About Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne
Blizzard Entertainment released Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos in July 2002. It was the third game set in the Warcraft universe, after Warcraft: Orcs & Humans and Warcraft II, and the first in the series rendered in three dimensions. Set several years after Warcraft II, it follows the Burning Legion’s attempt to conquer Azeroth with the help of the Scourge, an undead army led by the fallen paladin Arthas Menethil, while the Human Alliance, the Orcish Horde and the Night Elves join forces to stop them. Rob Pardo is credited as designer, Frank Pearce Jr. as director and Chris Sigaty as producer.
The Frozen Throne, the expansion, came out on July 1, 2003 for Windows and Mac OS X. Its story picks up after the main game, told through Maiev Shadowsong, Kael’thas Sunstrider and the returning Arthas, and it also included the first act of a separate Horde campaign, with Blizzard adding Acts II and III in a December 2003 patch. Both games offer single-player and multiplayer modes.
How it runs in your browser
This isn’t emulation. The browser version runs on WarsmashModEngine, an open re-implementation of Blizzard’s engine, which DOS.Zone has compiled for the web. Pressing Play opens dos.zone in a new tab, and DOS.Zone’s page says there’s nothing to download or install and no registration.
The engine runs each map’s own JASS scripts, object data and ability system, so many maps work without changes. DOS.Zone checks maps one by one. It rates the standard melee maps at full compatibility, including Turtle Rock, Devil’s Cauldron, Terenas Stand LV, Jungle Fever, Hurricane Isle, Twilight Ruins LV and Riverrun, for 1v1, 2v2 or free-for-all matches as Humans, Orcs, Undead or Night Elves. Among custom maps it lists Castle Fight, Green TD, Line Tower Wars, Risk: Devolution Reborn, DBZ Tribute Elite, Uther Party and X-Hero Siege, some of them with abilities missing.
Network play is kept in sync with lockstep, and DOS.Zone offers co-op and PvP with friends in real time. We haven’t measured how well online matches hold up. The page is about melee and custom maps: the Reign of Chaos and Frozen Throne campaigns aren’t listed as playable, so don’t come for the story.
Controls and devices
Play with a keyboard and mouse, as on PC, with the classic Warcraft III interface. The host doesn’t list a key layout here. DOS.Zone says the game runs on desktop, so phones and tablets aren’t an option; use a desktop or laptop.
Who it’s for
It suits Warcraft III players who want a quick melee game or a round of a favorite custom map on a computer where the game isn’t installed. Tower defense fans have Green TD and Line Tower Wars, and Castle Fight is listed as an auto-battler. Anyone who wants to replay the campaigns should keep their original copy for that.
Is Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne Free, Safe and Official?
Can I play Warcraft 3 online for free in a browser?
Yes. DOS.Zone runs Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne maps in a browser tab with network play for co-op and PvP, free and without registration. We haven’t tested how well online matches run.
Can I play the Warcraft III campaign in the browser?
Don’t count on it. DOS.Zone’s page is about melee and custom maps, and it doesn’t list the Reign of Chaos or Frozen Throne story campaigns as playable.
Does Warcraft III work on a phone or tablet?
No. DOS.Zone says it runs on desktop, so use a computer with a keyboard and mouse.
