It all started with a custom map in Starcraft called Aeon of Strife (AoS) and since then it exploded into its own genre. The multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBA) genre is now one of the most popular genres of game currently being played online — and it all came from the humble beginnings of a fan-made map. Backstories aside, it could be argued that Aeon of Strike ushered in the age of professional competitive gaming, with DotA 2, a direct descendant of Aeon of Strife, having hosted the world's first gaming tournament with a prize pool in excess of a million dollars.

After DotA 2, the genre exploded in popularity, and for various reasons. A lot of the appeal of MOBAs comes from the "freemium" models used to market them. This means players can download the basic game for free, but can unlock premium features that would greatly enhance their gaming experience by paying. This model emerged largely due to various online payment methods that allow players to pay immediately for whatever gaming enhancements they're after. But if you're not after any mods, you can still enjoy the same titles with no frills, some of which we'll look at below.

League of Legends

Released in 2009, League of Legends skyrocketed in popularity and by July 2012, it was the most played PC game in North America and Europe. This in term spawned a whole host of competitions and contests, the most popular of which is the League of Legends World Championship, which in 2016 saw a massive prize pool of over five million dollars. Unlike DotA 2, where the player actively plays as their selected hero, in League of Legends (or LoL) the player assumes the role of an unseen "summoner". There are also various technical differences that might not be picked up on at first glance. For example, Dota 2 has a "denying" system where a player can kill their own unit to prevent an enemy from gaining its gold and experience.

Paragon

Produced by Epic Games, Paragon is one of the newer MOBAs to come to light, even if it is still technically in development. Having only opened for Beta in August 2016, it's one to keep an eye on. The main distinguishing feature that sets it apart from other MOBAs – despite its stunning graphics and epic hero line-up – is the fact that, unlike the DotA 2 or LoL overhead view, Paragon's point of view is third person. This means the player has a more intimate and hands-on approach when battling through lanes, and gets a real feel as though they were playing in the characters' shoes.

Vainglory

Quite possibly the most unique MOBA on this list, Vainglory takes the traditional three lane map and strips it down into one lane and a small forest for an intense and localised game. The most interesting part of this? It's a MOBA built for mobile, meaning it can be played on your smartphone or tablet no matter where you are. The only downside is that, although it's great to have a MOBA with you while waiting for the bus or train, the matches are slightly lengthy at over 20 minutes a game. That being said, the graphics are decent and, even for a mobile game, its quite dynamic.


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Last Updated: Feb 09, 2017

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