Did devs get less cultured over time or did something in the culture shift that took wow in a more serious direction? Gathered 1-100 score based on instances of pop culture references, famous things, people, movies, music etc. Modern wow just seems to be taken over by dei writers who just… lack creativity or aren’t fun?
– Vanilla WoW (2004): ~80–100. Many NPC names (e.g., Bernice Stonefield, Doctor Who reference), quests like “Bone Collector” (Desolace, The Bone Collector film), and items like “Cannonball Runner” (Stratholme, Speed film). Subtle references abound in Elwynn Forest and Undercity.
– The Burning Crusade (2007): ~60–80. Includes “Ride the Lightning” (Metallica song), NPC Jack Trapper (Three’s Company), and “A Job for an Intelligent Man” (Tremors film). Outland’s quirky tone adds many music and sci-fi nods.
– Wrath of the Lich King (2008): ~50–70. Features “The Big Bad Wolf” (Karazhan, Little Red Riding Hood), Loguhn (Dragonblight, Wolverine), and “It’s Just a Flesh Wound” (Argent Tournament, Monty Python). Northrend’s grim tone limits sillier memes.
– Cataclysm (2010): ~80–100. Heavy on references like John J. Keeshan’s Rambo questline (Redridge), “The Day Deathwing Died” (Badlands, exaggerated NPC tales), and “Bottletoads” (Uldum, Battletoads meme). Uldum’s Indiana Jones quests and Paris Hilton-inspired items (e.g., Sparkle Pony) peak meme culture.
– Mists of Pandaria (2012): ~70–90. Includes Jurassic Park NPCs (Isle of Giants), Pet Battle System (Pokémon), and “Unsafe Passage” (Krasarang Wilds, Skyrim’s “arrow in the knee” meme). Pandaria’s whimsical vibe boosts references.
– Warlords of Draenor (2014): ~40–60. Features “Do the Dew” (Mountain Dew slogan), Robin Williams tribute NPCs, and Garrison follower names (e.g., Rambo-like characters). Draenor’s focus on lore reduces meme density.
– Legion (2016): ~50–70. Includes Akainu’s Absolute Justice (One Piece legendary item), Stan Lee NPC (Stormwind), and “Do a Barrel Roll!” (Star Fox 64 achievement). Demon-heavy story balances with pop nods.
– Battle for Azeroth (2018): ~60–80. Features Severus the Outcast (Stormsong Valley, Harry Potter), Second Breakfast pig (Boralus, Lord of the Rings), and Horatio Laine (CSI: Miami). Island expeditions add subtle nods.
– Shadowlands (2020): ~30–50. Fewer references due to cosmic tone, but includes “Madness” (Star Trek redshirt joke) and NPC names like Roscoe/Rachele (Friends TV show). Limited by expansion’s serious narrative.
– Dragonflight (2022): ~40–60. Includes Hearthstone-playing NPCs (Valdrakken), pop song-inspired quest names (e.g., “Welcome to the Machine,” Pink Floyd), and subtle meme items. Less overt than Cataclysm but playful.
– The War Within (2024): ~20–40 (ongoing). Early reports note goblin tech quests with Mad Max vibes and minor meme items (e.g., pop song references). Data is incomplete as expansion is new.