MOBA players are usually so preoccupied with penta-killing the other side that they often forget to ask why they even need to fight. For most MOBAs, it's merely a classic case of good versus evil, just to provide a bit of context on why there needs to be a clash in mid or something. But a few MOBAs actually take time to build up their lore.
There's more to these few select MOBAs other than destroying the opposition's base. They have worlds that are carefully crafted and make sense for a MOBA game. It's these kinds of MOBAs that provide some awesome context for roleplaying and a better arena atmosphere so that players don't get too hung up on their KDAs or other numbers.
8 DOTA Allstars
- Release year: 2003
- Platforms: PC
We're not talking about DOTA 2, because that one's lore is comparatively generic compared to the original. The original notably started out as a mod for Warcraft 3 and thus used that game as a template. The first DOTA thus featured the Sentinels and the Scourge of Warcraft lore, two of which are eternally feuding factions in a constant state of tug-of-war.
Of course, the original DOTA mod borrowed some heroes in Warcraft and repurposed it into its own unique but similar lore. Each of them has its own personality and backstory and also a reason for joining the Sentinel and the Scourge. And despite the outdated visuals, the original DOTA notably had better music and ambiance seeing as it also borrowed those from Warcraft 3.
7 Heroes Of The Storm
- Release year: 2015
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS
After Valve took the DOTA license away from Warcraft 3, Blizzard knew it had to create something of its own. And it did with Heroes of the Storm. It already had a template, after all, and a complete cast of special and distinct characters from its own video games.
It had a rather simple explanation for why Diablo is now clashing against Sarah Kerrigan: a vortex grouped them all in an arena dimension, so now they must fight. It's a pretty bare context, but there was already tons of lore associated with each hero; Blizzard's signature fantasy and sci-fi aesthetic also helped a lot in building up Heroes of the Storm.
6 League Of Legends
- Release year: 2009
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows, OS X
Long before Valve capitalized on the DOTA title, League of Legends snatched the opportunity to establish its own franchise built upon the original DOTA's popularity. Initially, it was more of a generic fantasy steampunk world but as time and decades went by, League of Legends started to develop its own lore and built up its world along the way.
Now (mostly thanks to Arcane), League of Legends' lore has gotten its much-needed boost. This peculiar combination of technology and magic made League of Legends' lore all the more chaotic. The usual context here typically appears as a good versus evil or law versus order affair, but the neutral and morally ambiguous champions make the dynamics interesting.
5 Smite
- Release year: 2014
- ​​​​​​​Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Amazon Luna
Smite offers players a different take on the MOBA formula. Instead of making up heroes and champions with good and evil motivations, it instead uses established mythological gods as its roster. Hence, players will see some familiar names here such as Zeus, Cthulhu, Thor, Horus, and many other gods and legends.
Sure enough, there are evil gods and good gods here, but that typically doesn't limit players from picking their favorite god in matches regardless of their side. In terms of visuals, it looks a little too similar to other top-down MOBAs but the lore and novel take on clashing and warring gods certainly add to the entertainment.
4 Marvel Super War
- ​​Release year: 2019
- ​​​​​​​Platforms: iOS, Android
Instead of gods or fantasy heroes, Marvel Super War sets its arena in the Marvel comic book universe, meaning it already offers something more familiar. After all, Marvel comic books— particularly those involving Avengers or X-Men, are practically just MOBAs in literature form, so why not turn them into a game?
Players get to control their favorite superheroes and supervillains here and the context is pretty obvious. There are bad guys who either want revenge, domination, or destruction, and the good guys want to stop them. This was a low-hanging fruit for Marvel, but it surprisingly took a long time for them to catch on with the MOBA trend.
3 Infinite Crisis
- Release year: 2015
- ​​​​​​​Platforms: Microsoft Windows
Comic book universes turned into MOBAs are low-hanging fruits, and DC actually grabbed that big opportunity long before Marvel did with Super Wars. The result was something called Infinite Crisis where Justice League members clash with their usual villains who have banded together against them.
Players also get to pick some familiar faces here from Batman to Superman for heroes and Joker to Darkseid for the villains. The possibilities were limitless like in Marvel comic books. Sadly, like most DC projects outside of animated shows or comic books, Infinite Crisis is basically a dead venture. Still, that doesn't diminish its quality DC worldbuilding.
2 Awesomenauts
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- Release year: 2012
- ​​​​​​​Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, macOS
Awesomenauts' concept already made itself individual compared to other MOBAs. Because instead of the usual 3D top-down perspective, it's a 2D side-scroller MOBA that's akin to the likes of Super Smash Bros. It's also set in a space sci-fi universe, and given how there are so few pure sci-fi MOBAs around (at least those that are successful), Awesomenauts is already a breath of fresh air.
This time around, the MOBA toys with the idea of a stalemate between two warring factions in the far future; these two factions then call upon the help of mercenaries all over the universe to help them win the war. The art style alone and the aesthetics make it highly distinguishable from the rest.
1 Pokemon Unite
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- Release year: 2021
- ​​​​​​​Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS
Like Marvel, it took a while for Nintendo to jump into the MOBA craze, because they already had their own low-hanging fruit, namely Pokemon. They finally did with Pokemon Unite, and it's one of the hottest Pokemon games at the moment.
Being set in the Pokemon world, this MOBA already had a huge advantage, like Marvel Super Wars. It also offers a less violent and more adorable way to enjoy MOBAs since players are essentially controlling cuddly animal prizefighters. Also compared to other MOBA worlds, this one is a lot more believable.