Guild Wars (video game)

Guild Wars is a fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by ArenaNet and published by NCsoft. Unlike traditional MMORPGs which typically feature persistent worlds, Guild Wars focuses on instanced areas and mission-based gameplay.

The original game, often referred to as Guild Wars: Prophecies, was released in 2005. It was followed by three standalone campaigns that did not require the original game to play: Guild Wars: Factions (2006), Guild Wars: Nightfall (2006), and Guild Wars: Eye of the North (2007), an expansion pack that bridges the gap between the first Guild Wars and its sequel, Guild Wars 2.

A key feature of Guild Wars is its hero and henchman system, allowing players to build a party with non-player characters (NPCs) to tackle challenging content. Players customize their characters by choosing a primary and secondary profession, selected from a range of classes that include Warrior, Ranger, Monk, Necromancer, Mesmer, Elementalist, Assassin, and Ritualist (the last two introduced in Factions).

Guild Wars emphasizes player versus player (PvP) combat, with dedicated arenas and structured tournaments. The game promotes a strong sense of guild identity, allowing players to form and manage guilds with their own halls and alliances.

While new content updates for the original Guild Wars have ceased, the servers remain active, and the game continues to be supported by ArenaNet. Its unique instanced gameplay and strategic party building elements have contributed to its legacy within the MMORPG genre.