It doesn't get bigger than Blizzard.
Blizzard Entertainment is one of the most successful, most recognizable names in the gaming industry. There probably isn’t a single gamer alive who hasn’t enjoyed, or at the very least heard of seminal franchises Warcraft, StarCraft, or Diablo. These are virtual universes that have been with us for decades, inspiring the imagination with the expansive mythologies of their various worlds, rousing deep emotions with tales of heroism and sacrifice, and challenging our minds, reflexes, and mouse-clicking prowess with thrilling, innovative gameplay.
Indeed, it can be said that many of Blizzard’s earliest games defined the genres that have now become part and parcel of the gaming experience. And with their recent releases, they continue to demonstrate their mastery of achieving the balance between quality and accessibility. These are games that everybody can, and will, enjoy – as proven by the ridiculously huge subscription numbers for the biggest MMORPG in the world, World of Warcraft.
Everyone has a favorite Blizzard game; but here is our list of the top 10 Blizzard games, ranked best to worst.
1. World of Warcraft
Ugly vs. ugly
In the realm of MMORPGs, World of Warcraft is a titan among lesser beings. If you can’t believe that, then believe the subscription numbers, which at one point peaked at over 12 million. That’s one heck of a lot of mouse-clicking!
The game follows the events of WarCraft III: The Frozen Throne. The major races of Azeroth have divided into two distinct factions, who just so happen to hate each others' guts. They are the Alliance, consisting of Humans, Dwarves, Night Elves, and Gnomes; and the Horde, comprised of Orcs, Trolls, Tauren, and the Undead Forsaken. Players choose a faction, a race, and then customize their own character, from their appearance to their class.
It's an owl... it's a bear... it's an owlbear!
Players level up their character by murdering monsters, and going on quests - which range from Arthurian-style epics to chores about as exciting as doing your laundry. The boring quests aside, the game also supports PvP, raids, faction conflicts, and a host of other activities that ensure you'll never want to leave Azeroth. Ever. And every once in a while, Blizzard introduces new gameplay twists, such as the time Azeroth was ravaged by a contagious disease. Its solid, varied, and ever-evolving gameplay, stunning world, and strong social element are the reasons why World of Warcraft has become the benchmark for all MMORPGs.
Grossing revenue of over 10 billion dollars has made Blizzard a figure of envy in the industry, not to mention it has also opened doors of opportunity for the company. We’re going to have a cinematic adaptation of Warcraft in 2016 – would this have been possible without World of Warcraft’s success? Doubtful. For these reasons, it is our top pick for our list of best Blizzard games ever.
Our rating – 5/5
2. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty
Hell. It's about time!
Yes, we all grumbled about how long it was taking Blizzard to release the sequel to one of gaming’s most beloved real-time strategy games, StarCraft. Some of us were even beginning to think Blizzard was going to pull a Gabe Newell (and the perpetual no-show, Half-Life 3) on fans. But after a decade of teeth-grinding, StarCraft II finally hit the shelves, and with it, the developer proved that some things are just worth the wait.
The game is set two years after Brood War, and focuses on the Terran perspective. Specifically, it follows war hero and space cowboy Jim Raynor’s struggle to bring the Terran Dominion's Emperor Arcturus Mengsk (who has declared him an outlaw) to justice. He also wants to save his on-and-off love interest Kerrigan, which is much tougher than it sounds, given that she's turned into a genocidal half-human, half-something-else monster.
Game over, man! Game over!
StarCraft II sees the return of many beloved units and the introduction of several new ones, in addition to upgraded graphics, A.I, and multiplayer options. Gameplay-wise, it stays true to the formula that made its predecessor work so well. It was a decision everybody - from the most cynical game critic to your best friend's mom - applauded.
Our rating – 5/5
3. StarCraft: Brood War
Darkening the skies
Power overwhelming! There probably isn't a PC gamer alive who hasn't heard these words.
Blizzard wowed strategy gamers with Warcraft II and its expansions, but it was truly StarCraft that made the developer the lord of the genre.
Leaving swords and sorcery behind, StarCraft takes players to space, into a distant future when our exiled descendants, the Terrans, find themselves in conflict with the technologically advanced, psionic Protoss, and the savage, insectoid Zerg.
Fear the color yellow!
Brood War, StarCraft’s first and only expansion, is third on our list of best Blizzard games for vastly improving on the already spectacular original. Each race is given new units, allowing for fresh tactics and even greater play style diversity. Its story, which takes a darker, more tragic turn, involves Kerrigan – Queen of Blades and ruler of the Zerg – betraying alliances in order to become the dominant force in the sector.
Our rating – 5/5
4. Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
Here are your dragons!
With Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, Blizzard embraced the future by going full 3D. Azeroth had never looked so vibrant, and the characters more alive.
But Warcraft III’s grandeur is more than skin deep. It introduced RPG elements to the real-time strategy genre, such as heroes that gain experience and level up. This innovation not only set the game apart from others of its kind, but is arguably responsible for the birth of the MOBA genre.
Magic vs. technology
Reign of Chaos also upped the number of playable factions from two to four by throwing the mystical (and sexy) Night Elves and the resilient (and stinky) Undead into the mix. Unlike Warcraft II’s races, these factions are no mere reskins of the same army - thanks to distinct units, strengths, and weaknesses, each race delivers a unique experience to the player.
Our rating – 5/5
5. World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
Duel to the death
Let's get this party started!
Wrath of the Lich King sits at spot number five on our list of best Blizzard Games for one reason: it is a prime example of what an expansion for an MMORPG should be. Offering a tremendous amount of new, high-quality content - from the icy continent of Northrend to a new hero class - it revitalized the game, drew back fans who had given up on the original, and won Blizzard a healthy dose of new subscribers.
Our rating – 5/5
6. Diablo III: Reaper of Souls
Crusader, meat tank
Diablo III was a disappointment for many fans, thanks to what was perceived as a dumbing down of the gameplay, its always-online requirement, and the highly dubious nature of the real money auction house.
Enter Reaper of Souls, Diablo III’s expansion – number six on our list of best Blizzard games.
Bridge to nowhere
Reaper of Souls not only introduced the highly enjoyable Crusader class, it also addressed many of the issues that plagued the original. The loot system received a substantial upgrade, the difficulty progression was tweaked, and it comes with the glorious Adventure Mode, which extensively increases the game’s replay value beyond the campaign’s end.
The story is also an improvement over the original’s. This time, it involves the rogue Archangel, Malthael, who, as the Angel of Death, wants to wipe humanity off the face of creation. He's a definite improvement over Azmodan and his what's-his-face brother, who were written so poorly they give Scooby Doo villains a run for their money.
Our rating – 5/5
7. Diablo II: Lord of Destruction
Wasteland
With Diablo wearing down computer mouses everywhere, it was only a matter of time before Blizzard manufactured a sequel – bringing us to number seven on our best Blizzard games list.
Diablo II expands the grim world Blizzard built in the original, giving players several new locations to explore, a greater variety of monsters to slaughter, and a decidedly more epic quest. Each of the five new classes are also wonderfully varied, ranging from the close range powerhouse that is the Barbarian to the ingenious Necromancer, who relies on creature summons and debilitating spells.
The expansion, Lord of Destruction doesn’t only revamp the gameplay, it also adds more loot, a new act, and two new classes: the vicious Assassin and the shape-shifting Druid.
The saga of Diablo II is also more ambitious. The war between Heaven and Hell is brought to the fore, as are the denizens of the two realms, including the other Lords of Hell, and their nemeses, the Angels.
Our rating – 5/5
8. StarCraft
The Protoss sure like them pyramids
StarCraft is the game that first put Blizzard on the map. It owes its success to a combination of four significant factors: epic storytelling, memorable characters, three extremely diverse yet perfectly balanced factions, and exemplary multiplayer support. And oh, let’s not forget it had some of the loveliest CG cinematics for its time.
Released in 1998, it has since then transformed into a cultural juggernaut. Loved by millions, it ushered in the e-sports initiative, and has even become the national sport of South Korea. How’s that for achievement?
Our rating – 5/5
9. Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness
Humble beginnings
Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness built on the strength of its predecessor by giving us a game that is broader in scope in terms of story and gameplay.
As one of the first few real-time strategy titles to support network play, Tides of Darkness also demonstrated how multiplayer gaming is a perfect fit for the genre. For this reason alone, it deserves to be remembered as one of the best Blizzard games ever created.
Our rating – 3/5
10. Diablo
Birthing evil
You can thank Diablo for starting the point-and-click mania that has held us hostage all these years.
Diablo exemplified the simple, yet inexplicably addictive endeavor of spending untold hours mouse-clicking hundreds of monsters to death. Seriously, it was that uncomplicated. Pick any of the three starting classes, plunge into Tristram’s depths, and click away. And as the hours wore on, your character grew in power, their equipment became cooler, and the closer you got to killing Diablo, the Lord of Terror.
One of Diablo’s biggest draws, aside from the endless killing and looting, was its randomly generated dungeons, which made the game immensely replayable. Its multiplayer feature was also solid, making the game a blast to play with friends.
Diablo hasn’t aged too gracefully, though, which is why it’s last on our list of best Blizzard games.
Our rating – 3/5
Blizzard has provided us with over two decades of quality gaming, so it’s impossible to include every title on this list. But don’t think they’re sitting on their laurels just yet. We have the upcoming Overwatch and Heroes of the Storm to look forward to, and the third and final StarCraft II expansion, Legacy of the Void, which focuses on the Protoss angle of the epic science fiction tale. Let it be stated clearly: it's an awesome time to be a Blizzard fan!
What do you think? Do you agree with our list? How would you rearrange it to reflect your favorites, and which games would you drop from or add to the rankings?
