15 years old, get home from school friday, throw book bag on the bed, kick off shoes, turn pc on, launch WoW. Run to kitchen to grab a snack and a drink. Sits down and logs in, selects lvl 79 ret pally "Kenkay". Guild friends immediately say hi and start chatting it up talking about your plans to play all weekend. The dungeons you guys will run and the group quests you will need help with because you cant solo them. Grinding out that last level to hit 80. You turn your last quest in to get that achievement and BAM! you got it! You guild mates congratulate you, you type in "DING!" in the /1 general chat, all the random strangers in the zone Congratulate you! Not a worry in the world. Life was good.

We played all day, never worrying about anything in life.

Breaks my heart listening to this right now... Started playing in Vanilla, got my mom into the game, which was good for her because she was having some health problems and the social interactions helped. But I started college shortly after and couldn't make time for it anymore. Fast forward a few years and Frozen Throne comes out. She's telling me about raiding and her guild, so I join back in, grind up to play in Northrend. I loved this zone and she and I did spent time here, taking a break from grinding or waiting for guildmates to log in. It was in this zone that she told me she had a new cancer diagnosis and likely only had another year or so. I think this is the first time I've listened to this music since she died.

We're all here for the same reason. These were good times. I miss all of you. Some of you I never spoke to. Maybe a random duel, a rando in a pug dungeon. . . A hordie that would /wave at me while fishing. . . Maybe you mined the saronite I bought at auction. It's good to remember. I hope all of you are doing well.

a time forever lost, but always cherished

I'll forever have a love for this zone and the music, it was the last place I was leveling with my brother before he died.

I stopped playing WOW half way through Cata. It just never felt the same. Took one if my oldest Characters, a human warrior who I'd leveled since TBC release. Took one last walk through these woods with him, equipped him with some grey gear shirt and pants and retired in a little cabin in the woods. And they say he's up there still.

I started playing WOW when I was in my 60s. My wife and I "courted" together in this game. I was Axgood the Orc, she was beautiful Chela the Troll. Now she's 75 and I'm 78. She still plays, but I quit after this expansion. We're sitting here in 2021, back to back, she at her computer, me at mine (Arma 3 and Black Mesa), both of us gulping and shedding tears listening to this music. My brothers and sisters, this is ART.

Wrath of the Lich King was honestly the best expansion in my opinion. Howling Fjord and Grizzly Hills were so amazing.

These stories of people logging off forever in some place they love, with their friends or alone, ALWAYS make me emotional

To my mother, All those years ago, I never imagined you would get so into the game. You accomplished everything at your own pace and slowly outskilled myself and my peers. A woman in her 70s, mopping the floor with us life long gamers. It was so wonderful to brag about you ro guildmates. Now that you had your health has declined over the years and your last online was over a year ago, I can't help but cry every time I hear this. I love you.

I remember starting this game when I was 35 years old in 2007. I was hooked straight away and WoW was ‘ Home ‘ instantly. I landed a great guild and we spent years and years together. Even when I met my wife and got my 3 wonderful kids with her, there was always loads of time for WoW. With the expansions and years, people started to leave. Every time someone left it felt someone died. People you spoke every day for 10 years , instantly gone.. In 2021 the guild died. I took over the guild and to this day i play alone in there, levelling new alts in WotLK. The best time I had in WoW. There are 166 chars in the guild and with wet eyes I see the names of my old mates offline for over 3 years. I still love questing and raiding with another guild, but I just can never leave ‘ Desperate Murlocs’ on Bronzebeard. The guild where it all began and having the best time…

I broke up with my boyfriend for the first time in my life and wasn't taking it well. I closed off people, got into severe depression and even thought of unaliving myself, I was so stupid and young, and he hurt me so much. Then, completely devastated, I got into wow to keep my mind off things, and it helped so much. Month forward, I was happily playing the game, taking my time to explore the world, and loved it so much. I remember spending hours in this zone to catch a spirit bear pet for my character, a night elf hunter. Good times.

Fun fact: This is played on a Swedish instrument called a nyckelharpa. A lot of the traditional nyckelharpa songs have a very similar feel to this, if anyone is looking for more :)

I left a piece of my heart, in a virtual Realm...

22 years old - I remember working shift work at a pulp mill, feeling full of anger/sadness/depression from the toxic work atmosphere that it was. After 12 hours of what amounted to abuse on a normal basis, I would grab the steering wheel with white knuckles and begin to decompress on the way home to our apartment. I loved the fact that my girlfriend of 3 years was living with me and we both enjoyed playing world of Warcraft since vanilla. I would pull into the parking lot and walk upstairs and turn on the PC. My girlfriend would have some snacks ready for us both, unaware of the troubles I had endured during the shift. With both of our PCs beside each other, (so we could see each other's screens) we would log in at the same time and count our line in the Queue while seeing that awesome new WOTLK loading screen, trying to figure out who will get in first, it was so close. (Me - Orc Warlock - Demonatic. Her - Blood Elf Hunter - Talyiah) While waiting for our turn to join the world, we would discuss our plans on what to accomplish. I was excited to be a higher level and look out for her. I would protect her from the opposite faction, and hold off elites long enough for her to escape troubling situations! Grizzly hills was the zone we would turn down the game sound effects so we could barely hear them, and crank up the music. There I was. Beside the girl I loved. Some homemade snacks she made for us with love, and a cold drink of mountain Dew. Forgetting all about the horrible shift at the mill. We would sit beside each other and enjoy the company. Share goals, and what we needed help with. All of the sadness and anger flushed away, just like that. Sitting there in grizzly hills, feeling peaceful. 33 years old - I now have a family with that woman. Made the hard decision to leave that abusive workplace 4 years ago. Couldn't be happier. I have an appreciation for video games and how they can provide moments of peace when it seems unobtainable. I will remember that with my own kids.

This song is like an old and loyal friend resting their arm over your shoulder; "its okay, everything will be alright..."

Everyone has their story about this place. When they felt depressed, alone or wanted to be alone, under the pines looking over to a river. But we enjoyed every bit of it. And it kinda hurts me that I would never experience wow as i once did when i was in my early teens.

This soundtrack reminds me of my beloved husband who died 2 years ago. He play those WOW soundtracks when I could not sleep.

I remember back in 2008 when I would play on my dad's WoW account. He ended up so happy that I fell in love with the game that he bought me my own expansion pack (still have that bad boy on the shelf) and subscription. I was only seven years old, but I remember every second of playing through this expansion. Coming home from school, running upstairs to my room and getting on my crappy laptop and launching up WoW. I didn't have a clue what I was doing in the game, but I loved it. I first hit 80 on my human warrior in this very zone (with my fathers help of course). My father was so happy for me that he ran upstairs to talk to me about raiding with him and my uncle. Raiding with my dad, my uncle and all of their friends brings back so many memories. I was just a measly little seven year old playing an arms warrior raiding with his dad. This game made new friendships for me that still live on to this day. This game was my escape from any problems that I was going through. Any hardships. Thank you Blizzard for changing my life back in 2008, I can't thank you enough. I'd also like to thank my father for introducing me to this wonderful game that we call World of Warcraft. I love you, pops.

I remember playing in this zone. It was snowing the whole first week i got this game. Snow and frost at my bedroom window, the sound of my parents downstairs just doing their own thing. Me in my warm room grinding away at something i thought was the best damn game in the world.

It's really amazing the effect on people WOW has had....Many years back my best friend and wife went to work one morning and kissed us goodbye and we never saw her again alive (she was killed in a car accident on her way to work) I was left with a 11 year old daughter and both us of were lost. My wife and daughter were very close and after her death my daughter just closed up and refused to even want to have friends anymore.....it was very hard for me to find strength enough for both of us but what choice did I have? I had to find a way to break down that wall my daughter had built around her after the loss of her mother. One day walking through a store I saw WOW classic for sale and decided to get it for her and I to play hoping it would help us grow closer, this was only about two months after WOW had launched. Within a few weeks we found a nice guild many friends and was playing together nightly.......Now she is a healthy, happy woman with many friends and a wonderful future husband.....I can't thank my many friends and guildies that helped her through her dark times enough! The whole WOW experience through the years has had such a positive effect on her. When I saw this zone and listened to the music just now, it brought back all those memories...Thank you

Don't be sad you can't go back lads, be happy that it happened. The innocence, the enjoyment, the magic. What a time Hope the younger generations get to experience moments like 2008 Wotlk with your friends when you knew nothing about the challenges of the world outside and all that mattered was getting that next gear upgrade

It's been 2 months since my brother was taken from me. We grew up with WoW, always looking at death from the outside. Always thinking our family would be together. We would always be on these videos, and see the pain, laughter, and nostalgia in the comments. My heart would hurt so bad when I would see someone who had lost a loved one. I always felt so lucky to have my brother by my side, whenever I needed him. Then, in the blink of an eye, he was gone. We had just put my cousin to rest in WoW in July. He passed last year from his battle with muscular dystrophy. I still have the special video we made for him. Now, my brother is gone too. Every time I get on my feet, I fall down again. I wanted him to be there with me till the end. It hurts so bad. Someone's negligence cost my brother his life and now he's gone forever. We had so much left to do. I'll never be able to enjoy being in this world we grew up with again. I hope everyone can come back here with fond memories instead of suffering. Hold your loved ones tight.

I specifically chose this zone to retire all my 80s because of the peaceful music. My ret pally deserved some measure of peace. Hope him and the rest of my 80s are doing well..

When I chain listen to these videos, it's half wanting to hear the nostalgia, and half to read the comments of those that feel the same way as me. I don't play anymore, and I don't expect to ever feel the same way playing this game as when it was new to me, but I could never deny the pure pleasure this game gave to me over the years. I'm always going to find solace in this world no matter my age and I'm happy others feel the same.

i'll always be thankful to my dad for showing me this game. all he did was have me do some fishing for him while he was busy cooking dinner, but i was hooked instantly, and within a couple years i had my first toon, with him carrying me through high level dungeons and raids for better gear. he had me wait in grizzly hills for a while once, to get the rare spirit beast, while he was in the kitchen, and it's one of my most fond memories, just chatting while we both listened out for the sound of his rare alert addon. the last time we got to do dungeons together was in BFA, him helping me get my ilevel up and hit 120 before the squish. he passed away before dragonflight came out. it's tough knowing i'll never have him carry me through another instance, congratulate me on a new mount drop, whisper me while we played together to ask what i wanted for dinner that night. thank you so much for showing me this game, dad. i hope wherever you are, you finally managed to get that damn horse to drop from ICC.

*9 Years Ago: Perfect music for relaxing* *Now: Perfect music for relaxing with Scotch*

"Kept you waiting, huh?"

Grizzly Hills probably has my favorite soundtrack out of every place in WoW.

This was from a time in WoW's history where amazing memories were being made for a lot of people. It was the peak of WoW's subscription count. It was also a time where you could almost feel the love Blizzard's put into their content.

I was in high school when WOTLK came out. I had played WoW since vanilla, I was about 13 years old then. If there's one thing I remember about this game is the music. The music is one of the things that truly made this game what it was. This soundtrack is simply beautiful. What got me into WoW was not the grind, the gear, the raids, the progress, the rat race that it became. No. It was the little things. Entering Goldshire's inn for the first time and seeing night elf players sitting on chairs and just socializing, it was finding and reading all those lore books spread out across the world, paying for pet slots in the stables and then discovering that was useless because I was a warrior and I thought that's how I would get a mount, and then someone telling me that I actually needed to wait to level 40 and then buying them at a vendor, figuring out how to fish, travelling to Darnassus, all the way from Ironforge to the Wetlands, just because I wanted my character to learn how to use a bow. Waking up early before school to do a few quests in Duskwood or risk myself going to Booty Bay and dying several times along the way to ganks and high level tigers. It was the sheer realization that I just entered a world so vast and so deep that I would never fully experience it myself. A world made alive by all the NPCs, all the little stories and quests and all the players that inhabited it. A world that was mysterious and as much as I would explore, there would always be something else in the shadows left to discover. Someone to talk and play with. Those were the really cool moments, because you couldn't survive nor thrive in this world alone. It was about grouping up with others to complete quests that you couldn't otherwise attempt. Making new friends from across the world. I remember buying and mounting the black stallion, my first mount, in Arathi Highlands with my online friends. I remember going into Karazhan and inevitably wipe the raid over and over again because I wanted to do big damage, was impatient and pulled mobs or took too much aggro. I remember never had any success with raids until WOTLK came and I started to make my own raid groups, because everyone started to look to achievements and gear level and judge you, and lots of people got left out. I proudly display the title Champion of the Frozen Wastes since then, because it took me a lot of effort to finally put together a group that was able to take down Malygos, and I did. I remember Ulduar as this amazing, mythical raid that was fearsome at the time. I took down Mimiron, but sadly, never Yogg-Saron. But before that, I remember taking the ship to Borean Tundra, and starting my Northrend adventure from then. I remember that amazing piano track in Dragonblight, and I remember a nasty winter setting in and basically freezing in real life while in virtual life I was making my way through Zul'Drak, and that was like both me and my character facing an unforgiving cold environment together. I could go on and on. Point is, WoW was a game that I'll always remember fondly. It had it's problems, I could have spent more time doing other, healthier things than spending hours in front of the computer. It was unhealthy for me in a way. But in another way, it was such an incredible experience that I'm so grateful that I lived. Things will never be the same. I'm much older now. The world changed. I will never be able to game in such a care-free way again. There will never be another game that makes me feel so amazed, so invested, so immersed in a new, mysterious, exquisite world like WoW. My character, my warrior, wasn't just an online toon. It was a fragment of myself, a self that I couldn't otherwise express. Unfortunately, WoW died back in Cataclysm. It just would never be the same again. I still played ocasionally until Legion, defeated Argus and then retired. And even though that was an amazing expansion, the best since WOTLK, the truth is that, for me, the golden days of WoW were long over. Those days from Classic and WOTLK (TBC isn't as memorable to me as those two expansions) were, for me, the golden days of WoW, not only one of the best gaming experiences I had, but one of the best life experiences I had. So, I thank the original developers of this amazing game. It isn't the epics, the arena ratings, the achievements, the mounts, or any of those things that I hold on to. It is the memories and the little things. Those are the things that truly matter.

little 13 year old me...a hunter, running through these woods free and happy, looking for Arcturis the spirit bear with this music in the background, school tomorrow, can already smell the dinner, life was so good. god i miss it. i miss it everyday.

'I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them.'

33 years old....this takes me to a place I've been a million times but can never go back. I hope it's played at my funeral one day. Just so it's played when I see the boys again 💪

This is truly powerful music, just BRIEFLY reading through the comments. I am not the only one who played in this zone with someone who is no longer here. I spent a lot of time in this zone with my father, we would often find ourselves venturing away from the quests just to view the zone and enjoy the music. May he rest in peace, 25 years old in my opinion is a bit young to lose a father.

The last social and best expansion. Where everyone you encountered was friendly. Getting invites to groups and you all talk about life, happiness, sadness, etc.. Guild-mates are there and help you with every growth you make. Strangers, friends, and guild-mates are all congratulating you for hitting 80. Many memories have been made in Wrath of The Lich King.

Every time I go out partying, at the end of the night I come home and listen to wow music in bed and relive what it was like to be 12/13 again.

I had no idea how good how good the game was back then, or how special it was to me. I took it for granted.

I miss you so much. Too all the souls who grew up in this game and now are forever gone. Salute, im tearing up.

Everytime I would fly over Grizzly Hills to get somewhere, I paused a little moment, just to listen to that wonderful soundtrack. ♥

Nostalgia, surge of emotions. I wish I could go back in time to the period when I was playing wow and stay there forever. Tried to play now but it doesn't feel like before.

Over ten years ago now, I fell in love with the Grizzly Hills. I'm from the Pacific Northwest, and it is the best recreation of the forests of my home state I have ever seen in a game

This is where I left my character when I quit the game, to rest.

14:17 to 16:05. What beautiful music. I don’t think anyone who hasn’t played WoW understands the feelings evoked by listening to this music. I played from 2007 to 2011 or so, quit after WotLK. This game helped me through some really troubled times. I’ll never forget it. I hope all of you are doing well :)

When this whole Coronavirus thing started, the first thing I did was to buy a 3-months pre-paid card for WoW. Time to relive those memories with my newly found free time :)

Sitting there after some quest grind. Taking a break while eating dinner in front of the computer. Called my grandma, 8000 miles away in another country while listening to this music in game. Grandma wanted me to come back during Christmas. I told her I will see if I have enough time during winter break from collage. Grandma said she misses me a lot. I said that I miss you too. She passed away from throat cancer not long time later. I thought I was invincible, I thought she would never go.

Little did I know.. flying around doing my dailies.. that I had been in heaven without realizing it in the moment

It's amazing how much time has passed, yet still this game is a part of us. Greetings from 2009/10 to 2021

If this isn't played at my funeral Im not going.

At times real life is just overwhelming, at times the spark of wow just isn’t there anymore and it’s not fun, sometimes I stop playing for an open ended amount of time. But just knowing that Azeroth is there, and will be there for us for a while, truly, deeply comforts me during dark times.

Was 18, finishing my first semester of uni. I remember I couldn't continue with the amount of work I had. I spent a few days playing and saying my good-byes to everyone. It made me think of the times in middle-school when I would sprint home to play with my friends. I wanted the same imagination I had playing this game as a kid - where it wasn't just about stats, numbers, or who had the best gear. I wanted to play for adventure, discovering new zones/ music, and who had the coolest looking gear. I spent my final day just flying around in Northrend and finally landing here to log off one last time. I wish I could have the experience of playing this game for the first time again.

WotLK was by far my favorite expansion, and this zone is one of the reasons why. Very cool story I have. I've caught up to and spoken with him in-person, twice now. I thanked him for the gift of his music throughout the years, but I also asked him the second time at BlizzCon 2015, what inspired him to write the music for Grizzly Hills. Turns out, it was originally intended as a wedding anthem! It explained so much, the sheer beauty and serenity... I smiled so big when I heard that. Any of you folks ever meet him, ask him and he'll tell you the same. :)

Somehow Grizzly Hill's made you feel like you were right there walking amongst the trees or overlooking hills and the water. Now when I see views like this in real life I cant help but hear this song playing in my head for a bit.

This was everything for me and my friends. WoW is in such a terrible place right now and it tears me to pieces knowing what it once was. Bittersweet hearing this again. I’ve played WoW since vanilla and it almost feels like it’s time to let it go. I wish it didn’t have to be this way. I’m flying to grizzly hills right now-probably for the last time. I hope this place brings peace to whoever needs it and adventure to whoever craves it. I’ve had some of the best times of my life in WoW. This zone will always be my favorite. Thank you Blizzard of olde. Rest In Peace.

After 13 years of WoW, I finally called it quits. Haven't logged in for more than a year, and I'm alright with it. Mostly because I learned how to play Dungeons and Dragons, and now I am running my own campaign that is set in the world of Vanilla Azeroth. Those 13 years of exploring Azeroth aren't going to waste :) One day, my players will make it here, and I will be able to queue this track as I describe the majesty of the Grizzly Hills.

This game... gone from my life but never forgotten. The nostalgia will always remain.

Oh, the memories... this music, this zone, all those wonderful memories and friendships from so long ago. Nothing can ever take those memories from us. Not even the people who have taken over now, with their fruit obsession and their belief that their vision of WoW is the only one worth having. What most people who have not been with us back in the days of Vanilla, BC, and Wrath will never understand, is that we remember those days so fondly not because the game was so great, but because of the people we got to share our time with. The community made this game what it was and while replaying the old game in Classic and BC Classic was a nostalgia trip, it can never be the same. Because now we are only hunting those fond memories, back then we made them... Cherish those memories, they will always bring a smile to your face whenever the real world looks bleak...

The Amberpine Lodge was the place I decided to log off my paladin for the last time. Grizzly hills will always hold a special place in my heart. Memories of a better time. Light be with you.

Hearing this is like falling into the arms of an old lover. One you were with for a long time and truly cared for, but had to leave because they’d changed into someone you didn’t love anymore. The music of Grizzly Hills was “our song”. And just like “our song” causes your mind to linger for a moment on the smell of her hair, this score bubbles up long forgotten memories that have been buried for many years, and in that moment I feel like I’m there again. It’s a time machine that can drop you back into that sweet moment when you first beat the Lich King as if you were there again watching Arthas die in Terenas’ arms. I played WoW from the day it first came out, and the experiences I had with people I’d never met IRL but came to know better than most of my childhood friends, were powerful and real. So these mournful melodies and folksy riffs are imprinted on my soul like the smell of my grandma’s house - I can’t avoid being transported back for a moment when I hear them - the Grizzly Hills score is built for nostalgia. But stepping back into the rush of being in love inevitably leads to re-living the sting of letting it go, and hearing this you feel a sense of loss for a time that was special and unique that know you’ll never experience again. This music makes me feel young, and happy, and alive in a way I just can’t get to anymore. So, like my old lover, I have to remember the good times and then let them go over and over through the years as a bittersweet keepsake from a once passionate relationship that I only get Christmas cards from now.

If I'm ever asked what my favorite zone in WoW is, I'll direct them to this video.

Goddamn, it's been years since I cried this much, this is far from just nostalgia, these are truly beautiful pieces of music that touch the soul. Russell Brower is a genius.

This song really sums up life. It starts off hopeful and upbeat, full of joy about the future without a care in the world. Towards the middle more melancholy themes come in, you are growing up, seeing family get old and pass on, having responsibilities, learning the world isn't all its made out to be. Then finishing off, you're grown up, nothings left but the memories, you sit reflecting on the good times you had growing up but it's all gone now, just like everything else.

warms my heart to see im not the only one who has "retired" toons in grizzly hills. left my goblin hunter from cata next to one of the water falls and he's still there to this day

So much nostalgia... i was in grizzly hills when my husband told me his feelings for me during WoTLK, we met during Burning Crusade but did not become the couple we are today until Wrath... Oh how i miss WoW as it once was...

Oh my Lord, my greatness freaking god. Everytime I upped a character, I was so happy to reach Northrend shores, only to fast lvl-up to go asap in this zone, turning out the sound more than loud, & cleaning absolutely every quests in this zone. All of my characters did the same, I know this zone as if I scripted it. Even though i'm not a musician at all, give me an instrument I could play every track this zone has. But oh my god, every pixel I run by, every beast or enemy I kill, every item I drop is an absolute pleasure. This is by far my favourite zone ever in a game. I love this soundtrack, I love the atmosphere, I love the storyline, I love everything about this. When my ex-girlfriend came in my flat late in the day during the first days of our relationship, I was playing WoW and pexing in Grizzly Hills. She asked me about the game, I explained her a bit, then she said "god it sounds so relaxing, landscapes are beautiful, can I try to play ?". Of course I showed her, she never understood how to move charac and camera at the same time, but damn this moment has a special feeling in my heart, even though love has faded now. Thank you WoW for these unforgettable soundtracks. For these unforgettable universes, memories, feelings you gave us. Thank you Everness for this. I'm actually crying right now. I haven't cried for around 3 years. This has in the same time the power of our memories, sleeping deeply in our minds, and the power of video games we love. A mix between all the hours we spent on game and all the good feelings these hours gave us. Love. Simply .. love.

My Belf hunter is still here, or in the Barrens. Retired from adventuring and living a simple life. Fishing. And remembering. So many adventures. So many friends. Every evening "wasted" playing a game. It was all worth it.

Most other games you can go back and play anytime and they will usually be exactly as they were. Not WoW. Sure, you can go back to any old zone whenever I want, but you'll never be able to replicate the way it was. Back when you had time, and when EVERYONE played the game

I hit 80 in this zone during WotLK =') I just downloaded a private WotLK server to relive the memories. I got a friend to download the same server and we're going to level some toons together like we're 18 years old again. *sigh* It's bittersweet going back now, but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. I have friends in real life now who I initially met on WoW. They all live in the US (I'm Canadian) but I have visited them and it's the coolest thing ever- like a blending of reality and fantasy so that reality is just a little bit more fantastical. This was so much more than a game for so many of us. Thank you for making these videos. And I hope everyone has a fantastical day

I'm home...

Such a great zone. Blizzard really did a great job with this zone it was almost like you could smell the pines and feel the wind. I think that this zone is full of nostalgia

One can never truly quit WoW. I used to play ALL day for years, but I stopped playing around legion. I still always come back to these videos and remember all of the nostalgia that was 6 years of my life. I miss it.

I wish they'd put Trueshot Lodge here instead of High Mountain

If I could live in any place on Azeroth it would be the Grizzly Hills, so I can be in WoW’s timeless zone, where I can remember my friends who no longer play and the good memories we made.

Wrath of the lich king was one of the best wow Addons ever!! I miss these old times

46:32 smiling with tears, on a sunny cool Friday afternoon in late November, knowing that the holidays are coming, (sound) you get the inv to do an elite quest.. oh man, what a time it was

When I first arrived in Grizzly Hills, I came across soaring eagles, deer grazing in the forest, a gorgeous sight. And then this track started. 12:20 And that's when I knew. I knew this zone was special. I've only been in Grizzly Hills for a day, but this zone has instantly cemented itself as the most gorgeous zone in Azeroth. Edit- the moment I first heard the violin crescendo at 15:47 I saw the pack of mustang horses gallop past me, and I put my questing on hold for about 20 minutes to just walk around the forest and take it all in. God what a zone, makes me want to leave all my struggles behind and move to the mountains

My dad introduced me to WoW, back in late 2010 when I was just five years old. It started with me seeing him play his Tauren Druid on an old pc he had in his machine shop next to the door. I asked him if I could play to and he picked me up and set me on his lap and began teaching me the basics on how to move. And before long I was jumping his character off Thunder Bluff and undressing him down to the boxers to take “baths” in the nearest water source. Then I figured out how to make my first character, with his help of course. A goblin hunter I named after myself. I wasn’t too great with names at the time. I remember coming home from school and asking him to type in the password on the nearest computer and I stayed on for hours playing WoW just running around on my hunter with her loyal companion pet crab whom I named Crabby. I explored all the nooks and crannies and came across Deathwing, whom flew over head breathing fire down on Kezan. My character was unfortunately caught in the blaze and died. Eventually I made my way to the Lost Isles. When the cinematic for leaving Kezan played I cried. I still cry to this day when I see it. When I finished the Lost Isles storyline and finally got to Durotar, my quest reward of choice was the bracers named Thrall’s Gift, not because of the stats, but because of the name. I felt like it was a personal gift from Thrall. When I got better bracers from a quest, I just couldn’t part with Thrall’s Gift, so I put it in the bank. I was not happy when years later I found out that my dad sold them. My grandfather also played WoW, introduced by my dad and his friend. My grandpa’s main character was a human hunter. I remember when I was young, around 6-7, whenever I slept over at my grandparents, I would be woken up by the sounds of him playing WoW around 6:30 ish. He sadly was forced to quit WoW soon after Legion came out due to a stroke. I remember trying to teach him how to play again but he sadly couldn’t move his hands the way he used too. He passed away two years ago from natural causes at 89 years old, exactly one month before his 90th birthday. I miss those days. Love you grandpa. ❤ I’m now 18, living in Oregon with my mom. I’m the biggest WoW fan of my family. I’ve never stopped from the day I’ve started. I play all versions minus hardcore. My dad still plays on occasion but life has gotten in the way. I’ve gotten much better at names and now play a night elf hunter named Lydiana with her trusty owl companion Velara. I’m absolutely loving Dragonflight and Wotlk and can’t wait for what comes next. I love you dad, and I can’t thank you enough for starting me on this journey, from humble beginnings in Kezan to the present day, wandering through the lush glades of the Waking Shores and the bustling streets of Valdrakken. It’s a little corny, but thank you Blizzard, for making all this possible. Happy adventuring everyone! Elune’adore!

I’m playing wrath classic as we speak and when I entered grizzly hills it was like seeing an old friend for the first time in years :)

The first track is BY FAR my favorite in the entirety of World of Warcraft. Nothing can compare.

You know, after spending so much time in Stormwind, Ironforge, Orgimmar, and Undercity, you never realize how heavy the weight of those cities' soundtracks weigh on your head until you come to Grizzly Hills and a single violin outperforms the orchestras of the capital cities at making you feel safe and calm

I will never forget my love and 2nd childhood in WoW. Heavy heart. I miss so everyday... you will never be replaced. Love you.

Back when people used the internet to come together and have fun... what a time.

12:30 onward is so beautiful. Brings a tear to my eye.

I really love that you can hear the keys of the Nyckelharpa (the instrument) being pressed in the background. Idk for some reason it just makes it even more endearing for me. No idea why :'D

WOW will always be apart of my life. My dad, mom, brothers, aunts, and uncles played this all in the household. Forever my family treasure.

Never fails to get me emotional... start the healing process. Enjoy life guys - it has so much in store for you.

I wish I could go back to those times, flying through the skies, exploring, questing, crafting, from raids, to PvP with strangers, guildmates, with friends and family. I still remember the laughs, the excitement, the accomplishment of working together. The most pure and euphoric gaming experiences of my life, and man life was good back then. Who knew that my last /1 DING! would be my last goodbye forever in WoW to usher in the beginning of my adult life. "We all grow up to learn worse".

One of my favorite zones/songs in WoW

I come here and I cry from a place of both sadness and joy. Thank you for the stories. Thank you for the art. Thank you for your beautiful hearts. You matter.

I was 12yrs when WOTLK came out. Remember being in Stormwind docks waiting with hundreds of other players until midnight until the first ships sailed to Northrend... Signaling the beginning of the new expansion. each of us counting down the clock minute by minute, standing next to each other whilst talking to one another on Ventrilo. The extreme hype of several hundred WoW gamers waiting for the same time for a ship to set sail. When the time came and you counted down, then boom! the ship *jolts* and sets off, it was the hypest experience ive had in an online game, ever. in the decades of gaming, in my life. WoW classic through wothlk was a special thing. Choosing between Borean Tundra or Howling Fjord it felt like a real; you're the first adventurers being sent in on a new continent. Landing involving doing fighting with all your fellow players as there seemed to be plenty of enemies to fight (excluding quest specific bosses, or nodes) it felt like a real online fantasy battle at the time. It's still today will always be dear in my heart. But from 2004-2008 there was a different kinda vibe from the game. small quests being long, and long quests being small, all the weird NPCS in the old world. The barrens chats, for the children [Achievement chat], gurabashi arena, twinking, moonguard, ganking, camping, spawn camping, starting zone camping, or just waiting for a certain quest NPC to spawn after 5mins. The absurd specific requirements in level time frames that were not at all balanced. Quests that could require higher level dungeons for quest items would be given out all the time, only for players to attempt. sometimes at far distances. At times failing, but persistanting in a futile attempt at a higher level quests given to them, until sometimes by miracle. either by sheer kiting finesee another player came along and helped you on your quest. But this required a good amount of time traveling between objectives. long time in WoW you got your first 60% mount at lv40. So up until then; you walked or used either Grypons/Wyvern. This could have great variance upon each expedition; as the influx of players and player intentions can change at different times. depending on the server, so roaming groups of gankings, faction agitators, bots, cheaters were high during these times. On the low times. there could be an eerie calm to your server. where it was somewhat quite and there was no big conflict. questing in neutral zones and seeing the enemy faction, and perchance happen to slash /wave, /bow, /dance,/wave and go your separate ways. Questing and gathering in the same area. little moments that you cant replicate naturally with modern game design intentions. weird neutral faction markets and AH, with all sorts of obscure neutral factions that have your BiS but you gotta grind for hours to get enough rep with them first, before theyd sell it to you. Often at times coming into conflict with other players. All the little moments and interactions, from those who played with. Players who played from 2004 - 2010. Ill always remember all of you.. good luck, everyone I hope the best for you guys/gals/thems/ and everyone in-between, those who played gnomes,.. trolls,.. undead, and fem taurens. you too, are seen, and this is coming from a Human Paladin, who has slain a many of you only to bubble hearth, away >:). wish you the best of luck to all of you and everyone with all your collective adventures, ahead! P.S. I loved Cataclysm I thought it was a really good boundary pushing expansion and in hindsight this would be true. still holding up as one of thee greatest expansions of all time, for WoW.

When we were silly teenagers, introducing my dearest friend to this game, making a new character with 3x xp, levelling up and meeting new virtual friends along the way (We may have gone out hunting noobs once or twice too!). Ahh, the memories we had in this game, the places we saw. My dear friend is no longer with us. It's 12 years on, and all that is left now are the memories we shared in life, and in game. Thank you Blizzard.

Time is funny. Sometimes I come back here, back to Grizzly Hills. Just to remember. It’s been like, what, a decade? My friends got children, families and responsabilities. Sometimes I come back to Grizzly Hills to visit simpler times. We were young and full of adventure. We spent so much time exploring Grizzly Hills and I’m now just starting to realize it was all about the journey all along. A journey with good friends is worth a thousand lifetimes. Who cares where we all end up as long as we had fun along the way

Ah man.. the memories this music brings, the slow mount walk around the area, the small peaceful moments on top of the mountain overseeing the area. And then at brink of a moment a small log out and never to return again.. Being a hunter in this area and just exploring around was on my best memories of this game. Salute to the best expansion of WOW. Time has passed but memories created shall cherish forever.

Been 18 years of wow for me and no matter how long it’s been me and the bois will come to grizzly hill just to chill and relax to hear the music 🎶 if we got nothing else to do ❤️ we can’t wait for wrath classic

Can we just talk about how perfectly this video ended at 58:00 and how perfect the shot is. Everything from the camera slowly overlooking Grizzlemaw, the pine trees, the snowy mountain peaks in the distance, to the soft and beautiful music that's playing. Close your eyes, and listen to the breeze, you can almost smell and feel the crisp air on your face and fingertips.

I love it. It's so beautiful it hurts. Right in the childhood. Thanks Everness

makes me want to quit my job, my whole life. just to find some place where I can log in every morning and play all day long. I never felt better in my life... Its not like I didnt have problems and things I should have been worried about. I just managed to get through them easier cus my mind and my heart were so far from my body. So many years have passed yet world of warcraft is still the place I call home. I dont play as much anymore. I wish I could play more honestly. I want to change it. But real life is kicking me hard and not letting me lose myself in a world where I feel at home. I feel like an alien to this world and always did. Wow was my home and thats exactly what its gonna be for the rest of my life.

Its 2021. Almost a year after the pandemic. Im so happy i get to relive this small, but huge memory again. Thank you for bring joy to my heart. I hope you all enjoy

I remember when I used to play wow, first reached grizzly hills, heard the bgm score... Got lost and never found my way out. Some Legends say I still wander the forests listening to the music.