Games Like League of Legends: Top Alternatives You Should Try

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• League of Legends is the game that stands out above the others when it comes to the greatest MOBAs. However, at this point, the player base of LoL isn’t changing positively.
• Our choice of the top five games that, in terms of gameplay and/or theme, most closely resemble League of Legends are all free to play.
• Reality says that folks who love LoL aren’t really going to quit playing it in favor of any of the rivals.

Riot Games, the company behind LoL, may eventually stop creating new champions (the League of Legends community has been talking about this for some time) despite the game now having 168. You might want to think about picking up a new game like LoL when that time arrives. Hell, you might want to play something else even now given the toxic community.

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Why Do Fewer New Gamers Play League of Legends and More Old Ones Leave?

Over the past 10 or so years, multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games have remained popular, with games like LoL and Dota 2 leading the way. MOBAs are among the most played games worldwide because of their intricate tactics and usually free-to-play format. Video games in this genre usually include two competing teams, each player playing a distinct character with their own set of skills and subtleties. However, each game in the category is unique.

League of Legends is the game that stands out above the others when it comes to the greatest MOBAs. With a large worldwide player base (at the moment, LoL has one of the largest player bases in online gaming, with an average of 140–160 million active monthly users), a committed development staff that releases new content every two weeks, and more than ten years at the top, it’s difficult to imagine League of Legends going out of style anytime soon. In addition, millions of people watch events like the World Championship, or the Worlds, every year, making this game one of the most well-known and influential in the world of eSports. This popularity also extends to esport betting sites, which offer a wide range of betting opportunities for enthusiasts of the title. The LoL’s strong competitive landscape and devoted fan base have elevated it to a top spot for eSports competition and betting, raising the stakes for both viewers and bettors.

However, at this point, the Riot Game’s gem does go out of style. The player base of League of Legends is changing, although not always positively. Senior Riot Games developers raised concerns to the Reddit community of the game’s aficionados about drawing in new players due to a change in dynamics over the last ten years.

Newbies and many long-time LoL players have been quitting the game for several reasons:

• Modifications to the game. Regular updates can drastically modify the gameplay, including new champions, reworks, and balancing adjustments. It could be difficult for seasoned players to fit into these adjustments, which could frustrate them.
• Toxic environment. The intense rivalry in League of Legends can create a toxic atmosphere. A lot of players talk about having unpleasant experiences—like being harassed or acting unsportsmanlike—with teammates, which can make the game less enjoyable.
• Devotion of time. LoL games can last a long period, and it takes a lot of time to stay at a high level of expertise. Players may find it more difficult to commit this time as they become older or as their circumstances change.
• Exhaustion. Competitive environment and the pressure to perform can result in burnout. Over time, players who used to enjoy the game could find it less entertaining, especially if they don’t feel like they’re getting better.
• Change in interests. The interests of players change organically. Many might switch to other games or genres that appeal to them more or fit in better with their existing way of life.
• Enhanced competitiveness. With the emergence of new games and genres, new experiences can be had. These options might be more appealing to certain players than sticking with League of Legends.
• Methods for monetization. Some players voice their displeasure with the game’s monetization techniques, believing that the experience of the player is subordinate to profit.

For this reason, we’ve chosen to examine the top LoL substitutes in the unlikely event that you’d like to remove the game from your devices and start a completely different MOBA. Which video games, then, would someone who has played League of Legends regularly before find enjoyable?

Top 5 Games Like LoL

Since its 2009 release, League of Legends has won numerous accolades. The game earned four main prizes at the first Game Developers Choice Awards, one year after it was released: Best Online Technology, Game Design, New Online Game, and Visual Arts. But, even though you might adore the game, it won’t harm to try out several related titles to have a different experience.

These are the top five games that, in terms of gameplay and/or theme, most closely resemble LoL. Why not give them all a try? They’re all free to play. And no, we’re not going to add any of the other League of Legends versions to the list.

# 5 Vainglory

The first game on the list was originally released for mobile devices but has since been added to the PC. Ideal for those looking for something different after growing bored with LoL, isn’t it? Similar to League of Legends, it’s a MOBA in which you take control of particular characters with special skills in an attempt to capture the opposing base. Sounds fairly alike, right?

Vainglory is ideal for those seeking three-lane maps and strategic gaming. It’s similar to a simplified LoL in that the PvP experience is more concentrated and there’s less emphasis on taking down other NPC opponents to crush their basis.

Great graphics, entertaining action, mechanics, and a much smaller pool of characters mean you can still learn what the enemy characters even do. That’s what Vainglory has in common with League of Legends.

Vainglory’s biggest advantages compared to LoL lie in having a more balanced character roster that can result in more strategic gaming and in the fact that games usually last between 20 and 30 minutes, which makes it simpler for players to accommodate a battle into their schedules.

The disadvantages of Vainglory include a smaller community than League of Legends, which may result in slower matchmaking and less competitive play. Additionally, there’s not enough depth—despite the strategic aspects of the game, some players believe it lacks the nuance and intricacy of more conventional PC MOBAs.

It’s a breath of fresh air since, let’s face it, with 160 champions, you might not be able to recall what each and every LoL champion performs.

# 4 Arena of Valor

For this one, we remain focused on the mobile game sector. Released in 2016, Arena of Valor is essentially a scaled-down version of League of Legends. In the 5v5 game, you select a hero to play on a map, just like in LoL, with which it shares all the typical trimmings. Arena of Valor is the game to play if you want something that feels and looks like League of Legends. Speaking of heroes, there are fewer of these in this game than usual, but when you play with them, you can develop synergies with each of them.

Even if you’re not a huge MOBA player, AoV is a terrific way to satisfy your appetite for the title from the genre with its faster-paced, more intense combat. It will definitely offer you the rush you need if you’re bored with LoL’s more tactical and methodical style.

Similar to Pokémon Unite, Arena of Valor is also playable on the Nintendo Switch. Therefore, if you want to play 5v5 MOBAs while lying in bed but don’t think your phone screen is large enough, you may use the Switch. Yet, many gamers consider AoV a casual and slow game, with no game stuff that can cause you adrenaline rushes.

# 3 Heroes of the Storm

The year 2015 saw the debut of Blizzard’s own MOBA, which features characters from several Blizzard IPs. Did you enjoy Starcraft, World of Warcraft, and Diablo? Then count that Heroes of the Storm will bring everything together. It should still be a possibility for you even if you’re not a great MOBA player because it’s a fairly simple game for novices.

But what makes Heroes of the Storm a good alternative to League of Legends?

In addition to allowing you to carry around legendary characters from your preferred Blizzard titles, the company has created over 15 original maps that add to the excitement and versatility of the games. Additionally, because players share experiences and the game is more team-based, one person can’t carry the load as much. Laning is much different here since it happens more organically as you play the objectives, which is one of the greatest changes that players like to point out. HotS has a longer Time to Kill because of the increased healing, which encourages greater planning and cooperation. Killing is not as significant as in LoL.

We won’t lie to you—Heroes of the Storm is a MOBA that modifies the standard League of Legends gameplay in a few minor ways. There won’t be a groundbreaking experience, but there’ll be enough to keep it interesting. This game can be a fantastic next step if you’re searching for a game that’s a little bit different from LoL.

Despite the longer time to kill, the other main game’s downside is this: since each role is essentially required to play a certain amount of time in order to earn kills, solo carrying in HotS is extremely difficult.

# 2 Smite

Smite is another free-to-play MOBA that you can try out in place of League of Legends. You can take control of mythological animals (over 110 of them) in this game. To be honest, Smite allows you to experience what it would be like to be Sun Wukong, Medusa, or Thor. Yes, you’re combining different mythologies, but that’s part of the appeal.

Unlike LoL’s top-down perspective, Smite is a third-person perspective game with several game modes. The most popular is Conquest, which is played in a 5v5 fashion on a three-lane map and is reminiscent of popular MOBAs. However, there are other game modes and maps. Two teams of five compete against each other in a stage devoid of lanes and monsters in the Arena game style. For those who want to dive right into combat, easily accessible tools like auto-buying and auto-leveling entail fewer admin duties.

Since most of Smite’s abilities require aiming and because you can’t see behind you like you can in League of Legends, it seems harder than LoL.

It sounds like an enjoyable full-on, isn’t it? Really, Smite is the best option if you’re looking for a break from League of Legends. A sequel is also being worked on, so keep an eye out for it!

# 1 Dota 2

The most similar to LoL is Dota 2. This is League of Legends on a much larger scale. Do you want to experience gaming as if you’re an absolute genius? You won’t understand half of what’s going on in Dota 2 even after hundreds of hours of play. So it’s time to settle down and start playing. With a comparable mapping and gameplay style to LoL, Dota 2 may appear identical to that game, but you’ll soon realize how different it is.

With a cast of more than 120 heroes and players jumping into 5v5 matches, Dota 2 is the game that most closely resembles League of Legends in terms of character selection. Give Dota 2 a try if you enjoy inspiring games and want to continue playing MOBAs but are more of a challenger. Because of this, even though the gameplay and map are most comparable to LoL, most League of Legends players will find it difficult to transition to Dota 2 because of the game’s complexity. With improved team synergy, longer games, and a higher skill limit, Dota 2 does raise the bar; therefore, you might enjoy this game for even longer. Also, Dota 2 offers more personalized maps and game modes in addition to superior in-game tools for tutorials.

Really, when you play Valve’s Dota 2, you’ll still learn something new after hundreds of hours.

Uninstalling LoL? Not That Easy…

Now, the reality. You folks who love the game aren’t really going to quit playing League of Legends in favor of any of these rivals, are you? The toxic community of Dota 2 is on par with LoL’s, thus joining as a new player will only end badly. Heroes of the Storm? Distributing knowledge with the team? Nah. Let’s face it—even if you remove the game, you’ll wake up the next morning to find that you uninstalled the mind-blowing game while you were asleep.

To be honest, there’s hardly a game that can truly take the place of League of Legends. Riot has created a universe and characters that make it a truly unique experience.

While there isn’t a MOBA that can compare to LoL, those we listed are the ones you can and should play if you want to experience a different kind of League of Legends atmosphere. Each game adds its own flavor to the MOBA genre.