Every Guild Wars 1 Release, Ranked

Key Takeaways

ArenaNet faced burnout with rapid campaign release every 6 months but produced some outstanding games.
Each release packed in rich content, art, gameplay, and worldbuilding.
Nightfall was the pinnacle of Guild Wars with rich lore and gameplay.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming experience under my belt, I must say that the Guild Wars series has been a true gem in my collection. Among all the campaigns, the one that truly resonates with me is the third installment, Guild Wars: Nightfall.

Despite not receiving a major update since its 2020 Anniversary celebration, many fans continue to play and reminisce about Guild Wars, the distinctive cooperative multiplayer RPG. Although its active life was brief, its impact remains strong. ArenaNet, the studio responsible for creating Guild Wars, initially aimed to release a new campaign (essentially a complete game with a new continent, skills, characters, and story) every six months following their second campaign. However, this rapid development pace left the team exhausted, a situation easily understandable.

In this breakdown, each installment (consisting of three independent stories, an extra mission pack, an expansion, and a series of preludes released progressively) served as a wealth of content, a testament to world-building, visuals, gameplay mechanics, and design. Each item on the list will be evaluated based on its quantity of content, innovative gameplay elements, world development, mission structure, aesthetics, and significance. For clarity, a comparison with Guild Wars 2 (and its expansions) will not be made here, as there’s already an abundance to discuss regarding the original game.

6 The Bonus Mission Pack

An Interesting Excursion Into History And Lore

Platform(s): PC
Released: 2008-01-28
Developer(s): ArenaNet
Genre: RPG

The “Bonus Mission Pack,” which came out after the “Eye of the North” expansion, consists of four narratives that delve into Tyria’s (the planet, not the continent) history. These missions didn’t necessarily answer long-standing mysteries but rather told stories that the studio felt compelled to share. Among these tales are the account of Saul D’Alessio’s fate as experienced by the Mursaat prophet, the negotiation of the Tengu Accords, and the conflict in Elona known as the battle of Jahai.

For dedicated Guild Wars fans, the pack offered four short missions offering insights into familiar places and figures. However, upon its release, many considered it incomplete. Completing each mission and extra tasks yielded unique weapons, particularly attractive to players with numerous hero characters needing equipment. Essentially, the “Bonus Mission Pack” was designed primarily for avid Guild Wars enthusiasts.

5 Guild Wars: Beyond

A Welcome But Incomplete Coda To The Saga

Platform(s): PC
Released: 2010-04-08
Developer(s): ArenaNet
Genre: RPG

Placing the “Beyond” content at the bottom of the list is challenging due to the fact that each update was provided for free to players. Despite the enjoyment derived from wrapping up stories like the White Mantle story, it didn’t have the longevity we hoped for. The intended “Beyond” story for Elona, which would have covered the rise of Pawala Joko, had to be abandoned, causing disappointment among fans of Nightfall in particular.

Beyond” showcased clever reimagining of well-known and cherished settings, but it had potential for a more expansive experience. The worth of the missions, prizes, new character releases, and narrative enhancements didn’t go unnoticed by fans, who view this final installment as a sneak peek into what could have been if “Guild Wars” and its sequel were developed simultaneously (with the “Beyond” content likely greenlit to boost sales).

4 Guild Wars: Eye of the North

A Return To The Series’ Roots With A Long Eye On The Future

Platform(s): PC
Released: 2007-08-31
Developer(s): ArenaNet
Genre: RPG

As a dedicated fan, I was thrilled when ArenaNet decided to shake things up by creating a new engine, environment, and central theme for the franchise. Instead of introducing fresh professions, they opted for an expansion that allowed players to rise through the ranks within new factions, several of which would take center stage in the upcoming sequel. The result was “Eye of the North“, a captivating addition to the series. Notably, it welcomed back beloved characters like everyone’s favorite Ascalonian girl, Gwen, who had been mysteriously absent before.

Instead of merely introducing a new continent, “GW: EN” enlarged the known Tyria from Prophecies, showcasing areas like the Far Shiverpeaks mountains, Sparkfly Swamp in Lower Kryta, and the well-known Charr Homelands. A significant part of the fun came from the intriguing prospects that a follow-up game would offer. The drive to accomplish its quests (and acquire any remaining items and titles from each campaign) was fueled by the belief that those rewards could be carried over to the next game, a new era. However, with the sequel being over a decade old, the initial excitement has understandably faded.

3 Guild Wars: Factions

An Unexpected And Beautiful Change Of Pace

Platform(s): PC
Released: 2005-04-28
Developer(s): ArenaNet
Genre: RPG

In contrast to other multiplayer fantasy realms, ArenaNet didn’t simply expand the existing world for players to traverse; they introduced an entirely new continent situated on the opposite side of the globe, offering the option for players to either transfer or begin anew. This separate campaign, known as Factions, boldly deviated from the conventional Western fantasy backdrop by drawing upon Eastern mythology for inspiration. What sets Factions apart is that, while it was inspired by authentic Asian elements and mythology, ArenaNet avoided limiting themselves to Japanese or Chinese cliches or expectations, a pitfall that many game developers still succumb to today when endeavoring to create such a setting.

Rather than relying on a single source, they blended and amalgamated diverse influences from Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Taiwanese, and Cambodian cultures within Kaineng and Shing Jea, while seamlessly incorporating systems from the Prophecies campaign. Guild Wars Factions didn’t shy away from portraying the gritty underbelly of life in a prosperous yet unmanaged and sprawling city (the lower-class districts of Kaineng). They not only constructed a realistic metropolis but also created the evocative Jade Sea and petrified Echovald Forest. The soothing soundtrack, an unusual feature for a combat-focused fantasy game, imparts a tranquil, ethereal feeling on the player. Although the challenge level was high and the exploration somewhat restricted, Factions introduced new roles, new cultures, and captivating and diverse environments to discover.

2 Guild Wars: Prophecies

A Timeless Foundation With A Lasting Legacy

Platform(s): PC
Released: 2005-04-28
Developer(s): ArenaNet
Genre: RPG

In terms of the Guild Wars series, the initial solo adventure, known as Prophecies, might be the oldest and while it may not boast an abundance of innovative features, it served as a foundation for all that followed. The tale and map scale are remarkably extensive, likely due to additional development time before launch, in contrast to the other releases. Yet, its challenge level is pleasantly gradual, with skills distributed fairly throughout the gameplay.

In a natural and easy-to-read manner: This game offers plenty of room for exploration, and though its maps might seem outdated compared to newer games, considering it’s over two decades old, its iconic locations like Pre-Searing Ascalon, the Crystal Desert, Maguuma Jungle, Krytan coasts, and Shiverpeaks continue to be captivating (with a touch of imagination). The quests, characters, and storylines may be subtly told, but they remain engaging. The challenges and excitement found in its original campaign are still present too.

1 Guild Wars: Nightfall

A Campaign Of Wealth And Bounty

Platform(s): PC
Released: 2006-10-26
Developer(s): ArenaNet
Genre: RPG

After three attempts, ArenaNet found the rhythm with their idea of independent campaigns, as Nightfall was a culmination of all the exploration, efficiency enhancements, and narrative development that started just 18 months prior. Set in the southern regions of Tyria, Elona offers a diverse cultural landscape, filled with fiery deserts reminiscent of North Africa, vibrant swamps inspired by India, and lush jungles. Players were provided with customizable allies, known as henchmen, to bolster their teams (or for solo players to maintain a more isolated multiplayer experience).

The quality of the story, setting, and background information reached its pinnacle in the game titled “Nightfall“. Alongside the gameplay, it’s widely regarded as the best offering from the Guild Wars series. While the plot can be enjoyed on its own, it also ties up the narratives of the earlier campaigns. Regrettably, due to being released just a few months after the other two games, “Nightfall” initially went unnoticed by many. However, based on general opinion and all relevant data, it’s clear that this third campaign is considered the peak of the Guild Wars series.

2024-09-07 13:34