So how do we classify WoW at this point? Fantasy? SciFi? Hybrid?

[Great Destiny Man]

Same vein as Final Fantasy, which itself gets the labels of science fantasy and high fantasy.

[Eurhetemec]

40k is a lot of things, or rather it is a setting that lends itself to a lot of genres. On the sci-fi side it ranges from military science-fiction to dystopic space opera (with a hint of cosmic horror.) On the fantasy side it ranges from space fantasy, heroic fantasy and epic/high fantasy (with a hint of cosmic horror.) Dan Abnett in writes stories that are pretty close to straight sci-fi with the fantasy elements of Chaos and "magic" being viewed with a scientificish lens.

Sure, but at the core, it's science-fantasy, because it combines elements of science fictions with elements of fantasy. The main vision of the setting has a ton of both.

Like Star Wars, which is also science-fantasy, you can narrow it down so you can have be almost exclusively one or the other, but you have to deviate pretty far from the core setting to really do that. Viewing the crazy magic of Chaos with a scientific lens doesn't make it any less crazy magic But it might let the character doing it stay more sane!

[SniperCT]

Lets see...Orcs are alien invaders. So is the burning legion. In fact the entire backstory of the legion and the titans (even before the retcons) involves space travel.

Uldum and the breadcrumbs of titan lore we got in vanilla involved holograms and power sources that weren’t magic and etc.

Since the Plague was started by agents of the Legion, that means that the origins of the Forsaken are alien in nature.

In vanilla you have the worgen as interdimensional invaders, also the gnomes are very steampunk sci-fi and they have legit matter transporters like star trek.

Even magic has been discussed in universe with an emphasis on math and an almost scientific approach to spells.

And this is all before TBC brought in rockets, interdimensional space ships, the ethereals, and draenei crystal tech and wrath dove deeper into titan lore and technology.

But I'd say it's closer to fantasy than sci-fi. Fantasy with sci-fi and steampunk elements.

[MoanaLisa]

Steampunk I guess. There are lots of science fiction elements in the back story and of course we're familiar with going to other planets and seeing space ships around. But spells like we have are clearly fantasy...there's no explanation as to why they exist and why we can revive from death in the middle of a graveyard or have our BFF's raise us from the dead in a group.

I'll confess my first answer was "a mess."

[Powerogue]

It's always been hybrid. They take influence from anything and everything they find cool, starting with Lord of the Rings, and now we're here at The Witcher and Black Panther.