Games Like League of Legends

You’ll probably know by now (because you’ve read our History of MOBA article) that League of Legends was one of the first games to take the DotA style of gameplay and turn it into a standalone, polished experience with its own assets and map design. If you’ve played it, you’ll also know that while it’s an enjoyable game, it definitely has its flaws (mainly in regards to its community) and that newer games have taken steps to rectify those faults. Below you’ll find a list of games that are like League of Legends, games that you’ll enjoy if you’re looking for something similar but different, something more polished or just a game that won’t end with the revelation that your parents, grandparents and pet dog have all been involved in sexual acts with the most vocal of your team mates.

Games Like League of Legends

If there are things we’ve missed here and you’d like to share your favourites with us, be sure to drop a message into the comments and help fellow readers find the MOBA game for you.

Heroes of Newerth

At first I saw Heroes of Newerth as something of an underdog in the big three of MOBA games, but in the end I enjoyed it more than League of Legends. There was still the occasional off-colour comment from some sub-human internet mole man, but not nearly as much as in League of Legends. The controls/user interface was better set up as well and I found myself enjoying playing it that much more.

With Heroes of Newerth recently going fully free to play and granting access to every character in the game without the need to lay out a penny, it just offers more value for money. For those of you who want more character types to learn and enjoy but without the need to enter your credit card details, Heroes of Newerth may just tide you over until DotA 2 is released to the general public. Read all about Heroes of Newerth in our review->

DotA/DotA 2

Do you know that Warcraft 3 is still massively pirated to this day and that the biggest reason for that is because of the original DotA? That’s why the latest Blizzard offerings have been online only, a rather misguided attempt at battling long term access to the mods that make the base game popular even all these years after release. If you have a copy of Warcraft 3 lying around, the DotA mod is still supported and downloadable from across the web.  It’s not strictly like League of Legends (League of Legends is like it), but if you’ve never played the original and have access to it, it’ll definitely be worth checking into even if just for historic, “beginning-of-a-genre” reasons.

If you don’t have access to Warcraft 3 – and the chances are that you don’t – Valve are getting closer and closer to launching DotA 2, their own take on the MOBA genre and the first “official” sequel the original mod (although that official bit is very, very debatable). If you’re in the beta, you already know just how well built DotA 2 is and how they’ve managed to fix many of the problems found in the older MOBA games. If you’re not in the beta, just prepare yourself to download and start playing a new game because not only will it likely draw a bigger crowd than League of Legends (it’ll be front page on Steam after all) but thanks to user mods and the like, you’ll probably end up getting a hell of a lot more game for a hell of a lot less money. Any way you look at it, you win. Read all about Dota 2 in our Dota 2 review here->

Awesomenauts

Awesomenauts isn’t exactly a MOBA game in the traditional sense – it takes its cue from 2D platformers rather than from the original level design found in DotA – but it keeps the same rule set and the same dedication to well-balanced, fun-to-play champions. It takes away some of the seriousness found in League of Legends as well, allowing you to enjoy it more without having to worry about doing exactly the right thing at exactly the right time.

Visit Awesomenauts website here->

The other advantage this has over the likes of League of Legends, Heroes of Newerth and DotA is that Awesomenauts saw a console release. For many of you that won’t matter (and some of you may even snort in derision), but for the small few, the idea of being able to sit and play with a controller might make all the difference and help you to get into the genre. It’s a great gateway game.

Visit Guardians of Middle Earth website here->

Guardians of Middle Earth

Another game on our list that’s not quite made it to release, but it’s definitely worthy of a mention anyway. Guardians of Middle Earth is an official Lord of the Rings/Hobbit MOBA game that allows you to play as some of you favourite characters from Tolkien’s rich, deep history, to directly take part in the epic battle for the one ring to rule them all. Another game that’ll make it to consoles, Guardians of Middle Earth is bound to bring a new set of players to the genre. Definitely worth looking out for when it releases this autumn.

Super Monday Night Combat

Super Monday Night Combat, like Awesomenauts, is a game that’s trying to put a new shake on the way the MOBA genre works. Playing out like your standard shooter only with towers to destroy, less powerful enemies to destroy and other heroes to kill, there’s no wonder why this free-to-play game is all the rage on Steam. Super MNC is definitely one to check out if you’re tired of the fairly standard, samey way many MOBA games are designed. In short: this isn’t one for people who are glued to the way things have in the MOBA genre since Warcraft 3, and this might end up being another nice way to take your first steps into the genre if you’re not certain if you’ll enjoy it or not.

Conclusion

The MOBA genre isn’t exactly known for its rich variety or its willingness to adapt to new things. League of Legends looks great for a game that’s so old, but, as we’ve shown in the list above, there’s plenty to choose from if you’re hoping to break away from the same old, same old. Over the coming months and into late 2013/early 2014, there are going to be a lot of MOBA releases as people try to cash in on the popularity of DotA 2 (and I have no doubt it’s going to be huge). The genre is going to become impossible to keep up with at that point, but for now I think it’s safe to say there’s something for everybody, whether you’re looking for something traditional or something a little more experimental. And if you have been looking for a game like League of Legends, we hope this article has been any of help to you. Do share you comments below and if you know of a game that is similar to League of Legends, add your own recommendations below.