The story of World of Warcraft can be a lot to keep up with. Afterall, this game has been out for over 20 years.

In this article, we’ll keep an updated list of all WoW expansions in order along with short descriptions of the updates so you know the ins-and-outs.

The Burning Crusade

Back on January 16, 2007, World of Warcraft dropped its first big expansion, The Burning Crusade. It brought a ton to the table—new playable races like the Draenei and Blood Elves, a level cap bump from 60 to 70, and a whole slew of fresh dungeons, raids, quests, cities, and zones. Plus, PvP got a serious upgrade with some chaotic new deathmatch-style modes to keep things spicy.

Wrath of the Lich King

Next up was Wrath of the Lich King, hitting shelves November 13, 2008. This one zeroed in on Arthas, the brooding Lich King, and it took off like wildfire—easily one of the top-selling PC games ever. Standouts included the arrival of the Death Knight as a hero class, a level cap hike to 80, the massive snowy expanse of Northrend, and a heap of PvP goodness to sink your teeth into.

Cataclysm

The third expansion, Cataclysm, rolled out on August 21, 2009, and shook things up with Deathwing the Destroyer stirring trouble across the lands. The level cap climbed to 85, and the old stomping grounds of Kalimdor and the Eastern Kingdoms got a major makeover—new landscapes, NPCs, and a beefy storyline to match.

Mists of Pandaria

Then came Mists of Pandaria on September 25, 2012, and honestly, it might just be the funniest chapter in WoW’s history. Picture this: a panda-inspired race called the Pandaren, a new Monk class, and a level cap pushed to 90. With a vibe that feels ripped straight from Kung Fu Panda, it tossed in fresh instances and a whole new world to roam.

Warlords of Draenor

Fast forward to November 13, 2014—Warlords of Draenor, the fifth expansion, landed. Set on the orc homeland of Draenor, it cranked the level cap to 100 and gave the game’s visuals a much-needed glow-up. Solid stuff, if a bit straightforward.

Legion

Legion, the sixth expansion, hit on August 30, 2016, and brought the level cap to 110. Players got to explore the Broken Isles, a brand-new chunk of Azeroth, while messing around with the slick new Demon Hunter class and tackling some fresh raids and dungeons.

Battle for Azeroth

The seventh expansion, Battle for Azeroth, launched November 3, 2017, pushing the level cap to 120. It introduced the continents of Zandalar and Kul Tiras, four new races, and a bunch of raids, dungeons, and mysterious islands to poke around in. The story hinges on the Heart of Azeroth, an artifact that’s got war brewing on the horizon.

Shadowlands

Shadowlands dropped on November 1, 2019, as WoW’s eighth expansion. This time, Blizzard flipped the script with a “level squish”—max-level characters got knocked back to 50, with the new cap at 60, kind of like hitting reset for a New Game+. The spotlight was on Sylvanas, who stepped up as a big bad for players to take down.

Dragonflight

Ninth in line, Dragonflight soared in on November 28, 2022. It tossed in the Dracthyr, a dragon race, plus Dragonriding skills and the chance to raise and tweak your own dragon buddy. The level cap jumped to 70, keeping things rolling.

The War Within (CURRENT)

Kicking off The Worldsoul Saga, The War Within arrived August 26, 2024. It’s set in an underground realm tied to the Earthen race, giving players a fresh sandbox to dig into.

Midnight

Details on Midnight, the second part of The Worldsoul Saga, are still pretty thin. What we do know? It’s headed to Quel’Thalas and will dive deep into the roots of High Elves, Blood Elves, and Night Elves. That’s about it for now.

The Last Titan

As for The Last Titan, the trilogy’s closer, we’re basically in the dark. The Titans will tie into it somehow, but beyond that, it’s anyone’s guess. Oh, and that sword!!!

READ MORE: Fable 4 release delayed according to Xbox Game Studios