The game is good and you can get to end game level if you really want to without having to buy anything within a reasonable time frame. However, this game is not complete and won't be complete. Funcom seems to have completely abandoned SWL. They are only maintaining it as a last-ditch effort cash grab. I really wish some other company would buy it from them and rework it so that the story could continue. However, this game is next to dead at the moment. Not many people play. You do see people here and there at certain times of the day. However, it is mostly empty, or you'll see an old player with new alternate characters replaying the story mode.
This game has so much potential, but it was wasted. Don't spend your time with it because it is simply going nowhere.

+

I'm not normally a fan of MMO games, but I really like this one because it has a great story and that story is told through voice acted cutscenes (not text boxes like in so many MMOs). You can also easily play through the game alone, so no need to worry about hitting a wall in the story and needing to desperately seek out other players.

The gameplay is pretty simplistic (like basically all MMOs) but it works well enough and doesn't get in your way. The SWL gameplay is orders of magnitude better than the original game (TSW). Looking at the reviews here, there are some TSW fanboys making a stink, but, having played both version, I don't understand their dissatisfaction. Everything in TSW from the UI to the gameplay was super, super clunky. Plus you couldn't play through it solo like you can SWL, at least not without tons of grinding. SWL streamlined and improved everything and removed the grind while still delivering the same great story. All good things in my book. This is truly the definitive version of the game IMO.

Sadly, my one complaint is that the story isn't fully complete. They finished what you could call the main story ark and then years ago they released an expansion in a new setting that started up a new story that built on the original game, but there hasn't been anything since. They haven't even updated the news section of their website since 2022, so likely the new story path started in that update will never be completed. Still the game is a very fun ride while it lasts and definitely worth playing.