Guild Wars

ArenaNet's original 2005 instanced online RPG with no subscription, now sold as Guild Wars Reforged with controller and Steam Deck support.

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Overview

Guild Wars is the 2005 online RPG that preceded Guild Wars 2. It covers the Prophecies, Factions and Nightfall campaigns plus the Eye of the North expansion, set across the continents of Tyria, Cantha and Elona. Towns and outposts are shared social hubs, while exploration and missions take place in private instances for your party.

The game is built around a skill deck: each character picks eight skills from a large pool and a primary and secondary profession, so build-making matters more than gear. The level cap is 20, and long-term goals are titles, skill collection, elite areas and the Hall of Monuments. Heroes and henchmen let players fill a party without other people.

In December 2025 the game was updated as Guild Wars Reforged, adding modern hardware support, controller play and Steam Deck verification while keeping existing accounts. It is a one-time purchase with no subscription. PvP arenas and guild-versus-guild battles are still available.

Developer: ArenaNet
Publisher: NCSOFT
Release date: April 28, 2005
Status: Released
Business model: Buy-to-play, Microtransactions
Platforms: Windows, Steam Deck
Official website: guildwars.com
Also known as: Guild Wars Reforged, GW1