Any ranked list of Blizzard games is open to controversy, with a passionate community of fans holding out for their favorites. 1-to-1 comparisons are nearly impossible, because of how many different genres and universes their games occupy. This ranking is based purely on their Metacritic scores, with ties broken by userscores. No matter what you think of the final placements, one thing is certain- Blizzard brings to each one these titles their famous game quality and attention to detail.
10. Heroes of the Storm (2015)
Metacritic Score- 86
Heroes of the Storm players choose from 80 different heroes to take into battle with in the Nexus
Released 2 June, 2015, Heroes of the Storm represents a magical world where characters from all Blizzard franchises come to do battle in themed battlegrounds. Players can choose to play versus A.I., or PvP in quick or competitive matches. As a MOBA, it simplifies some of the more tedious elements of other popular MOBAs like Dota 2. Instead of an item purchasing system, heroes level up their abilities based on experience earned by the entire team, leaving players to focus on the fun stuff: entertaining brawls and interesting objectives.
On 8 June, 2015, Arcade Sushi wrote about the newly released game,
“It's strange to think about it in these terms, but Heroes of the Storm is the perfect MOBA for those who don't care for League of Legends and Dota 2. The removal of items simplifies gameplay in comparison to League and Dota, but the focus on teamwork, communication, learning the roster, speed and environmental objectives helps make up for the things MOBA fans may nitpick about Heroes (such as its lack of items).”
Blizzard released an updated Heroes of the Storm 2.0 in April of 2017 with a brand new Overwatch-esque progression system based on loot chests and changes to the laning phase of the game. IGN, 19 April 2017, wrote about the update,
“It’s clear that Heroes of the Storm 2.0 represents a new chapter for the game. And outside of the steady stream of new heroes and battlegrounds that the game has received over the past few years, this new approach to progression and rewarding players for their time simply amplifies the idea that Heroes represents all of Blizzard.”
9. Diablo III (2012)
Metacritic Score- 88
Diablo III was the controversial third installment of Blizzard's popular Role Playing Game franchise.
Diablo III was released 15 May, 2012 to a stormy reception. As the third installment of a popular franchise game reviewers praised it highly, with Polygon writing in May 2012,
“Games this thoughtfully crafted don't happen very often, and the care that Blizzard has taken with Diablo 3 shows in every facet of its design and execution. It might not be perfect, but after 45 hours, I'm not sure where it missteps, and after 45 hours, I feel like I've only scratched the surface of what it has to offer. Diablo 3 is almost evil in how high a bar it's set for every PC action RPG to follow, and I wouldn't be surprised to see that bar remain for a very long time.”
Players didn’t feel quite the same way. Diablo III earns a Metacritic user score of only 4.1 out of 10. Despite fantastic production value, players protested the linear gameplay and always-online playing system. Metacritic user Brotha gave the game a score of 4 on June 20, 2012 and simply stated,
“The company took almost every single thing that made the Diablo Series and removed it from the game. It is now a hollow shell resembling that which Diablo once was.”
8. Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft (2012)
Metacritic Score- 88
Hearthstone players craft card decks to face off against other players or AI, as characters from the Warcraft realm of Azeroth.
Hearthstone was released 11 March 2012 as Blizzard’s grand entrance into the world Card Collecting Games, and its first free-to-play game. In Hearthstone, players chose from 9 different classes represented by popular Warcraft characters and face off against each other, the computer, or entertaining campaign and dungeon bosses.
CD-Action described it well on 28 Jun 2014,
“Simple rules, high production values, low system requirements and huge tactical freedom make Hearthstone one of the best card games available. And if you take into account the free-to-play model – it’s the best one.”
The game is well received among CCG players and greeted optimistically by those new to the genre. On Metacritic, user isg1983 summer it up on 27 Mar 2014,
“A good mix of casual and serious aspects. Everybody should give it a go whether if you're a fan of card games or not, this game should be a good starter for everyone who wants to enter the sweet geeky card game universe.”
7. Diablo II (2000)
Metacritic Score- 88
Diablo II leads players through series of dungeons and crypts in pursuit of the Lord of Terror.
Diablo II was released in June 2000, the follow-up to Blizzard’s enormously popular original Diablo title. The entertaining action role-playing game leads players through series of dungeons and crypts in pursuit of the Lord of Terror.
The game expanded on the dark fantasy universe players grew to love in the first game but was not quite as well received as the original. GameSpot noted that,
“In exchange for the additional complexity and size, you'll have to tolerate low-resolution graphics and a few more gameplay problems than you might have come to expect from Blizzard games.”
However, as the years go by, gamers keep coming back to Diablo II. In July 2011, Metacritic user Brumbek wrote,
“I'm reviewing a 11 year old game. Does that tell you how amazing it is?.... I believe this is the very definition of a timeless classic. Gaming's come a long ways with modern hits like Torchlight, but then again I always find myself coming back home.”
6. StarCraft (1998)
Metacritic Score- 88
StarCraft players choose from one of three races, Terran, Protoss, or Zerg, to build their armies.
StarCraft was released in March 1998 and has gained legendary status as the first true king of Real Time Strategy games. Players choose from one of three races, Terran, Protoss, or Zerg and use resources to build their base and rally an army big enough to crush their opponents. Gamers' Temple described StarCraft as,
“One of those rare games that is not overly complex, but provides a challenging and fun gaming experience. It never seems to get old or boring.”
The love affair RTS gamers have had with StarCraft is alive and well, with a Metacritic user score of 9.1, with user Yukle writing on 20 Sep 2017, 19 years after the game was released,
“As close to perfect as anybody can make, StarCraft is the legacy Blizzard has long since tried to replicate. Three balanced races, a stunning single-player story and endless LAN potential make this the definitive RTS. In fact, it's fair to say that it's the only game of the genre that survived the DOTA map in WarCraft III that caused a transition from RTS to MOBA. The game has just been re-released and it is as compelling as ever - a game that is unmatched before or since.”
5. Overwatch (2016)
Metacritic Score- 91
Overwatch spent many years in development, but Blizzard's first entry into the First Person Shooter genre was worth the wait.
Overwatch broke into the First Person Shooter scene in May 2016 after years of development. Overwatch was not the first hero shooter played on objective based maps, but the famous Blizzard production value and attention to detail take Overwatch to the next level. On 31 May, 2016 ZTGD wrote that Overwatch is,
“A gaming experience that’s more polished and exciting than I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing and one I’ll be sure to continue to play for the foreseeable future. If not for the inclusion of microtransactions, this would have been a perfect game in my book.”
Since its release Overwatch was hit some bumps in the road, with developers battling a growing problem of toxic competitive play, and a constant demand for new content from players. On 24 May 2016, kholland65 wrote on Metacritic,
“Overall OW is a decent game, but not perfect.…The scoring seems relatively fair and balanced. The interface makes sense is relatively easy to navigate. However, what holds this game back for me, first and foremost, is the lack of content….There just isn't enough content to keep players hooked for a considerable period of time. Most players will burn out after a month or two.”
This hasn’t been the case. Blizzard has continued to pump new content and heroes into the game and has launched a well-funded Esports league based on the success of the game.
4. Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos (2002)
Metacritic Score- 92
Warcraft is famous as the RTS game that inspired Dota and Dota 2.
Warcraft III was released June 2002 to universal acclaim. Warcraft is famous as the RTS game that inspired Dota and Dota 2, and continues to see play to this day. When it was released Pregaming wrote,
“This game is so much fun to play, and does everything so well that it is totally almost impossible to put it down... WarCraft III is the pinnacle of the recent Real Time Strategy Genre and sets the bar for how all RTS games should be developed.”
Warcraft III has a remarkable Metacritic user score of 9.1. User ObsidianFrost wrote on 12 Nov 2013,
“One of the best games ever made. Amazing graphics (for [its] time), music and sound 10/10, epic game play that only got deeper and deeper the more you played the game. Introducing RPG elements into an RTS game was brilliant. The characters and campaign mode were flawless and playing against people online was challenging and rewarding.”
3. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty (2010)
Metacritic Score- 93
StarCraft II provided a highly playable continuation of the hugely popular game StarCraft.
StarCraft II was released in July 2010 as the wildly anticipated sequel to StarCraft. With more engrossing RTS action and a powerful map customization action, StarCraft II provided a highly playable continuation of a hugely popular game. GamingTrend wrote about the release,
“Blizzard was facing a monumental challenge when it came to releasing a sequel for the genre-defining Starcraft, and they have answered that challenge magnificently.”
RTS gamers talk passionately about StarCraft II, with Metacritic user BubblegumImp writing on 26 Nov 2010,
“After years of development, it's finally here. The visuals are sharp, the sound is punchy and the plot at the heart of the single player campaign does a fine job of setting the scene for the next installment in the planned SC2 trilogy. The multiplayer aspect of the first game remains one of the most highly competitive RTS titles in history and Blizzard saw fit to craft a sequel which measures up to the lofty standards set by its predecessor.…Starcraft 2 is here... and it's about time!”
The game supports one of the largest, most devoted player bases in modern gaming, and has remained the uncontested king of RTS games, despite its age.
2. World of Warcraft (2004)
Metacritic Score- 93
World of Warcraft transformed the mythical world of Azeroth into an enormous open-world with thousands of players interacting in quests and missions.
World of Warcraft was released in November 2004 and to this day is one of the most famous and widely played video games of modern times. The Massively Multiplayer Online game transformed the mythical world of Warcraft into an enormous open-world with thousands of players interacting in quests and missions. The Detroit Free Press wrote about WoW,
“Addictive from the moment you begin...It's incredibly friendly to the solo gamer, allowing players not only to gain Levels 1 to 60 without ever grouping with someone else if they prefer, but also to earn the same or more experience playing that way. That means the solo gamer can level nearly as quickly as a group of power gamers playing together.”
World of Warcraft has long operated on a subscription system where players pay a monthly fee to access the game and level up their character. Systems of guilds within the game have developed tight knit communities, and expansions to the game keep players coming back. Metacritic user Fossilitate described World of Warcraft on 25 Apr 2018 as having,
“Infinite replay value. A game which formed communities within itself. Cannot wait for Classic relaunch.”
1. Diablo (1996)
Metacritic Score- 94
The original Diablo title was the first major game released by Blizzard, leading players through a dark, gothic world of exploration, dungeon clearing and role-playing.
Released in 1996 as a genre busting Action Role Playing Game, Diablo was arguably the game that put Blizzard Entertainment on the map. The game invited players into a dark, gothic world of exploration, dungeon clearing and role-playing.
GameSpot described Diablo as “A title that combines the elegant simplicity of an action game and the addictive storyline of an adventure game with the personalization and exploration of an old-school RPG... The best game to come out in the past year, and you should own a copy. Period.”
Diablo has remained an enormously popular franchise and has seen success across numerous platforms and over a span of more than 20 years. In 2012, Metacritic user Lucidanarchy wrote,
“What more can I say about this game other than [truly] groundbreaking and amazing for its time. Diablo introduced me to the RPG franchise and have enjoyed my stay ever since.”
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