It's almost incomprehensible for gamers who have never played World of Warcraft, while for WoW fans, it feels completely natural. When a new Classic version is released, we simply dive back in and do it all over again. Even though WoW Classic launched in 2019, followed by The Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King, Cataclysm, Hardcore, Season of Discovery, and several other ways to re-experience the classic version of World of Warcraft, the 20th Anniversary Edition has once again drawn fans en masse back to the familiar game experience they’ve revisited so many times before. What drives this urge to start over again and again?
Are we all crazy?
"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results," as Rita Mae Brown wrote in her book Sudden Death (1983)—a quote later, for some unexplained reason, misattributed to Albert Einstein in the 1980s. But is that really true? Is endlessly repeating the same thing truly insane? Perhaps that’s a question for philosophers to ponder, but for World of Warcraft fans, the answer is clear: doing the same thing over and over again is absolutely fantastic.
At least, that's what the player numbers suggest—and truth be told, I often fall into this trap myself. Every time World of Warcraft launches a new Classic version, I’m right there with the community, creating a character and diving back into the world. For me, the "vanilla" version of World of Warcraft is simply the best way to experience the game. Leveling happens at a slower, more deliberate pace and feels like a grand adventure. Every quest feels special, and even traveling from one point to another in the world can be a challenge. World of Warcraft hails from a time when not every experience in a game was streamlined to perfection, and I find that incredibly refreshing. Every enemy you defeat, every quest you complete, and every gold piece you earn has value and contributes to a sense of progression—a craft many modern games, even WoW itself, could learn from.
Azeroth: A World to Get Lost In
There is no other game world where you can lose yourself like you can in the classic version of Azeroth. While some games leave me glancing at the clock to see how much time I’ve "wasted," WoW has the unique ability to make me forget the clock entirely. When I finally check via /played to see how many hours I’ve sunk into a character, it can be a bit shocking. But perhaps "shocking" isn’t the right word—maybe "enjoyable" is. After all, there’s something deeply satisfying about losing yourself in a game, especially when it’s such a rare experience for me these days.
It’s remarkable how high the player numbers are for the Anniversary servers, especially considering that World of Warcraft Classic has already had several "fresh servers." These are new servers where everyone starts from scratch, and the economy isn’t yet influenced by players with hundreds of hours in their characters. The magic of these servers lies in the fact that when everyone starts simultaneously, the starting zones of the game feel incredibly alive. It’s a special feeling knowing that everyone you see running around is also sitting at home playing, and it’s convenient for finding teammates for group content.
The Influence of the Modern Internet
But this has happened before—what makes this time special? Well, it’s been five years since WoW Classic launched, and everyone raced to level 60 to defeat Ragnaros. Blizzard has learned from that experience and introduced a few minor improvements that preserve the original 2004 playstyle while accommodating the modern gaming culture. For example, we now use Discord, and players are far more organized. These tweaks make the experience even smoother.
One of the biggest drivers of this surge in player numbers seems to be the massive number of streamers playing the game. Led by content creator Sodapoppin, nearly 500 streamers have formed a Hardcore guild called "Only Fangs," complete with a host of extra rules. Hardcore mode means that if your character dies even once, you have to start over completely. With both experienced and less experienced streamers participating, the result has been hilarious stories. Many streamers have already died multiple times, and you can’t help but wonder if some will ever reach the level cap of 60. They hold weekly events where Trolls, Undead, and Orcs compete within the guild. Which race dies the most? Which will reach level 60 first or find a rare item? All of this contributes to a unique leaderboard that allows the community to cheer for specific streamers and their characters. It’s a clever move by these streamers to add an extra layer of challenge to an already difficult Hardcore mode.
A New Experience in an Old Game
Meanwhile, I’ve been slowly leveling my own character: a level 16 Undead Rogue on a regular PvP server. This feels extra special to me since I didn’t start playing Horde until the Cataclysm expansion, meaning I never fully experienced the old version of Azeroth from the Horde perspective. I’ve always played Alliance. This is my chance to explore the entire Horde side of the story up to level 60, and I’m loving every moment. Completing quests, skinning animals, and running dungeons with friends—there’s no rush, just a steady immersion in the world and its story. For me, that’s pure enjoyment. At the same time, I’m following the streamers on their Hardcore journey, and 20 years after its release, World of Warcraft continues to consume my life.
Is it crazy to play World of Warcraft all over again? I don’t think so. It would only be crazy not to, given how much fun it is to relive the experience. The entire community is on the same page again, working toward the same goals. Personally, I’d never judge someone for buying the new FIFA or Call of Duty every year. Real insanity is doing something you don’t enjoy anymore.
