Highlights
- MOBAs have continuously remained popular over the last decade or so, with titles like League of Legends and Dota 2 leading the charge.
- While some MOBAs like Heroes of the Storm are dying out, they still retain a dedicated fanbase, or like SMITE, have unique gameplay features that make them stand out from the rest.
- MOBAs like Dota 2 and League of Legends also enjoy a strong esports scene that drives a huge viewership.
MOBAs or Multiplayer Online Battle Arena games are among the most popular in the world, drawing in players with their typically free-to-play nature and complex strategy. While each MOBA brings something new to the board, games are typically comprised of two opposing teams with each player controlling a unique character with their own abilities and nuances.
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The aim of most MOBAs is to destroy the enemy's structure in their base, but to do this teams will need to farm resources, kill opponents, and take various objectives in order to gain gold, items, and other advantages over the enemy. The best MOBAs have rosters of incredibly fun characters, deep and engaging gameplay, and usually a thriving esports scene too.
5 Heroes Of The Storm
Metascore: 86
Heroes of the Storm is an example of a MOBA that used to be popular but is now fading, more specifically because it hasn't received much attention from its developer Blizzard, rather than being abandoned by players. Nevertheless, players can still enjoy the final version of HotS which is one of the most unique MOBAs given that there are no items or gold and experience is shared between the team.
Each battle arena has its own objective and players can traverse these maps on mounts, a feature which is underutilized in other MOBAs. One of the best things about Heroes of the Storm is that players can take control of their favorite characters from other Blizzard titles, such as Overwatch and Diablo.
4 League Of Legends: Wild Rift
Metascore: 89
League of Legends: Wild Rift
League of Legends: Wild Rift is the mobile and future console version of the best MOBA of all time, League of Legends, and the developers have done an incredible job of porting over the game in a unique way. The gameplay of Wild Rift is naturally simpler than its PC counterpart, but it is also faster and more accessible which is great for casual players.
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While not all League champions have been brought over yet, the fact that Wild Rift was made from the ground up rather than gradually improved on, means that it has better-looking character models and a few unique features. Although it is still relatively new and slowly amassing a player base, Wild Rift is by far the best mobile MOBA.
3 Smite
Metascore: 83
Out of the best MOBAs, Smite is easily the most distinct and innovative given that the game is played in 3rd person rather than from a top-down perspective. Playing over the shoulder of a character adds a whole other dimension to the genre, and players will find that they even have to aim their auto attacks, rather than simply pointing and clicking.
The other great thing about Smite is that the gods players control are based on deities and mythical figures from all around the world, allowing players to play as iconic gods such as Zeus and Hades. The fact that Smite is available on consoles, as well as PC, and features cross-play, gives it a huge boost. Unfortunately, it has ultimately failed to come close to the popularity of the two big dogs in the MOBA genre, and perhaps one reason for this is the confusing layout of the jungle and map in general.
2 Dota 2
Metascore: 90
Dota 2 is the successor to Defense of the Ancients which was originally a community-made mod for Warcraft 3 and one of the first and most genre-defining MOBAs. As part of a franchise stretching back practically two decades, it is no surprise that Dota 2 gets many things right and still boasts a large global following.
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While Dota 2 is often seen in the shadow of the much bigger League of Legends, it has consistently held onto the second spot for a long time, and with arguably harder heroes and mechanics it offers an even bigger challenge to players who seek a battleground to show off their skill. The game is absolutely stunning and still has an impressive esports scene.
1 League Of Legends
Metascore: 78
When it comes to the best MOBAs, there is one game that stands out above the rest: League of Legends. Featuring well over 160 unique champions, most of whom are incredibly fun to play, a simple but engaging map with fun objectives, and a competitive ranked ladder that takes years to climb, League perfectly strikes the balance between complexity and fun.
After well over a decade at the top, with a massive global player base, and a dedicated development team that provides regular updates every two weeks, it is hard to see League falling from grace anytime soon. League also has an indomitable esports scene with leagues around the world and multiple international events a year. The only downside to the game is the toxicity that players may encounter, but over the years Riot has introduced many features that allow players to easily avoid the chat.