Thinking of jumping into a MOBA? While League of Legends and Dota 2 dominate the scene, there are other fantastic options, both new and classic, vying for your attention. This guide will help you find your perfect match.
MOBAs have a rich history, starting as custom maps in games like Starcraft (Aeon of Strife) and Warcraft III (Defense of the Ancients). These community-driven creations eventually inspired giants like Riot’s League of Legends and Valve’s Dota 2, catapulting the genre into global popularity. If you’re new, picking the right MOBA can be daunting, but many of these excellent titles are also free to play!
Best MOBAs on PC
The best MOBA games on PC are:
- Supervive
- Deadlock
- League of Legends
- Dota 2
- Smite 2
- Heroes of the Storm
- Eternal Return
Supervive
This innovative title blends MOBA action with battle royale intensity, having recently hit its 1.0 release. Experience chaotic, addictive gameplay controlling vibrant heroes across a dynamic map. You’ll drop in, clear neutral camps, and confront enemies while evading a shrinking combat zone. While leaning more towards battle royale, MOBA veterans will quickly feel at home.
Deadlock
Valve’s latest, a highly anticipated secret now officially revealed, is a thrilling MOBA-shooter hybrid. Deadlock combines traditional MOBA elements like lanes, minion farming, and item shops with competitive shooter mechanics reminiscent of Valorant or Overwatch. This third-person MOBA pits 6v6 teams, each with unique characters, against each other to destroy the enemy Patron. Still in beta, it’s already garnered immense player interest, signaling a massive future hit.
League of Legends
The undeniable titan of the MOBA world, League of Legends draws hundreds of millions of players monthly. Beyond its colossal esports scene, it even boasts its own K-pop group! LoL adheres to the classic MOBA formula, offering incredible depth. Choose from a vast and ever-growing roster of over 170 champions, strategize optimal item builds, and outmaneuver your lane opponents. Its appeal lies in balancing tactical prowess with mechanical skill, constantly evolving with each patch. It’s often considered more accessible than Dota 2, and numerous in-game resources are available for newcomers. Plus, the client includes Teamfight Tactics, a top autobattler, and the lore inspired an award-winning animated series, Arcane.
Dota 2
Valve’s official sequel to the iconic Warcraft III mod, Defense of the Ancients, Dota 2 is a masterpiece from original modder Icefrog. While not as large as League of Legends in player count, its notorious difficulty makes it immensely rewarding for those who master it. The game follows the standard 5v5, three-lane MOBA format, but with added complexities like ‘denying’ creeps (killing your own minions to deny enemy gold) and using couriers to deliver items without returning to base. All heroes are free to play, allowing you to freely explore the extensive roster in this challenging yet deeply satisfying MOBA.
Smite 2
Many games in this list are influenced by ancient mythology, but Smite 2 brings ancient gods directly into the arena. Play as a deity battling across three-lane maps in various modes, from competitive Assault to relaxed Arena matches. Ever wanted Thor to face Zeus in a muscle-bound brawl? This is your chance! Unlike its rivals, Smite 2 uses a third-person perspective, making skill shots and environmental awareness crucial. Character abilities are cinematic – imagine Arachne crawling over foes or Thor crashing down with his hammer. Success demands patience and team strategy to leverage each god’s unique strengths.
Heroes of the Storm
Born from the very Warcraft III mod that spawned the genre, Blizzard’s own MOBA features an all-star cast from StarCraft, Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch. Pit D.Va against Jaina Proudmoore in this epic mash-up! Players customize abilities as they level, focusing on utility, resilience, or damage, and choose one of two ultimate abilities per match. HoTS stands out with diverse maps, each offering unique objectives that can dramatically shift the battle – from controlling laser-firing temples to summoning giant flower monsters. Blizzard designed HoTS to prioritize combat and objectives over complex number crunching, resulting in faster games (around 30 minutes). While no longer receiving major updates, a dedicated fanbase keeps it active, and its simpler mechanics make it a great starting point for aspiring MOBA players.
Eternal Return
This game expertly blends MOBA and battle royale genres, instantly familiar to players of League or Dota. You and your small squad deploy into a vast arena, striving to outlast opponents. Explore the map, defeat AI enemies, and gather items to level up and gain power – essential for confrontations with other human teams. The map progressively shrinks, but Eternal Return uses distinct quadrants instead of a circular zone, creating intense, chaotic endgames.
What is a MOBA?
A Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) is a team-based strategy game where each player controls a single, powerful hero or champion. Throughout the match, your unit grows stronger by accumulating resources and experience. The primary objective is to destroy the opposing team’s main base building. Maps are typically divided into three ‘lanes’ (top, middle, bottom), where computer-controlled ‘minions’ or ‘creeps’ periodically spawn and advance. Killing these minions, enemy players, and neutral monsters in the ‘jungle’ (the areas between lanes) grants gold and experience, crucial for powering up and ultimately dismantling the enemy’s defenses.
There you have it – the top MOBA games available today! Gather your friends, select your champions, and storm the lanes for glory. And if farming in MOBAs proves too stressful, perhaps a relaxing farming simulator might be a better fit – at least your virtual crops won’t complain about your performance!