Summary
MOBAsorMultiplayer Online Battle Arenagames 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.
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 to gain gold, items, and other advantages over the enemy.The best MOBAshave rosters of incredibly fun characters, deep and engaging gameplay, and usually a thriving esports scene too.
Heroes of the Stormis an example ofa 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 ofHotSwhich 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 aboutHeroes of the Stormis that players can take control of their favorite characters from other Blizzard titles, such asOverwatch and Diablo.
League of Legends: Wild Riftis 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 ofWild Riftis naturally simpler than its PC counterpart, but it is also faster and more accessible which is great for casual players.
While not allLeaguechampions have been brought over yet, the fact thatWild Riftwas 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 Riftis by far the best mobile MOBA.
Out of the best MOBAs,Smiteis easily the most distinct and innovative given thatthe game is played in 3rd personrather 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 aboutSmiteis that the gods players control are based on deities and mythical figures from all around the world,allowing players to play as iconic godssuch as Zeus and Hades. The fact thatSmiteis 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.
Dota 2is the successor toDefense of the Ancientswhich was originallya community-made modforWarcraft 3and one of the first and most genre-defining MOBAs. As part of a franchise stretching back practically two decades, it is no surprise thatDota 2gets many things right and still boasts a large global following.
WhileDota 2is often seen in the shadow of the much biggerLeague of Legends, it has consistently held onto the second spot for a long time, andwith arguably harder heroes and mechanicsit 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.
When it comes to the best MOBAs, there is one game that stands out above the rest:League of Legends. Featuring well over 160 uniquechampions, 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,Leagueperfectly 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 seeLeaguefalling from grace anytime soon.Leaguealso 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.
