах происходит тотальное доминирование противника, а ощущение того, что прожигается время, которого и так нет с каждым днем только усиливается (потому возвращение не длиться больше пары недель). Отличная сосалка времени. Если бы жил вечно, десят лет точно бы отдал этой игре.… Expand
  6. EvilVitalya
    Jun 16, 2023
    6
    Я помню как я зашел в нее впервые и создал своего первого персонажа , я помню как мне нравилось изучать азерот , помню как я с другом проходил свои первые подземелья , игра действительно казалась очень интересной , пока я не получил от нее зависимость и перестал получать от нее удовольствие ,ведь в этой игре кроме гринда уровней, шмота,рейдов, и достижений больше нет ничегоЯ помню как я зашел в нее впервые и создал своего первого персонажа , я помню как мне нравилось изучать азерот , помню как я с другом проходил свои первые подземелья , игра действительно казалась очень интересной , пока я не получил от нее зависимость и перестал получать от нее удовольствие ,ведь в этой игре кроме гринда уровней, шмота,рейдов, и достижений больше нет ничего
  7. jdd96
    Jun 10, 2023
    0
    This game sucks, you die 50 times before ever reaching level 20, its too difficult, pvp is unbalanced, terrible combat, mechanics, everything is so bad about World of Warcraft it should stop existing from earth. Honestly the first time i played it i was 12 years old, i cried in front of the boar, it made me have breakdowns, i had a terrible childhood, this game didn't make it better, todayThis game sucks, you die 50 times before ever reaching level 20, its too difficult, pvp is unbalanced, terrible combat, mechanics, everything is so bad about World of Warcraft it should stop existing from earth. Honestly the first time i played it i was 12 years old, i cried in front of the boar, it made me have breakdowns, i had a terrible childhood, this game didn't make it better, today im 27 i still cry while playing it, its so bad, it makes you want to end your life.… Expand
  8. Disvolti0d
    May 27, 2023
    9
    Only WoW expansion I've ever played, reached level 80 and enjoyed everything from Icecrown. Great expansion.
  9. ReTcHeT
    Mar 1, 2023
    4
    Нет онлайна на самом заселенном сервере. Казалось бы да).
    В городах то люди сидят и может рейдят но условно собрать пати до 80 лвл не делая из хила друида танка или не делая из дд паладина хила не получиться. В условном мао не плохой опыт для 30+ людей а пати не 1 туда нет. Я хоть и не застал ЛК в свое время но думаю что хотя бы пати собрать там можно было. Помимо проблем с поиском пати    Нет онлайна на самом заселенном сервере. Казалось бы да).
    В городах то люди сидят и может рейдят но условно собрать пати до 80 лвл не делая из хила друида танка или не делая из дд паладина хила не получиться. В условном мао не плохой опыт для 30+ людей а пати не 1 туда нет. Я хоть и не застал ЛК в свое время но думаю что хотя бы пати собрать там можно было. Помимо проблем с поиском пати еще долгий нудный кач до 80. Совершенно лишнее то что с 70-80 так долго ап лвла идет. Ведь основной контент на 80 уровне. Нет смысл обсуждать + игры ведь это будет + такие же как в драгонфлайте. НО в драгонфлайте этих + куда больше к примеру быстрой прокачки. Вообщем вотлк это драгонфлайт на минималках смысл в это играть нет.    … Expand
  10. Barmarjera
    Feb 5, 2023
    1
    I should point out that I play most of the time in PVP.
    Immediately it is clear that the developers absolutely do not give a **** about the balance of 2x2. Play all the classes in the arena at the expense of high skill will not work - because it's a patch for melee heroes... Constant food abuzz in the arena, skills that are cast through the wall, the effect of "fear" disappears with a    I should point out that I play most of the time in PVP.
    Immediately it is clear that the developers absolutely do not give a **** about the balance of 2x2. Play all the classes in the arena at the expense of high skill will not work - because it's a patch for melee heroes... Constant food abuzz in the arena, skills that are cast through the wall, the effect of "fear" disappears with a delay of 2-3 seconds that is extremely critical in 2x2, the constant bugs with summons and a lot of other things that do not give a good game
    I played LIch King as a kid and was really looking forward to this patch, after 3 months of playing I realized how much of a piece of crap it is. Pvp in the game is almost killed. There is no interest or incentive to play the field of battle with the idiots that go in and stand afk (and there are so many), 2x2 - too much imbalance of some classes and fight sometimes simply does not make sense. About pvp in the open world... It's just not there, the server starts lagging if there are more than 10 enemy characters in the open world.
    In short In 2022 Blizza did as they always did and didn't surprise anyone. I was hoping that after more than 10+ years the game would be better or left as it was. But unfortunately no, it just got worse.
    PVE content in Lich King is designed for kids 8-10 years old, maybe even easier.
    Blizzar should realize that the kids $ 15 a month subscription will not pay and I wish they at least sometimes listened to the older players.    … Expand
  11. DiegoVildez
    Jan 31, 2023
    9
    this game is something else, I enjoyed so much , thanks for everything guys
  12. Crazygame
    Jan 16, 2023
    10
    Wotlk is my favorite expansion with legion. Northernland atmosphere, death knight class, perfect raids and dungeons...Only with one word it was legend...
  13. Alvelian
    Dec 16, 2022
    9
    Легендарное, наиболее популярное дополнение к WoW. Для своего времени это определенно супер топ, однако сейчас выглядит крайне ретроградным. Несмотря на существование пиратских серверов blizzlike, играть в нее сейчас и перезапускать без изменений полный бред. игра явно не соответствует современным трендамЛегендарное, наиболее популярное дополнение к WoW. Для своего времени это определенно супер топ, однако сейчас выглядит крайне ретроградным. Несмотря на существование пиратских серверов blizzlike, играть в нее сейчас и перезапускать без изменений полный бред. игра явно не соответствует современным трендам
  14. Skonika
    Sep 3, 2022
    10
    This game has changed my life it's a masterpiece in 2008 and now it's a source of nostalgia and fun i can't describe it thank blizzard for making this game World of Warcraft and shame that it made the other expansions "some of them" look bad and make the community vanish little by little i hope this game keeps on going so my children play it ... and now i m playing the pre-patch and can'tThis game has changed my life it's a masterpiece in 2008 and now it's a source of nostalgia and fun i can't describe it thank blizzard for making this game World of Warcraft and shame that it made the other expansions "some of them" look bad and make the community vanish little by little i hope this game keeps on going so my children play it ... and now i m playing the pre-patch and can't wait for the release… Expand
  15. shenkenhigh
    Aug 27, 2022
    10
    10/10 I started playing in BC, but i was only 12 years old back then, so WotlK gave me the first raiding experience. Awesome quests, lore, locations, Incredible raids especialy Ulduar and ICC. Btw i got the 2010 achiev for clearing it, i hella did it, and only 1.60% of all guilds at that moment were capable of doing so. Outstanding job Blizzard!
  16. Gazownik
    Jun 8, 2022
    10
    Best WOW expansion of all time.
    Mainly because the story was around my fav character Arthas Menethil - since WC3.
  17. Vikzll
    Mar 11, 2022
    9
    Probably the most iconic WoW expansion. The most 'honed' version of the 'classic era' WoW and also the peak of whole World of Warcraft universe, finishing the story of Arthas Menethil, the once idealistic young paladin and a prince of Lordaeron... now a Lich King.

    Review (in pros/cons format): Pros: + visually satisfying zones in the new continent of Northrend + leveling/quest    Probably the most iconic WoW expansion. The most 'honed' version of the 'classic era' WoW and also the peak of whole World of Warcraft universe, finishing the story of Arthas Menethil, the once idealistic young paladin and a prince of Lordaeron... now a Lich King.

    Review (in pros/cons format):

    Pros:
    + visually satisfying zones in the new continent of Northrend
    + leveling/quest experience (including keeping the old feel of leveling in vanilla zones)
    + the option of 2 starting zones in Northrend (Borean Tundra or Howling Fjord)
    + relatively balanced PvP class design: every class and lot of specs were viable (after DKs were nerfed a bit)
    + relatively balanced PvE class design: every class was viable and felt unique (every class could add some unique useful buffs/spells to the raid)
    + One of the most iconic raids of the game happened to be in this expansion: Ulduar and ICC
    + every patch was a build up and preparation to attack the Icecrown Citadel and face the final villain: Arthas... the Lich King himself.
    + Wintergrasp: massive 120v120 open world battleground where you fight over the control of the Vault of Archavon: raid in which the boss can drop current PvE/PvP tier items..
    + very alt friendly expansion (thanks to emblem system too)
    + talent system which gave a player an option to tune the class to their playstyle and made possible to create some fun specs
    + glyphs and inscription profession
    + some zones were changing depending on your quest progress (for example: Shadow's Vault quest line)

    Neutral points:
    ⚫ Dungeon finder: While it enabled you to do dungeons you normally wouldn't do (mainly in vanilla + tbc), it also made you to interact less with other players

    Cons:
    - Patch 3.0:
    >overpowered Death Knight class (mainly in PvP)
    >lack of challenging raid content (Naxxramas, EoE were too easy)

    - later patches:
    >Trial of the Crusade (mainly normal difficulty) raid was easier than its previous tier (Ulduar) and made Ulduar irrelevant as ToC had same or better loot quality (such a shame, one of the best raids in history of WoW)
    >lack of challenging heroic dungeons (only Halls of Reflections was quite challenging when not over geared)
    >content drought in 3.3 patch: 6 months of ICC, then release of a small raid in 3.3.5: Ruby of Sanctum and then another 6 months until new expansion    … Expand
  18. vantrk
    Mar 5, 2022
    0
    спасибо blizzzard 8 лет игры и пошел я нахер, #games out of politics
  19. Zhek87
    Mar 5, 2022
    0
    Невозможно оплатить подписку в России, гг Близзард
  20. yon19794
    Dec 7, 2021
    7
    The one expansion where most, not all, of us agree that it was good, it had a theme, lore, story, BALANCED PVP (it is the ONLY expansion that has that).
  21. Axilley
    Jul 22, 2021
    9
    very good very good very good very good very good very good very good very good very good very good very good very good very good very good very good very good very good very good very good very good very good very good very good very good very good very good very good very good very good very good
  22. Petforces
    Feb 20, 2021
    8
    This is the peak of WOW, and hopefully gets a classic treatment someday. Its the last of the classic era, before talent trees were gutted. And the game got simplified.
  23. WCM320
    Feb 6, 2021
    9
    Really the last Amazing expansion they did.
    And it really shows that this was when they ran out of original content from the Strat games.
  24. SeyeerGame
    Jan 7, 2021
    10
    в ЦЛК 10 об нид 2 танка, 2 хила, дд/рдд от 5.2к фаст снос, знание тактик.

    In Icecrown Citadel Need 2 tank, 2 heals, dd/rdd from 5.2k fast push, knowledge of tactics
  25. curzon_dax
    Dec 4, 2020
    7
    While TBC almost fixed the mess of "unplayability" of classes in combat that was Vanilla: WotLK perfected the main subsystems of the game. While Ulduar and other content were the best or almost the best ever the expansion did have weakness (for example the extreme ugliness of the TotC raid). Most people will tell you this is a 10/10 but don't take them seriously since that comes mainlyWhile TBC almost fixed the mess of "unplayability" of classes in combat that was Vanilla: WotLK perfected the main subsystems of the game. While Ulduar and other content were the best or almost the best ever the expansion did have weakness (for example the extreme ugliness of the TotC raid). Most people will tell you this is a 10/10 but don't take them seriously since that comes mainly from memories from people that were small children back then.… Expand
  26. Manzanetti
    Aug 10, 2020
    9
    The most magical WoW expansion. Arthas is a great villain and Northrend is a beauty. Raids are quite fun. Maybe the ICC patch was a bit too extended, but overall enjoyed it to the max.
  27. farukh
    Jul 20, 2020
    10
    The best game, and also re-playable bc almost all classes are unique and interesting
  28. Wiebe
    Feb 26, 2020
    8
    Best best WoW expansion, best MMO state that has ever been. Has some good time in PvP and raids, even though it was a bit repetitive.
  29. Aethelwulf
    Feb 23, 2020
    9
    This Expansion was overall fantastic. Metacritic should ban all reviews from people coming here in 2019 or 2020 to give WotLK bad reviews only because they dislike Battle for Azeroth. Really, any review past 2010 should be removed.
  30. Tankboi
    Feb 6, 2020
    10
    Genuinely great truly miss WOTLk how far we have strayed from God :( no more raid finder
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best PC Game of 2008
15
#15 Most Discussed PC Game of 2008
30
#30 Most Shared PC Game of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 47 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 47 out of 47
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 47
  3. Negative: 0 out of 47
  1. Gameplayer
    95
    It’s brilliant, inspired and will easily secure their supremacy as the leader in the MMOPRG market.
    Read full review
  2. Yahoo!
    90
    Seeing the innumerable changes and tune-ups to the game engine and the rules, you get the sense that World of Warcraft is a finely-tuned machine that its makers just can't stop tinkering with in an obsessive effort to keep it fresh, relevant, and above all, fun. For now, mission accomplished.
    Read full review
  3. Eurogamer
    100
    Wrath of the Lich King takes the best-of-breed MMO and improves everything about it. It's a work of supreme confidence and quality that is twice as fun and ten times as beautiful as classic WOW, not to mention anything else in the genre. But above all else - in the breathtaking sweep of Northrend, in the assured, epic storytelling, in the constellation of brilliant quests - it is a grand adventure. Perhaps the grandest adventure in all gaming.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »