Guild Wars 2 makes some pretty substantial strides when it comes to evolving the MMORPG. The focus on dynamic quest events makes the world feel far more alive than the typically static regions in other games, while the ease and accessibility of the various systems at play (crafting, guild management, etc.) means that just about anyone can find an excuse to dump a rather insane number of hours into this mammoth world. But perhaps the biggest "game changer" brought on by GW2 is the level scaling system which gives all players a reason to visit any area and team up with other people regardless of gear or level. Top it all off with a truly massive PvP and World versus World component, and you have RPGFan's MMORPG of the year.
Blizzard's World of Warcraft has been up and running for over eight years now, but thanks to their shift in business model and release of free content, 2012 saw the release of just the fourth expansion to their top title. Mists of Pandaria introduced not only a new race in the Pandaren, it also introduced something else the game desperately needed: another agility-based leather class to roll on my rogue's gear. Aside from that, additions like pet battles and farming mean that WoW players will spend that much more time doing dailies.
