The Best Blizzard Games, Ranked

Although Blizzard has been around for about 35 years and launched some of the most profitable games ever, it has produced fewer than 20 titles. Despite this small catalog, Blizzard has redefined multiple genres with its innovations in game design and player connectivity.

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Blizzard began modestly, creating basic platformers for the SNES before evolving into a juggernaut of PC gaming. Its games have reshaped the MMORPG genre and spearheaded the global E-Sports movement. While Blizzard’s business practices have been controversial at times, its contributions to gaming are undeniable.

10

Heroes Of The Storm

Not as cutthroat or competitive as League of Legends or Dota, Heroes of the Storm was still a unique MOBA. While most major MOBAs of the 2010s revolved around a single keymap, Heroes of the Storm offered a variety of levels, each with its own meta strategy.

Heroes of the Storm provided a fresh take on Blizzard characters. Only in this game could you slam an opponent into a turret as Diablo or clumsily juggle the three Lost Vikings in a desperate bid to play optimally. While it wasn’t the most mechanically demanding strategy game due to the lack of last-hitting minions, Heroes of the Storm emphasized teamwork, making it stand out in the genre.

9

The Lost Vikings 2

The Lost Vikings 2

Systems

Released

February 27, 1997

Developer(s)

Beam Team Games

Developer

Beam Software, Blizzard Entertainment

Publisher

interplay Entertainment, Dice Multi Media Europe BV

ESRB

e

How Long To Beat

12 hours

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One of Blizzard’s most challenging games, The Lost Vikings 2 is a puzzle platformer where players juggle the abilities of three distinct characters. While the game introduces five playable characters—two more than the original—you can still only use three at a time.

The interactions between characters bring The Lost Vikings 2 to life. For example, Fang can double jump, while Scorch has fire projectiles that interact with the environment in unique ways. The game is tough regardless of approach, but the challenge stages, in particular, rank among the most difficult obstacles Blizzard has ever designed.

8

Hearthstone

Systems

Released

March 11, 2014

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Engine

Unity

ESRB

T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

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Most CCGs come and go, but Hearthstone has been continuously supported for a decade. It’s a relatively easy-to-learn card game that becomes highly complex at higher levels of play. However, one downside is that frequent expansions often render decks obsolete, creating pressure to invest in new cards.

Despite this, you can still enjoy the game without spending money, though it might take months to build a competitive deck. Hearthstone may lack the flashiness of some other card games, but its mana system ensures games last long enough to showcase a variety of monsters and spells—unlike games like Yu-Gi-Oh or Pokemon Pocket, which often end much more quickly.

7

Blackthorne

Cinematic platformers began to gain popularity in the 90s—platformers that focused less on jump-heavy execution and more on slow-paced, atmospheric gameplay. Blackthorne was the heavy metal version of games like Another World, featuring gothic-inspired stages filled with demonic creatures to defeat.

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What makes Blackthorne so intriguing is that it was one of the earliest games to implement cover shooting. Combat often revolved around finding a safe spot behind an object and waiting for the right moment to reveal yourself and shoot opponents. While Blackthorne doesn’t match the intensity of games like Gears of War, it remains one of the most underrated SNES titles due to its distinct presentation.

6

Overwatch

Blizzard’s first major venture into the FPS genre was a highly successful one. Overwatch bridged the gap between players seeking an accessible FPS and those wanting a more competitive experience. The emphasis on adding powers and abilities not only added variety and charm but also made precision and execution less intense compared to other FPS games.

The variety of characters allows for unique team combinations, as well as characters that match different playstyles and skill levels. You can pick an easy character like Hanzo and contribute right away, or dive deeper and master characters like Doomfist to reap greater rewards later.​​​​​​​

5

Diablo 2

Many Co-Op games owe Diablo 2 for their success. Diablo 2 was not only way ahead of its time but still outshines many games within its genre due to its customization and character depth. Since Diablo 2 was launched decades ago, it isn’t overproduced, allowing players to create unconventional builds like a Melee Sorcerer, which remains incredibly enjoyable.

There is a certain charm to the 2D overhead sprites that are often lost in more modern ARPGs like Path of Exile and Torchlight. Diablo 2 lacks many quality-of-life features, but its simplicity, brevity, and abundance of collectables keep players just as engaged today as with any other RPG.​​​​​​​

4

Warcraft 3

Warcraft 3, along with its expansions and remakes, was a significant evolution of the prior Warcraft games. With the addition of new races like the Undead, Warcraft 3 offered more factions than Starcraft. The game also greatly expanded the lore, adding considerable depth compared to earlier titles. This world-building became a crucial foundation when the series transitioned into the MMO genre with World of Warcraft.

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One standout feature of Warcraft 3 was the introduction of the hero system. Heroes are unique units with magical abilities and far greater power than other individual units. This system added an extra layer of focus on microplay, demanding careful management and strategy when using heroes. The hero concept later became the foundation of the Dota mod, which in turn established the entire Moba genre.

3

World Of Warcraft

Due to the immense popularity of World of Warcraft, some gamers may overlook just how impressive of a video game it truly is. Blizzard created an incredibly vast world in 2003, one that still holds up today. World of Warcraft is filled with a wide variety of classes, endless missions, and an infrastructure that fosters a welcoming community.

Although some of World of Warcraft’s initial appeal was diminished over time with the addition of constant expansions, other servers and callbacks to older versions have helped maintain its legacy. The original World of Warcraft featured slower leveling, which made developing your character feel more rewarding. There is also a popular mode where if your character dies, it remains dead forever, making the stakes feel significantly more real.​​​​​​​

2

Starcraft: Brood War

The expansion to the original Starcraft still holds up. Starcraft: Brood War is a more challenging game than Starcraft 2 and most other RTS titles due to its focus on controlling units and more unforgiving execution. Mastery of microplay can lead to incredible strategies in Starcraft: Brood War.

Starcraft: Brood War also features a superior campaign compared to Starcraft 2, drawing much of its story from popular Sci-Fi movies of its era. While Starcraft: Brood War’s plot may not be considered Shakespearean, its campaign still presents high-stakes situations and level designs that test your skills in fun and unique ways.​​​​​​​

1

Starcraft 2: Wings Of Liberty

Perhaps the most significant game in elevating E-Sports in the West, Starcraft 2’s tournament scene was an impressive spectacle in the early 2010s. Following a similar foundation to its predecessor, Starcraft 2 is a well-balanced RTS among the three factions—Terran, Zerg, and Protoss.

Compared to the original Starcraft, Starcraft 2 introduced numerous quality-of-life improvements. While it has a high skill ceiling, analyzing your gameplay and identifying areas for improvement is highly rewarding. Techniques such as mastering new strategies or consistently generating workers can lead to noticeable advancements in your performance.

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