Why Play Guild Wars 2 in 2024? Explaining The Appeal & Comparing to other games

[@MuklukYoutube]

The response to this video has been incredible. I hope you all enjoy the game as much as I have. If you decide to start your GW2 journey and have need of any future guides for new players or various content feel free to check out my other work here: MuklukLabs.com/ or join our discord to get questions answered. The website is ad free, gluten free, and zero calories.

[@paulknakk1715]

I’ll check out the discord and the website man. Solid video…super informative.

[@dancinghippy137]

This video helped me feel excited enough to return. I've shared the video with my friends and made sure to use your affiliate link when I purchased the xpac collection. Happy to support the great content you provide to the community for free. Truly a labor of love. Thank you!

[@crimsonwizahd2358]

Ad free, gluten free, zero calories.....not lactose free, shame....

[@alexmelda6338]

Honestly for how many MMO's I've played over the years I'm really bummed it took me this long to find this one... probably one of the best I've ever played.

[@lm4122]

You even missed gw1 ? started on 2004, GW series are quite mainstream actually

[@starcore7507]

oooh thats good to hear... now, whats the best mmo you have played?

[@bosunbones.8815]

Really? Not arguing! I only started playing a few days ago. I've been pretty impressed so far!

[@alexmelda6338]

@@starcore7507 hrmm tough to say but I would say FFXI would be my all time favs because the community behind it.

[@SheonEver]

Don't worry too much - I tried it at launch and wasn't overly impressed. I think some time after the path of fire expansion was when it really hit it's stride, so you're getting in at a great time.

[@hifgames7076]

One of my favourite things about GW2 is that when logging in to play. You can really just run in any random direction and you will autonatically stumple upon adventure. Maybe small ones, maybe bigger, and once in a while you get wrapped up in the zone's meta event that culminates in a big multiplayer fight of some kind. You will get appropriate rewards for everything you do, and they will all help progress your character. So it's one of the only MMO's where you can just explorer however the freak you want and fun stuff will automatically happen.

[@pineapplepie4929]

as a new player this is fucking awesome, like i was just walking around leveling and came across a group summoning a boss or something and joined the fight and they didn't seem to care and even revived me, i got cool loot, got to hang out with cool people and afterwards i got teleported to a new zone and got to see an entirely new place. like this is awesome and similar stuff is everywhere

[@chosenuwu]

awwh thats adorable

[@danoelker1144]

Yeah I just started playing and there’s been a few occasions where I’m just doing story mode and i see a load of players gathered around so I join in and fight a world boss or event haha

[@DmytroBogdan]

Random events done really well. And loot distribution and resurect rewards make it feel very friendly for everyone

[@marekhrebik2465]

This. Exactly. Today I wanted to do some story, but noticed that ppl were running meta event on the map, so of course i joined. This has happened like ten times in the last month only. Dailies... Don't feel like mining in some remote place? nvm, i can just do a PVP match instead In GW2 I feel that there is perfect balance of not making you play daily (basically 0 FOMO) and having something to do at all times.

[@Seezonn]

I love how the script has BARELY changed in the time since your last video on this topic. All these things still ring true in Guild Wars 2.

[@MuklukYoutube]

True enough. I pulled up the original script and went through it and only had a few things I wanted to alter.

[@matthayes533]

Downside: There is literally so much meaningful stuff to do that you may actually feel lost and overwhelmed. Pick a path or five and enjoy the ride.

[@Oshidorinohina]

I always felt the lore and such was watered down, especially from gw1. At least impact wise. When you realize you're not the main character but the errand girl/boy.

[@julbot1]

@@Oshidorinohina Though that does get fixed once you aren't playing second fiddle to Trahearne anymore.

[@Oshidorinohina]

@@julbot1 Well that is true, I remember during HOT it sort of picked up if you were a Sylvari, but not much after that. The game felt stale to me after 6 years and I didn't see where they were ever going to add more dungeons, or fix WvW & unable to balance classes without heavily nerfing a few others- so I just kind of slowly faded away.

[@Nikolaablg]

@@Oshidorinohina well, it is good if it is like that. I don't want to be a main character with generic hero story. I am starting the game again Good to know xD

[@Oshidorinohina]

@@Nikolaablg well I dont want to be a main character either, but I would hope to be written better than a mary sue who has no emotions or personality.

[@Theadalas]

TBF this is probably the best "Is it worth playing?"-type of video for GW2 I've seen so far. Very informative, but not overly detailed and focuses on things that truely matter for the general MMORPG population.

[@phloxes4399]

Started playing Guild Wars 2 eight years ago, took a break, and have come back still loving this game. It's a refreshing change of pace from your typical MMO and still holds up to this day. Highly recommend giving it a shot if you haven't yet, or giving it another if you've been away for a while. And as always, great video Muk. Thanks for helping bring more folks to the community!

[@SmithyPL]

Left GW2 for Genshin Impact and not disappointed, I don't have to buy every past episode content for additional diamonds like in GW2!

[@hardikaku6652]

@@SmithyPL Damn u compared a mmo with a single player game?

[@SmithyPL]

@@hardikaku6652 Genshin has coop option and doesn't have unbeatable bosses because lack of people and pay 5000 diamonds for past episodes.

[@hardikaku6652]

@@SmithyPL because genshin is? A single player game. You can't compare MMO with single player game bro. Yes it has co op, Borderlands 3 also has co op, but you won't see 50 ppl on the same map. There is no group event where 10++ ppl can participate. Last time I played genshin, only 4 ppl can play together with some limitation. (when it first released) If you want to compare, you can compare it to another MMO game. Final Fantasy XIV and WoW for example, you need to pay monthly subscription and buy the game and the expansions. I played GW2 for 3 months and I already unlocked LW4 and LW3 with in game currency (gold to gem conversion).

[@MylesJin]

@@SmithyPL imagine paying for gacha yikes

[@colburntucker4589]

Just started a few months ago myself. I love the fact it never feels like I am competing with other players in PvE.

[@joeysmit4644]

sweet summer child, haven't you yet heard of arcDPS? (just joking, ye the game has a very friendly community. It's mostly about chilling and helping each other out when you see a player struggling)

[@StergiosMekras]

Some of my fondest memories in GW2 are either helping others or being helped by them. And I still won't forget leading a WvWvW army just to capture that last remaining PoI (back when you also had to complete the WvWvW maps for map completion).

[@TheJupiteL]

Not even in PVP. I once was so frustrated about not getting any better at it and asked for help in the PVP lobby. One guy invited me to his guild and taught me a lot about builds and strategies, even sometimes logged in sooner because I live 10 hours earlier than his time.

[@kaelinvictus6039]

Showcasing the game's strengths while being straight to the point. Terrific content as always.

[@sorodragonfall8832]

LOL just imagined WP turning this into a 8 hour video XD and only hitting the same points.

[@xSkye629x]

How dare you not mention Fashion Wars 2

[@mariofernandezramirez5603]

I agree, although gw2 doesn't have many flashy or specially cool skins as other MMOs the option of dying all your armour its insane, with the rigth combination of colors you can look amazing even with low lvl questing armour

[@gex6616]

MARIO FERNÁNDEZ RAMÍREZ find me something flashier than a legendary greatsword hahaha no other game man this is the one game i have all my characters looking exacly how i like em

[@mariofernandezramirez5603]

@@gex6616 most of the raid weapons from WoW since 2018 are flashier than that

[@gex6616]

MARIO FERNÁNDEZ RAMÍREZ well i couldn’t say my bad heheh i dont play it

[@mariofernandezramirez5603]

@@gex6616 There's a very famous streamer called Asmongold (aka Asmonbald) that from time to time does transmog competitions, they are similar to fashion wars. You can see plenty of his videos in YT, that way you will know how WoW weapons are ^^

[@nocchi.9589]

I did a social experiment the other day wherein I purposefully died to a mob and waited for someone to revive me. I did this for at least twenty times all over Queensdale and sure enough someone came along and revived me. Some even asked if I needed help. Truly an amazing community.

[@auronayoutube9303]

Me: *someone who's been playing this game since beta* Also me: "Ah yes, let's watch this video to remind myself once again why and how much I love this game uwu!" :D Great video Muk! Thanks for the constant quality content you bring to this community :)

[@BenjaminNachtWolf]

I feel the same ^_^

[@ZianaSue]

Same hon same. Only I haven't been playing since beta. I've been playing since 2017 with a break in 2018 because of tech issues. But I still love the game and something is always happening that keeps my interest. I could do the same meta event a dozen ties and not get bored because of the community like in the HoT Auric Basin there are four different sides (north, east, south, west) to the main meta event and the way they are completed is completely different, and even if you go the say the south side 12 times it will be different each time because the players who are in your section change with each rotation of the meta. Who leads your area will most likely change too. I tend to bounce between the areas to offer assistance if there's a side whose Octovine that round is putting up a serious fight. Then there are the mounts that have made getting to vistas or hero points that I had previously given up on possible for me to get. And he forgot to mention the Jumping puzzle I like that they exist, but I hate doing them, I'm bad at jumping. I love gliding and flying on my griffon which is odd because I'm absolutely terrified of heights in real life and in-game. OMG sorry, this is so long, I can't believe I just geeked out over a game.

[@oliverdevega]

Samesies

[@kereminde]

I couldn't connect except during the last open Beta weekend access. I don't play as much anymore, because I feel... I had to fall so far behind progress in the story-related events I can't catch up. I know deep down that's not true, but there was also the brief spark of getting a Precursor I wanted - and then the sinking "oh Five Gods now I have to farm the materials..." feeling. I still enjoy getting on and picking some random thing to do just to do it. World Bosses. Progressive regional events like those in Heart of Thorns. Pick some scavenger hunt I never finished and get to it. Try, and fail, to do the last diving goggles dive I have left. (MOST of you probably can guess which one.)

[@DigiCube4]

Not gonna lie..even when i got pissed about p/p ricochet removal..i'm still in love with it all these years later.

[@ChrisVlogs88]

This game is great, has a booming community, and has been and always will be some of the best moments in my life.

[@Oshidorinohina]

they have about 400k players a day.

[@bjornegan6421]

could you please tell me why you like it? there is zero end game in gw2, there is zero point in grinding, there is zero point being a specific 'profession' as all of them have roughly the same role capabilities. i've asked people in the game what the point was, they all say fashion.. a couple people mention the gameplay is fun. no, it is not at all fun. everything in the game is scaled, so there is almost no point leveling up except in fractals or level 80 areas. but once you hit level 80, there is no where further to go. better gear does practically nothing and is way too simple to get. so is the entire point of the game map completion? because that is just about the least fun i've ever had in a game. absolutely annoying mobs, constantly getting demounted, pointless yet required 'tasks', ridiculous timers on everything. so is the story the point? the story felt like it was written by a jr high nerd and has the worst plot and the dumbest writing with the most corny voice acting and worst graphics and afterthought 'cutscenes' of any game post ps1 i've played. the only thing that rivals it is the crafting in this game which is absolutely terrible. i haven't had any fun playing this game. the entire game has felt like a chore. but unlike other games that require chores, there is no point completing the chores in this game. you get nothing that actually progresses anything, you get zero advantage. the combat is way too simple and becomes extremely monotonous and annoying. the builds are so generic that anyone with a brain cell will find the optimum build first time. the world boss fear 'features' are absolutely stupid along with the knock downs and roots. the majority of players dont even do raids and there isn't a point to doing them because you don't get anything unique from them and IF you did, there isn't any advantage to having unique anything besides 'fashion'. lastly, i find the community is absolutely terrible. sure, i've ran across a few people who helped me when i had no idea what was going on, but then once i had a grasp, everyone ditched me. so i had to rely on the lfg to do 'things' and the lfg system is atrocious. would it be better if i found a decent guild? sure. but after being ditched by the guilds i found, i realized there wasn't a point to even having people to do stuff with because there is no advantage to doing anything. throw in the heinous inventory 'features' that are literally pay to play and i just don't see why anyone plays this game. it's an mmo for people who don't like mmo's. so it's essentially just a weird online hangout game where people roleplay and say 'gratz' every time someone gets something they spent 100 hours trying to get that only has the purpose of a new skin. but in order to actually use that new skin, you have to pay anet money. 'sounds like you really shouldn't play this game'. yeah. i hated it. i put in way too many hours of my life assuming it would be like an actual mmo where there's a high knowledge and skill cap and eventually i'd get to the point of having fun. nope. i just want to warn others not to get into the game if they actually find mmo's fun. and please, don't make the mistake i did and think the game improves if you buy it. it absolutely does not. this game is basically mcdonalds.

[@ChrisVlogs88]

Seems like you had a particularly bad experience with the game, sorry to hear that. :/ I will agree that there really isn't an end game, as of right now it's fashion wars, raiding, or grinding for sweet ascendeds/legendaries. Then again how could their be an end game to a game that isn't finished yet? Anet is constantly working on new content like the upcoming expansion End of Dragons! As I said before, awesome and always helpful community, literally endless hours of content to enjoy, and as a play that took a three year hiatus and recently came back it's extremely beginner friendly. But as I have progressed there's been no shortage of goals to work towards. I would have recommended this game three years ago and, if I'm being honest, I'd recommend it even more now!

[@Oshidorinohina]

​@@bjornegan6421 yeah, there doesn't feel like any progress can be made as there is no prestige & nothing feels meaningful or like it has a purpose. I will truthfully say that the first few years, you actually had to put in an effort before LA reconstruction, especially in PvP when there was a mystic forge & ranks actually meant something & Arah p4 was the boogie man of the game. The first few years the game was fun, but it didn't update or add anything to boost their numbers & solely relied on expansions. no new dungeons.. some interesting characters but our character was not one of them just an all around mary/gary sue who had 0 character growth or anything to remember just "Hello. I am the commander. Yes, I will fetch for you." , no impactful or deep lore- Norn and Charr were the biggest disappointment to me. I did play Norn throughout but it always felt lacking, like a watered down version of a Viking who's spirit form doesn't mean anything or basically like the last 3 seasons of GoT or the newest star wars films. Pretty sure spirit form is a big part of Norn culture & the writers 100% said fuck it. But they did introduce the Scarlet/watchwork event around year 2 and that was very fun and during the blood crystal stuff when Logan was recovering there were some interesting class mechanics in story that never saw the light of day again bc why stick with something that could potentially be a bonus for future content? Then came the grinding nerfs, drops became harder to farm for & dungeons remained bugged out. And you would still get banned by the team for their short comings & inability to fix bugs that could be exploited easily by players. Just "We aren't gonna fix it, just don't do it! hey! we weren't gonna fix that ever! Now you're in trouble!" Fashion is subpar in terms of design in GW2, it's only about mounts & who has the shiniest shiny now. That's any MMO tbh, but there is no prestige to getting anything in the game. GW2 has been made to be stupidly easy. Im not bragging when I say this, but it became so easy that I geared 4 characters in one day with ascended armor & weps. And I crafted back to back legendaries and it didn't feel rewarding bc it was just so easy. And arenanet team wanted it that way so that casuals didn't have to worry about missing out when they took breaks, but there wasn't enough to do for hardcore MMO players it was always left to "well go pvp, go fractal or go wvw" (I stupidly stuck around for 6 years) They abandoned WvW seasons and due to falling player count did a server merge. only about 400k at peak times which is low for an MMO. and I fell into WvW after PvP became a joke with all of the nerfs to classes bc the team didn't foresee issues like perma stealth (which should've stayed in PvE) & condi clone death mesmer. They couldn't balance an empty scale to save their lives. WvW remains unfixed, as they have 1 person allocated to work on it and it's been 7 years and the only change was a new map + mounts that were nerfed after 1 week bc hardcore wvw players are "no fun" but they're so deprived of anything new that ofc they're gonna jump at the gathering of 50 new players who just rolled in to grab a mount that serves no purpose outside of wvw and it creates a toxic cloud of "wah wvw players are bullies" or "wvw players are wanting updates after 7 years to an entirely unique game mode that no other mmo has" WvW is dying every year and loyal players become jaded bc just like dungeons, just like story lore, just like any meaningful content; it gets left behind or not done at all. But we all need to remember, that Arenanet is a small indie company and can only allocate so much of their time into the game. I really want GW2 to get better, but it never will. After the PvP Esports fiasco and massive nerf waves, especially after HoT bc that stuff actually required a brain at first before it was made easier- the game has gone to shit and the writers are all the same, they play it safe and even though that sjw was fired along with the poor guy who tried to talk her down, the things she said were true- the writers don't want any interpretation of their cheap story. The maps are beautiful, the mounts are also very fun and nice. but, That's all there is anymore. Mount skins and standing in a main city.

[@bjornegan6421]

@@ChrisVlogs88 that's my point though. the only point doing any of the content is to get ascended or legendary stuff. BUT, the ascended and legendary stuff doesn't make the character any stronger, just look different. sure, that stuff will allow a player to do the higher level fractals because of the ridiculous ar stuff, but higher level fractals are the exact same fractals as the intro ones, and the reward for t4 is just more gold and possibly the same ascended things you already have, or useless ascended things. it doesn't go anywhere. that's my point about there being no point to any of it, no end game. all you're doing is the EXACT same things every day in order to get a skin. that's it. it's the exact same thing every day with only the exact same thing to look forward to for forever. in every other mmo, grinding rewards you with new content that would not be available unless you played the game. so you do the exact same thing every day, the busy, boring, annoying stuff, and then after a while, you get new content that has drops or a point to doing that progresses you to do the next new content, and the cycle continues.. but gw2 it's, 'well, i've done the same thing every day for a year and the only thing i can do is the same same thing every day'. yes, there's a ton of content, but it's all the same stuff. you might be on a different map, but you're doing the same thing. and it's the same thing every day, and it's ALL available to a new player within a day or so of playing. that's one of the first red flags i noticed. in every other mmo, if you have more than one maxed out character, you literally have no life. in this game, when i asked what to do next cause i've done everything in the game within a week, people said make a new character, enjoy the story... it can take less than 1 day to reach max level and then depending on how you do it, you might even have the stuff to max gear them that same day. yeah, it'll take longer for the hero points for specializations, but even with those, you're looking at 2-3 days. i noticed that when doing hearts, i didn't even look at the objectives i need to do after a couple because it's ALL the same stuff. there is zero variety. when people talk about end game with MMO's, they're not talking about 'finishing' the game, they're talking about content that is only available to people who specifically worked toward it and that's only the end game until the next update. people who did those 'chores' i mentioned are then 'rewarded' by being able to do things only they can do. and as the game continues to be updated, that content becomes normal and new 'end game' content is added. it's the entire point of mmo's, it's how every other mmo works. but this game isn't like that. everything is available to everyone, as long as they bought the content. every other mmo, you stop playing for a week, or month, or year, and you are now under leveled/underequipped and cannot do the current content. when you're a new player, you can just assume you're not gonna be able to do anything as you have to work your way up to it. that's why i played gw2 for as long as i did, assuming the same would be true. this approach 'rewards' players who play consistently and gives a point to keep playing as ONLY if you keep going will you be able to do the new stuff. it is often quite annoying, but is also what gives playing a point. not in gw2, instead of other mmo's being tailored to the actual players, gw2 is tailored 100% to NEW players. congratulations new player, have access to everything the game has to offer within 2 days. not only that, if you pay us real money, you can be maxed everything instantly! is that really so terrible? well, not unless you consider it completely negates the point of playing for more than a week. so i can't understand why people who play everyday keep playing. i had zero interest in this game until a friend who has played for years invited me to play it. so i did. joined his guild and saw he was the only active player in the entire guild. where were all his friends? they were max level and gear and dropped the game to do other mmo's. this concept was strange to me, as my experience with other mmo's tells me you have to have A LOT of free time and dedicate all of it to games in order to be maxed and swap between multiple mmo's. i wondered how and why they were doing other mmo's. after playing a bit i figured it out. there is no point, no content, no rewards, no purpose in playing gw2 consistently, as someone who stopped playing for 4 years and hops back on is just as relevant as someone who plays consistently. it is the mmo for people who don't like mmo's. it is the mmo for new players. and i see that confirmed in all the expressions from people who switched to gw2 from other mmo's. they hated the other mmo's and love gw2. mmo's really are such a waste of time. especially when you consider what you're actually doing, sitting there, clicking on the screen in specific spots while mashing buttons. so what makes them worth it? well, feeling immersed, enjoying what you see and hear when you press all those buttons correctly and see some kind of powerful thing happen. playing with other people and constantly failing at that new content that you're almost undergeared for until you figure out the secrets and manage to do it right. talking with your friends as you do it. going to an area and being overpowered and 'feeling' as though the time you put in actually makes a difference. absolutely none of these aspects are present in gw2. characters dont feel powerful as everything is scaled and all the professions have the same capabilities as far as dps, tank, healer, etc... the builds are way too simple and the game pretty much does it for you. the button combinations are ridiculous. every boss is the same. the ai cc is ridiculous and player cc is lacking. there isn't any of that end game content i harped on. the open world bosses and events often turn into absolute circuses. especially because they scale and you can have 200 people fighting one boss. what. is. the. point. get a skin, stand there. and the skins are all the same. sparkly this, shiny that, foofoo aura, dumb cat joke, giant shoulder armor, bikini. oh, and pay real money in order to change your look that you 'grinded' for.

[@seu3590]

Hands down best community in MMOs I've ever come across. The game is fantastic and so much fun, but the friends I've made are what keep me logging in night after night.

[@War_maN333]

yeah unless you are me and every guild you join is full of assholes that ignore you completely :( I've joined more than 8 guilds in 1 year, all guilds looking for new players, promising that and that, and at the end they just want the number. I enjoy the game, definitely not for the community. Still looking for a decent guild for over 6 years

[@seu3590]

@@War_maN333 Sorry you have had a rough time finding a guild! Are you NA or EU? There are several guilds in Mukluk's community (including his own). I have one but we're mostly only active in the evenings NA time.

[@War_maN333]

@@seu3590 EU, Im aware that there are guilds

[@benjii2909]

@@War_maN333 if your looking for friends i play eu

[@musclesflexcom8582]

@@benjii2909 i'm just starting the game on EU as well, anyone wanna play with me?

[@largebelugawhale6154]

It's crazy how you still interact with your community on a year old video. Major props to you Mukluk!

[@selection5072]

I remember back in 2012 when I was in a store with my brother and we both saw this awesome looking game-box, with the 2 that looks like a Dragon, sitting in the shelf. Both of us scrabbling all of our money together to be able to buy it. I remember us going home, putting the disc in and patiently waiting for the download to finish. And then there I was in in Tyria. Me with my Charr warrior and my brother with his human elementalist. That was nearly 9 years ago. I was 12 back then and now I'm 21. And yet I still come back to this game every once in a while. I remember playing with my best friend, who was only allowed to play 2 hours per day. I remember finally finishing the story with the epic Zhaitan fight. I remember both the expansions. And I remember, after farming for years, finally being able to craft my very own Eternity. This game makes up some of the best memories I have. It has been part of nearly my half my life. So many people I've met, so many experiences I've had, all because of this one game. I envy every single person that finds this game just now and gets to experience all of it.

[@999GoldenGirl]

My only regret was not playing this game sooner. It was my first mmorpg and still my favorite. Beautifully crafted story, incredible amount of easy to use customization, welcoming community, and new content always keeping the game fresh. I highly recommend to anyone because this game has something for everyone!

[@mariofernandezramirez5603]

Same here, I played WoW for 9 years and its a cool MMO but nothing really special, i started playing gw2 this March and i fucking love it

[@toot1231]

Little something for everyone - IGN

[@zenmiki1]

I also love the game but welcoming community? I guess you have never played T4 fractals and raids ;)

[@GaruruMoon]

here is an additional Note for new players: in PvE and PvP you can meet and play with anyone that plays in the same server region, not just players from your chosen server. you will be either EU (Europe) or NA (North America), you can check that in the server overview. I believe its due to where in the real world you character data is beein handled. and as always: if you are new or returning and have questions do not hesitate to ask. be it here, on twitch or inamae, more often than not someone will try to help you out. this includes me by the way ;-)

[@JordanWHuff]

I was really in a gaming rut, but man, this video was so informative and detailed and laid down everything I wanted in a game. Before it was over, I was sitting down at my pc making an account

[@MuklukYoutube]

I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!

[@Graveage]

GW2 differs from other MMORPG in terms of not having a rat race system. Your gears from years ago can still be viable today, so you can stop anytime you want and pick up the game again. Try out GW2 if you are looking for something more casual without the endless meta gear grind.

[@Graveage]

​@ Oh, I fully understand your point, as this is a known downside of the system. Since you can do end-game content (raids) without much grinding for the gears, some players would not know what to do upon fully leveling their character. The legendary equipment can be considered as an end-game goal but they are generally not needed since they only offer cosmetic effects and QoL stat-changing. Hence, cosmetics and skins tend to be what veteran players grind for now, that's why people would call GW2 Fashion Wars. I get that people want to play MMORPG to scratch that itch in grinding for useful equipment and having new equipment effect is needed to maintain a healthy player base to reduce staleness. GW2 would have players leaving due to this but also have just as many returning players that wanted a break from grinding in another MMORPG. So I guess you can try out GW2 if you are looking for a break and wanted to play a more world exploration-focused MMORPG, but it's understandable if the gear system is too much of a con.

[@yzslay]

Just buy POF expansion last month, Really exciting to hear this. (and quit wow again)

[@wakichunu]

I've heard many people say that gw2 is more casual than other mmorpgs, but idk if that works as a point to get new players to play the game. Especially when players are looking for an mmorpg to spend thousands of hours playing not casually play every once and a while after they lost motivation on their goals before. But the fact that many players have commented that they have played this game since beta for thousands of hours, that means there is something to grind for. They are the reason I'm downloading the game right now to try it. Rat race is a huge factor that keep people playing a game for 1000s of hours.

[@Donky_Kongs_Baby]

@@wakichunu for me who has owned the game since release their truly isnt. pvp/wvw was the only draw but it is a gutted remnant of what it was most of the time people just get on to chill and talk but once you have every legendary or a good chunk like myself their is no real purpose. Unlike poe where its very deverse and they add a new system aside from the original game to add replay vaule every 3 moths to keep the game unique and interesting or monster hunter where hunts are always a challenge this game feels dull and end game boring elitist shit fest with pointless cometics.

[@elwiseguy69]

@@wakichunu Thats what i thought but WoW got me bored after 2 weeks of grinding Renown and Anima.

[@jerraldparker]

Love this game so much. It makes life and advancement through the game so much easier - you aren't forced into single methods for achieving what you want to do, but have so many ways of getting there, it is amazing.

[@Riledup22]

Last version of this video gave me the gw2 bug that is still going strong. If you are a new or returning player you won't find a better community than Muk's twitch. Stupid amount of free quality content is good, awesome people are even better.

[@kalel4677]

This is legit the only game I ever actually enjoyed playing pvp in.

[@biiQar]

yup true.. pvp and wvw is the best

[@yavantii3615]

Guild Wars 1 was even better in that regard imo.

[@crypticairsoft9123]

100%, reaching legend b2b first two pvp seasons was the most fun

[@HuttserGreywolf]

As someone who's played many MMOs, GW2 and FFXIV stand out as top favorites because of how the gameplay works.

[@thecuteone1111]

I started playing this year . It is my first mmo and I have gotten so much value out of my time spent in game. Also the community is unparalleled. People are welcoming and helpful. There are so many helpful youtubers like Muk to help you better understand the game as well. If you are interested in mmo's at all, or just looking for something new, I urge you to give it a try. You don't have to commit due to the core game being free. Great video Muk, and wonderful editing Noxxi!

[@gex6616]

TheMadJINX the truth !

[@Atlas3060]

"Imagine someone shouting at you to feel better and it works." Ah yes, who knew Shia Lebouf rolled a Shout Warrior. lol

[@odw32]

The one thing I love most is that I stopped playing 6 years ago, and I can now casually drop in without feeling like my character is some awakened relic from a bygone era. GW2 revolves around "sideways" progression in such a way that the unhealthy "I must play or I'll fall behind" feeling is absent -- It's more about WANTING to play because as my Norn often so aptly states: "By Raven, there is no end to Tyria". I'm curious about the secret caves filled with jumping puzzles I've yet to uncover. I'm working on a legendary weapon, a process which truly feels like "the journey is more important than the goal". My 6 year old mix of Ascended/Exotic gear is still as relevant today as it was when I crafted it 6 years ago. That all means that there is very little pressure to "catch up" to other players, there's only the personal incentive to explore what the game has to offer.

[@BushPigADV]

I just came back to game after years of not playing and I'm absolutely loving it!! Great story line, fun fighting. I love how your level scaled for the zone too. You are always in danger to some extent no matter where you are on the map. Likewise you can always help people too.

[@roelgc]

Started this game yesterday currently at level 18 and it's fun! Can't wait to get my first mount!

[@arnoldw9112]

How do you get a mount though?

[@hugomarques747]

@@arnoldw9112 you need to have the expansion

[@achileas4895]

Have been playing Guild Wars 2 for 2 years and this video is a great intro to the game. If you are new or would like to start the game this is one of the best guids out there.

[@myrkat]

I played a little GW2 many years ago, took a long break, came back for Heart of Thorns - but didn't like it and did not stay around. I'm not a good "twitchy" gamer type, so the end stuff is more challenging to my old and slow self. I recently came back and I still cannot believe how thorough and deep the game is. It is overwhelming for new or newly-returning players to get up to speed. The personal story stuff (PoF) that I tried (not really remembering how to play my elementalist) was difficult for me. Lots of deaths. I got the raptor, though, and the strongest part of GW2 for me is the Account-bound, Quality of Life (QoL) stuff. One suffering through difficult content to unlock a mount: you have it on all toons, even the newly-started ones. Shared bank, shared gold, etc. It's wonderful. I love all the account-wide stuff so much, that I usually "whale it" and buy a bunch of gem store stuff (extra bank slots, shared slots, etc) And I don't even get into the whole fashion aspect (yet?) - but I see the awesomeness of that! Overall, GW2 has to be the best MMO out there, and has been forever. I only played WoW because others I knew did, and I tried getting them to play GW2, but maybe they're too toxic and fear the mostly-decent community in GW2? I dunno. Great video, you are pretty spot-on for everything. Even though I don't like the combat, it is because of ME; my slow-response time. It is a great combat system, I concur. I just don't do well with it.

[@marinhrabric6162]

For me the best mmo out there. I love WoW and I always wanted to play it, cause I played warcraft as a kid and eventually I did. And I love it. It has its own feel, but gw2 was the first mmo that captured me right from the beginning. Even in the character creation I was already stoked, but when I finished making my first ever character and got dropped in my first starting area(Wayfarer Foothills. the best) I was taken. It was over. I knew this was my game and I'm gonna spend a lot of time here

[@VitAbductor]

THANKKK YOU! A lot of people forgot what is Guild Wars 2 about and why it is better then any other!

[@LuisAlbertoSandovalArevalo]

I am a heavy mmorpg player, when I came to GW2, I just literally threw away every game I was playing, and now I only play this :D

[@bjornegan6421]

but why? there isn't a point to playing.

[@FragTVhd]

@@bjornegan6421 you can say that about any mmo

[@Dyrhos]

weird flex but ok

[@bjornegan6421]

@@FragTVhd you could. however, with EVERY other mmo, there's at least a point to playing in the sense that only if you're near maxed out can you do the additional content that's always being added. in gw2, you can do everything at any point regardless of anything. there's no point to leveling up, there's no point to spending time grinding for things. it's the worst game i've ever played.

[@dakotahensley4194]

@@bjornegan6421 you still have to get to max level to do end game content, you still have to gain xp to finish mastery tracks which unlock more features, you still have to grind out equipment if you want perfect stats, you still have to learn boss mechanics. the only difference between gw2 and other games is that all content is ALWAYS relevant as opposed to other games where old content goes extinct as soon as the newest raid tier becomes available. guildwars 2 asks you what it is that YOU want to accomplish instead of throwing you on rails and telling you this is what you need to do to be the very best at the game.

[@invadecanadanow]

I rarely see people also talk about class preservation as well. In WoW, a class can change drastically xpac to xpac. In GW2, most classes play consistently forever (aside from very small changes). This was a big deal for me and was the reason I left WoW.

[@mariofernandezramirez5603]

I mained a hunter most of the time i played WoW, i remember how weird the class looked in the change from wotlk to cataclysm (swaped mana to focus) and when they changed survival spec to be a melee

[@mariofernandezramirez5603]

But in gw2 a lot of classes with the elite specs change a lot from the f2p version

[@invadecanadanow]

@ I see your point, and I do think that for example ret changed for the better from BC to Wrath to today. My main reason for saying this is that instead of reworking a class each xpac, each class iteration is expanded upon, in the form of elite specs. This is the appeal for me, since I can basically go back to vanilla or the first xpac iteration in gw2 and it's 100% payable

[@Just_Joe]

"In GW2, most classes play consistently forever (aside from very small changes)" *mesmer has entered the chat*

[@mauboy1983]

another thing is, that even IF they would make a class or spec unplayable or unfun for you, you can always send your gear over to another char and continue where you left off. in wow all your time and effort invested in the gear grind is wasted and you have to start over.

[@chainsburg]

I like how Muk sounds so calm in this video.

[@anfangernoob7675]

I've been playing GW2 solo since the start, love it I joined a causal guild and I can come and go when I please, definitely my favourite MMORPG of all time.

[@genisay]

Seriously. I was a non-believer, I played some and saw the opening areas and didn't think much of them because they felt very empty and bland compared to other MMOs I had played. But get out of like the initial first twenty lvls to where you can play more of your personal story and the game quickly becomes a whole other beast. I've been playing for a few months, and I'm hooked. XD Just finished off Heart of Thorns and playing through the content between HoT and Path of Fire, the Living World season 3. It's not perfect, it's got a few odd glitchy things here and there (like NPCs sliding around rofl) but it's a blast, has lots of good laughs, and story and lore worth getting into.

[@sigh9532]

Those are some smooth transitions! You and Noxxi make quite the duo. Some of the points you made I look over when explaining why I like the game myself, but are excellent points to be made for sure.

[@GabeFaypon]

This video is so underrated... Literally so infromative that It sold me to the game. Need this break from toxic ass FPS games LOL

[@GabeFaypon]

Update I got the ultimate edition of the game. Day 2 of playing and I’m crazy lost but also loving it!!!

[@maxmarino6790]

woah, is it worth upgrading from f2p to full version? the only reason I'd do it would be to access the full market

[@GabeFaypon]

@@maxmarino6790 yeah definitely worth it. the game is so huge that you have so much to do so it doesn’t really get boring.

[@just4kicks966]

100% Agree

[@ddlcp]

I played GW2 since its release, good times . I havn't gone back in years but after watching this video I might start again and finally aim for 1 legendary wpn.

[@VacuumTube88]

One of the greatest thing of this game is the main story and the lore, something that is often disregarded in MMORPGs

[@B_rett_B]

You hit the nail on the head man. Spot on! I've played a large number of MMO's and I've never experienced such a helpful and friendly community as GW2 has. Its no wonder I keep coming back to this game after almost 9 years.

[@Caitwaffle]

I love this game so much, and it's the points you made that made me fall in love with it 6 years ago. The community has definitely kept me going in this game too. I will always say GW2 is worth it to play, hands down. :D

[@markup6394]

"Feel better! FEEL BETTER!" - Yeah, it... it actually works... Thank you - this just made my day XD

[@TBeare]

I played af launch,, but life took over and I fell out of it shortly after. Now I'm gonna build a PC just to play this game. Subbed

[@Noctis198]

Same!

[@theclassycompetitor8783]

I have over 3000 hours in guild wars 2, and for a 12 minute video, you explained it perfectly. thank you for the great video, and continue to make content like this, because its what the game needs!

[@jordandowler2344]

As a non-MMO player, this is the MMO I have always found most attractive. I don't play very often, but I just seem to always come back to Guild Wars 2 when I get that MMORPG itch. Such an amazing game.

[@jyaten3191]

ngl i constantly keep coming back to this game after like 2 weeks break or so this game just never gets old

[@AmeiLotus]

This is some VERY thorough detailing that you did, much more than your previous "Why Play Gw2" video. I'm enjoying seeing how much you've improved in almost a year of making that video too!

[@MsSilentH]

For me this video serves as a reminder. I still play this game, raiding a few days every week as we speak, but sometimes I do find myself in little ruts of not being sure what to do or not wanting to do content that I used to do. (usually because I'm also farming for my life for my first legendary armor, and not always having the mental power to do much else) but then I see this and everything this game has and allows you to do, most importantly, at your own pace and this kind of renews that sense of wonder that I first had with this game. Aside from trying out WoW for a few months many, many years ago, this was truly my first mmo experience. I have given ff14 and ESO a go on and off too, and while I've had fun in those games, there's just nothing like GW2, it will always be my home.

[@MisterNo1111]

Its like first love, remains 1. For me, i stayed with Guild Wars 2 due my free time that i wont to give it. Its beautiful game and videos like this sort of remaind me of all beauty in it!

[@alhuz.4020]

started playing this month and just bought the deluxe expansion for half the price. Can't wait to start doing WvW and killing Bosses.

[@LFdonohue94]

As an mmo all the points were spot on. I haven’t played much of these kind of games. Just FF14 and Swtor and ESO to name the biggest ones I played. The lack of a subscription based service is something I always emphasize. And the story especially later is full of fun character moments that me as a “story primary” player absolutely love. Its probably the closest to single player quality campaign I’ve seen in an mmo without restricting you to play single player in the instances if you don’t desire. And the world despite being built on a near 10 year old foundation is still beautiful and makes me want to explore with all the fantastical elements. Icebrood saga as a Charr player, especially the prologue was an absolute blast!

[@mattjohnson8585]

Easily the best, and best value, MMO ever made. And given how long they've kept servers up for the first one, I have no issues buying expansions here. I know that whatever investment I make in to GW2 is going to provide benefits for a long, llooooooonggg time, no subscription required!

[@Snailmet]

Why am I even watching these. No one needs to convince me: I’ve been playing for years now and enjoying it so much! But then again it’s Mukluk so I just have to click and watch 😌✨

[@ericahess7508]

I've never played Borderlands, but I've always liked to think of Downstate similar to having to make Death Saving Throws in D&D. It's not exactly the same, but similar. For Fractals, I've always liked to compare them to Mythic+ dungeons in WoW. Only difference is for GW2 the instabilities change daily, and they're different for each Fractal. Where in WoW the M+ affixes change weekly, and they're the same for each dungeon. Edit: forgot to mention that you get more affixes the higher level you go for M+, similar to Fractals. You get the first afffix at a level 2, two affixes are at lv 4 (the lv 2 one and the new one), three at lv 7, and 4 at lv 10 and up. Higher level keys add more health to bosses and mobs. An important difference I also forgot to mention is that M+ is timed. You'll still get loot if you go over time, but you get a key level upgrade if you do it within time (key for a different dungeon, usually, with a higher level). The scale of the level upgrade depends on how fast you do the dungeon.

[@DraconasTenZHG]

The downed state is really cool mechanic. This game is pretty much like a bullet hell Enter the Gungeon style - even with good stats, you need to focus all the time and use your dodge rolls or at least have some defensive abilities because sometimes you can get downed in one shot fighting more complicated mobs. You have "2 lives", yes but it's really easy to get downed especially if you are playing full damage. Also it's cool that basically with every class you can play as a combat medic like in Apex Legends or anothe battle royale with teams. And another really cool thing about it - every class has different downed skills, you can have a fear, a knockback, some ccs or defensive abilities like teleports and they are often pretty useful. If you are playing hard PvE content as an elementalist and get downed, you can use "2" skill to become unkillable and move for a few seconds so you can reposition yourself and make it easier for your team to res you. And it has even more uses in PvP.

[@Ygor45]

Fun fact, my first ever char was a Warrior that shouted at people to make them feel better :D

[@torkyn]

No matter if you are new or an old player there is so much content to do! I loved the exploring in this game when I first started and now I'm still satiated with the end-game content years later! The rise of GW2 is now!

[@DraconasTenZHG]

Another + of GW2 - everything is up to date. The new patch is wack? You don't need to play it because all of the content released EVER is scaled with your level and you can play anything. Imagine it like playing new WoW and not liking BFA stuff so you go back to play Wotlk content and it's still up to date. And there's so many players you will need a good computer to maintain your FPSes.

[@GlitnirGebo]

OMG I'M TRYING TO TAKE A BREAK MUK STOP FEEDING MY ADDICTION XD

[@gex6616]

We all know u will be back

[@blackcitadel37]

GW2: Your soul is mine and so is your wallet.

[@gex6616]

I would like to point out for those who haven’t played that yes there is many reasons why endgame players go back to starting zones regularly for achievements , crafting materials, world bosses , and many other fun stuff

[@TheGreatWoolf]

Hey Muk, always love your content. Suggestion: a video explaining to new players the importance of waiting after completing an event that could be part of a chain event. More often than not I see players not waiting after an escort phase, and missing the boss at the end of the chain. With your talent, you can make it fun and educational. Keep up the great work!

[@LimerickFF]

Loved the video. Liked and shared. I played the first year and a half, left, came back in 2019. Here to stay! ❤️

[@Arilozen]

The content and editing just makes me go MMMMMMMMH

[@daniduhz8789]

I miss this game so much! I really want to get back into it and hopefully find an awesome guild and people to play with again! 💜💜

[@Puddingskin01]

"Think Alterac Valley" [Vietnam Flashbacks]

[@Zemium1994]

probably one of the few games in my library that i can come back at any time

[@Slanghappy]

More newbies need to see these kinds of vids, so they don't get turned away but GW2's complexity. I think Anet could do more to communicate what the game has to offer too.

[@KROOF]

*claps all around* Dodge rolling was the one of many things that captivated myself, and so many others, back in the day - and GW2's combat takes full advantage of this mechanic. Ahhh GW2 gameplay is top-tier. Well done on the video!

[@Devininity]

Being told by many that I should give the game a try I looked up a few gameplay videos but it didn't look very interesting. Having you actually explain a lot of the play options helped and I'm actually probably gonna give it a shot now. Thanks for the great vid!

[@AwkwardBird]

Unrelated to this vid: Thank you so much for the low intensity guides on your site. The wife and I very much appreciate it.

[@micraceltd]

I was playing guild wars 1 and loved it, so when arenanet announced for a guild wars 2 launch date i was so thrilled to play that i pre-purchased it just for the 3day earlier launch !

[@Karoshi123]

Honestly the best information video about GW2 I've seen. This is surely to convince tons of users to play GW2. Keep up the good work Mukluk and Noxxi!

[@Cinderbrooke]

I just came back to the game because of this video. After being unhappy with World of Warcraft: Shadowlands and just flat out of content in Final Fantasy XIV... This, this has been the most fun I've had in a while. I'm happy I stumbled upon this video which reminded me that GW2 exists and is apparently THRIVING.

[@Foreverenpointe]

I have never seen anyone be mean in GW2 everyone is SO helpful!

[@erzefranz3470]

There are players who aren't. But if you ask a reasonable question in map chat, you'll get a handful of different answers, some of them helpful.

[@joeysmit4644]

try raids, you'll find the elite players there. some of them can be 'demanding'

[@joaninigo9351]

I saw many being mean. That is why i like GW1. Because it is way more versatile. And you can do things solo with non human heroes.

[@ciraxa]

@@joeysmit4644 Had a similar experience when a Mentor wrote in map chat during a meta event in a starter zone "I´m going to leave, you do not deserve the loot". Threw a fit "because everyone believes in him alone to do all the work", while he was standing off to the side complaining, dealing 0 dmg. Aside from that the most toxic thing I´ve come across is if you die, sometimes a player comes to stand next to you but then decides to leave without reviving you. Everyone else seems to be pretty helpful, or at least politely decline to help by telling you to check /wiki [...] or use Lfg.

[@joeysmit4644]

@@ciraxa jeez man thats rough. dont confuse someone not ressing you with being toxic. perhaps there is an event nearby which they want to be a part of.

[@rhodyxaion]

Thank you so much for re-uploading this and pushing content of this video further! This version has soooo much more valuable informations and it will be from now on my nr.1 video to share with my friends who hopefully might jump into the game.

[@DZGenesiszero]

GW2 is the most friendly based MMORPG, rewards you for everything you do.

[@PunultimateGamer]

I really wish this game would find the expansive audience it deserves so Anet would invest in it more

[@aurelianmanoli7359]

I have this game for 3 years but I never had enough time for it. Now I can put 20h/ week into it and it's so casual friendly. The community hands down the best there is in any MMO and I played them all. Its the best MMO on the market if you want everything on a MMO.

[@enexion2447]

Just defeated my first ever Samarog raid boss today! the community is wonderful and always willing to lend a hand to players and I love paying that same helpfulness forward to the next player :) Would def recommend giving it a shot! 11/10

[@macblink]

5:10 "a warrior is not necessarily tanky, and a mage is not necessarily fragile" I loved that

[@myommarie5805]

I'm a casual player urged by friends to get into the game, and while I'd argue it hasn't been long since I've first played it a few months ago, I can say from experience that GW2 is a pleasant game to be a noob of. I think it really shines in building a friendly and wholesome atmosphere, (esp. in open world-) and I'm pretty sure there's bound to be a sub-community out there depending on how you play the game! (RP? Endgame Content? General Exploration? Achievement hunting and farming? People got you covered!) I don't think my words could sell it even better than Muk and Noxxi's collaborative effort though! This was a quality video and I really hope it sells the game to a whole lot more people!!

[@drosen_ttv]

This game is addicting!

[@Pantaro2007]

as someone who has tried to get into GW2 before this has to be the best overview of the basics i have ever found!

[@philo8040]

This is the best summary of GW2 I have ever whatched

[@Catbus-Driver]

Thank you so much for making this! I bought GW2 on release and never touched it. Saw this video at the start of June and linked it to a couple of friends who decided to play as well. We all hit 80 as free to play and just bought the expansions last week. It's honestly been one of the most enjoyable MMO experiences I've ever had with a community that is always willing to help. I just wish I stuck with the game earlier now lol...

[@MuklukYoutube]

That's awesome thank you for sharing!

[@bobdylan8569]

Imagine someone screaming feel better and get over it but it actually works. Thank you so much for this line I am crying with laughter now.

[@TxSkills]

Your last video about why to play got me hooked! Now I'm sending this to friends to get them on it!

[@allie.rain.arctaea]

Excellent video as always Muk!!! You and Noxxi did a great job!

[@CuriousMoth]

A very condensed yet informative run-through of GW2's variety. Awesome :3

[@dokilar1]

I loved gw2 and was upset when most of my friends decided to quit. I loved the combat system and pvp. Also the visuals in the game were truly amazing.

[@anujs140]

Started 3 months ago, Enjoying every Bit of it. Met so many good people whom i share game experience with everyday nowadays and it's been hell of a Grind in this Game and your Guides helped alot, Thank you.

[@GoldfinchAnimations]

The mount system is the friggin best. It takes so much less time to traverse maps with a mount

[@auderpopstudio]

This game makes me feel like myself whenever I play it, especially when I’m with friends. It’s won my heart and I’ve sold my soul to it

[@raptorpeep2622]

ok holy shit you've gotten me super interested in this game i learned that there are MMOs that arent WoW a couple days ago, gw2 is definitely gonna be one of the ones ill try out! (first is ESO because gf plays it :3)

[@NekrosHotA]

Very informative for people looking to see what us veteran players have always known. The editing is great and having the video split into sections is nice.

[@MCmaster7102]

Nailed it! Awesome video, I feel like a lot of people including big mmo fans are sleeping on this game! Its such a polished, smooth, and never ending content to get sucked into! Can be played casually no problem and it has a super competitive and progressive endgame as well.

[@crash320]

Excellent video, Muk. Been playing 6 years and still watched this to the end!

[@adamodell3841]

Commenting for algorithm gods

[@stefanciltea3186]

I am happy Muk is a youtuber for this game, I love watching his videos!

[@ofosho2907]

Man, I can't wait for the Steam release so I can pick this back up again.

[@ventara9421]

My father, got me into this game beginning from the original guild wars, it’s been a blast the whole time, been a great game i usually play as my warrior with non meta hammer build.

[@LifelongLearnerForever]

Original Guild Wars still, in my opinion, has the best PVP system ever made (guild vs guild, hall of heroes, random arenas). I miss it so much, too bad the GW1 community is long dead. Such a skill/teamwork based game.