Dworgyn’s Look Back at 6 Years of Wizard101
I’ve played Wizard101 since the beginning, and it’s been a lot of fun seeing how things have changed and evolved over time. Specifically for this blog post, I was asked to answer the question, “What were my favorite highlights each year?” That’s actually not as easy a thing to answer as it seems! I’ll break my favorites down by year, and hope I can give a little explanation to all my choices
2008
Wizard101 was brand new in 2008 and we were all busy running around The Spiral – on foot . . . without a mount! For me, this year was a time of discovery and I couldn’t have been happier finishing off the original final boss of Wizard101, the Jade Oni in MooShu. The Spiral was so brand new that we saw Halloween decorations for the first time in October and a then a Yuletide Tree in December. I think these festive touches were my favorite updates in 2008. There’s nothing quite as fun as seeing the world you know suddenly transformed with spooky or festive cheer.
2009
This is where it starts to get hard to choose just one update as my favorite. 2009 gave us Dragonspyre, followed by housing, then Open Chat, then Grizzleheim, then mounts, and finally school housing! How do you choose! I suppose looking back if I just had to choose one, I’d pick Dragonspyre. The epic conclusion of the first story arc was amazing. There is nothing like a new world to explore, and Dragonspyre specifically still holds a special place in my heart. I couldn’t be happier crushing Malistaire in his Great Spyre, and feel like I know the place like the back of my hand. It was an awesome feeling to know you saved the Spiral!
2010
This is also a hard year to choose a winner, but I’m going to have to say the introduction of Advanced Pets really changed the face of the game. Building the perfect pet is still a huge craze and racing pets was a favorite pastime of mine – I still wear my 1st age pet warlord badge with pride! We all waited for Celestia for a long time, but Advanced Pets changed the game forever.
2011
While I liked Zafaria and leveling my wizard, I really fell in love with the world of Wysteria, which would be my favorite update of 2011. I really liked the idea of a magic school competition and unraveling the mystery of this new world was a lot of fun. Exploring the strange schools of magic and meeting the off-the-wall professors that taught in Wysteria was a particular highlight. Zafaria would definitely be a very, very close second however.
2012
My life changed in 2012 as I transitioned from Wizard101 fan site owner to employee at KingsIsle, and while you can’t technically say the release of Pirate101 was an expansion to Wizard101 . . . it was just as important to me. Pirate101 took a universe I loved and gave it new depth. With Pirate101, I was seeing the game from the outside in, and it added so much richness to the Wizard101 mythology. That’s not to say that Avalon wasn’t one of the most awesome expansions Wizard101 ever had in my opinion, and I suppose if I strictly had to choose a Wizard101 update, Avalon would be it. I still have nightmares about the creepy house with Spider Legs!
2013
For me, my favorite update in 2013 was the new Halloween Quest with possessed vegetables and the hilariously spooky Nosferabbit. The Halloween quests really hadn’t changed since 2008 and their addition was a really welcome treat. In fact, I can’t wait to see these quests resurface in 2014!
2014
I have to give it up for fishing this year . . . even though the end of Story Arc 2 is about the most amazing thing ever. I just love the new fishing update! I love all the new hilarious fish, the stackable aquariums, and the fun way to spend my energy when I’m not gardening. Fishing brought new depth to an already incredible game and it was something that players have wanted for a long, long time.
Thanks for taking this look back with me throughout the years! While my favorite choices certainly may not be yours, I’m happy I was able to share them with you. Happy Birthday Wizard101!
What were some of your favorite updates from the past six years?
KingsIsle Blog 
I loved The GrizzleHeim update it was such a change after being maxed at lvl 50 😀
lol me to
Team up. Before that I could never find anyone to help with the hard instances like waterworks and always had to try solo. Which never worked out.
TRUE THAT
doing waterworks never worked for me either. the to hardest ones were waterworks and the tower of the elephant, but at least it is in the past. oh yah good luck with the future of wizard101 it’s going to be … EPIC
I remember being super excited when mounts were released and buying a pony right away. But, before the quest helper, you had to repeatedly open up your map so that was a pretty big deal for me too.
I ❤ the Celestia update I had so much fun when it was first released! ❤
the team up update was definitely the best
i loved this fishing update end being a life wizard and getting to heal people with the get knocked out in the game it brings joy to my heart to help people out and my 🙂
wow can’t wait for October the one of a month dungeon! can’t wait
ha me to
I would like to thank Kingsisle for these 6 years of outstanding service I hope they have 6 more even better ones
Happy Birthday Wizard101!! Have to say my favorite “update/ time of year” in the spiral is Halloween, Can’t wait to see the year ahead, Still the best MMO hands down
hi dude i like your blog ive played so long to it been a wild ride!!!
I liked Dragonspyre the best because I didn’t play that often but when I heard about Dragonspyre, since I was small I was really excited for the time when I would defeat Malistare, but it came years later because I kept forgetting my account(since I was small) and I used crowns to buy areas. But when the time came it was epic, I mean I was so excited I got last minute crowns when my brother was doing it , I guess one of the commercials made me want to defeat him because of Malistare responding to ambrose saying “defeat the greatest threat” and Malistare responding by saying “me” or something along those lines.
my favorite updates were probably fishing(,a great way to get gold), and i have to say i really liked pet games.-tristan dragontamer
I loved Wintertusk finally meeting Lady Nightstar (Grandmother Raven) and the beautiful music of its world!!!
I hope we see more easter eggs of pirate101 like we did at crescent beach in the future!
I can’t believe he didn’t even mention astral magic that stuff is the bomb!
Wysteria is so under looked by the players i hope they expand it one day there’s still lots of things we don’t see of that world on the map.
the team up to go into to dungeons that saved me a lot of times.
Thanks Kings isle!
awesome game guys!! i think the game is perfect the only thing really fustrating is about the crowns stuff the new trivia is good but its still not enough..
i did not start from day one but i was close i started with the free pet the summer dragon that when pet just looked good. i liked when school gear started i had to fight one boss 45 times to get my life robe. I never did get my 50 life wand
On my wish list is for each house to expand the capacity of the shared bank.
I started January 1st 2009 and I do remember running everywhere as well, also pets did absolutely nothing lol
I also loved the Grizzleheim update, it was a blast
i loved all the pets and rides, they have been amazing, and mega snacks so you can train your pets faster, since I have been playing and its been 4 years now, I have enjoyed the whole experience, but I have to say that Avalon is my most favorite place of all, I love all the characters and you feel like you are back in the old days of Avalon
Wowzers, Mine is the realease itself
It is so hard to pick favorites. Mostly I am just thrilled for new ways to spend time with the players that have become an important part of my life. The Spiral opened my world and turned the internet from a flashy encyclopedia to a doorway to a new family that means the world to me. My favorite is simply “KingsIsle and their wonderful worlds. Be it Wizard or Pirate they are like none other.”
Team up and Resume are the greatest ever. I have come across people ‘trolling’ dungeon sigils, and it can make it difficult to return to your team. The return to dungeon marker is also an over due add. I would ask that there be a “Solo” option added, for people who want to go alone, but cannot get in because of the crowds. Maybe in another update?
I loved Mirror lake @zafaria
Aug, 15th 2010 Day I started playing as Death, and still to this day have those memories of Dragonspyre brought tears of joy to my eyes.
I LIKE immunity seem so, useful 🙂 back in day before shadow magic (ice wanna be immune so, much in pvp so, use be awful at pvp back in day in pvp) got better when made new world came 🙂 now immunity to powerful 🙂
Wintertusk, Helephant tower and all of the gauntlets! (Pagoda, Winterbane and the Spiral Cup)
And of course, dungeon recall!!
Team up and the advanced pets were my favorites
My favorite update was definitely Dragonspyre. Everything about is was amazing – the story, the appearance, the music, and the drops (especially wands).
Marleybone all the way baby!
I liked the update where they released avalon, from there i always watched mscourtneyolivia’s vid walkthrough of it
I remember when being at level sixty was the goal. Fighting Malistaire and the Jade Oni were what everyone was doing. Boy have we grown since then. Look forward to seeing what is next.
IDK but wysteria is a pretty dang good world for my life master even with those enemies are life
I love the begining there was nomembership.
My favorite is the story Arc 2 how it has so many awesome animation sequences like the shadow form and eclispe tower when you restore the crown to the statue or old cob in the black hole and morganthe falling into the spiral and morganthes shadow attack…….. ok so lets just say i liked Khrysalis and all the awesome updates that they gave it hehehe dark nova never sleeps
Pet skills was best change
I love wizards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love this game but need some one to gift me a pack lol ;D 😉
My fav. update is the team up. It makes life so much easier, especially when I get the urge to do grubb,
my favorite update was aqulia, it was the best! STILL IS
the holloween towers are mine
hi i love this game more than any thing too i have played it a couble years ago and it was auswome put i always asked any one to gift me but they no now i am in level 43 i am a power full fire wizard and i dont need any one to help me lol ;D
Ninja pig
wizard 101 is the best I look forward to playing it. I enjoy and get excited every time a new feature or world is added. I HOPE that wizard 101 keeps adding to the game and come out with another new world. my favorite parts were dragonspyer and shoot I just love everything about the game keep it going kingsisle PLEASE
I love this game!!!!!!!! My favorite pet is HYDRA pet but I don’t have one I wish I did.Keep up the good work.
I remember when CL came out. I was like in 6th grade and told my parents that I was sick so I can play the new world. Now I’m finishing up high school and still playing. Hopefully I can play in the future when I come back from the army.