World of Warcraft (WoW) is a name that’s almost synonymous with the term MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game).

Some would call it the king of MMORPGs, and the fact that you’re reading this on our site suggests you are familiar with it.

Launched in 2004, WoW showed its staying power as more than 20 years of gameplay have proven that this is a huge franchise. WoW is a true fantasy game with some serious depth to it. Perhaps this is one of the things that draws it in.

It is important to understand the MMORPG scene to see where WoW fits, and the truth is that it is probably the most popular of all. WoW may not be topping the charts like the battle royales or MOBAs of today but at times there are more than 500,000 concurrent players. It’s important to remember that WoW’s strength lies in its dedicated fanbase. Even with the influx of new games and genres, WoW continues to maintain a huge community of players. OG players have been there from the start.

So where does this fit in comparison with others? What are some of the most popular games in the world and their genres?

Casino Games

One of the most popular forms of gaming is sometimes not discussed in the context of console or PC games. It is a different proposition and has been largely based on games that have existed for hundreds of years and have been modernized.

Each of these games has its own following. Somebody may play one form of casino game and not another. One of the most popular games for participation is blackjack, some people saying that this is the most-played of all casino games in the world. This is potentially due to the fact that the rules are relatively straightforward to get to grips with and the game has such a long history of entertaining people. In recent years, it has become much more common to see online blackjack that connect people to a live dealer via a video connection.

Some estimates say that 30 million people worldwide regularly play blackjack, but as they aren’t on servers like WoW or other games, it is harder to track.

Players can see that there are some big spikes in play on WoW and often hundreds of thousands of people tuning in and watching others play as well as playing the game themselves. This is one of the differences with casino gaming which does not have as many people tuning in to watch (though there are still plenty).

The Growth of MOBAs

Another form of gaming with similar levels of players to WoW and MMORPGs is the world of MOBAs. Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas (MOBAs) like League of Legends continue to draw in massive audiences and even get huge viewerships in person. With their roots in real-time strategy games, MOBAs bring a unique combination of strategy and speed.

Esports tournaments for MOBAs are some of the most-watched events in gaming, with millions tuning in to see the best of the best compete. It’s not just the gameplay that people are drawn to as MOBAs can have huge fandoms and events. Dota 2’s The International is consistently one of the biggest-earning events for pros and one of the most-viewed for spectators.

RPGs: Still Incredibly Popular

Role-playing games (RPGs) remain a huge genre, offering players the chance to step into the shoes of someone else and embark on epic quests. Some people think of the early RPGs that were available on basic consoles and even on the GameBoy. RPGs let players lose themselves in detailed worlds and though they can vary a lot in terms of their subject matter the genre remains huge.

RPGs do share some aspects with MMORPGs like WoW, especially in terms of storytelling. They cater to gamers who love to invest time in developing their characters and experiencing stories that can’t easily be told in any other medium.

Where Does WoW Fit?

So where does WoW stack up? Though it has been around for a long time it remains a classic. Its influence on the gaming world is undeniable and it’s still going strong after nearly two decades.

WoW can seem to be a bit of a confusing world to get into, but there are a lot of different options for beginners and ways for people to get to grips with the basics. Beginner guides make it accessible and help to contribute to player numbers who may eventually get fully caught up in the lore of the game.

The gaming landscape may be crowded, but WoW holds its ground – not just as a game, but as a community and an ever-evolving world. People read books related to WoW and there have even been movies that have sprung from the original idea.