Free-to-play MOBAs are some of the most popular video games in the world and a booming segment of the video game industry today.
And it's only going to get bigger. For many developers, crafting free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena games that will appeal to large audiences is the way of the future. But it's a difficult balancing act. How does one create a fun and memorable game experience for free, while also paying the bills?
Allowing players to purchase their way to victory is a big no-no. Instead, the most successful free-to-play titles offer unique cosmetic items so players can further customize and express themselves in-game with real-world money. Many games also offer free rotations of characters to choose from, while also allowing players to unlock more with both in-game currency and real money. This ensures that players who choose not to pay can still unlock new characters and have fun, while those with money to spend can bypass some of the waiting time and unlock characters instantly. Some games offer all characters upfront, free of charge.
That's what the games below offer. By offering an intense, team-based gameplay experience where spending money is completely optional, these free-to-play MOBAs are a cut above the rest.
Dota 2 - Made by Valve, Defense of the Ancients 2 is in many ways the grandaddy of the MOBA genre, being a direct sequel to what is considered to be the first real MOBA game. The game features a huge roster of heroes to choose from as two teams of five duke it out in an arena featuring three lanes defended by towers.
Players must work together to defeat the other team and siege the opponent's base, all the while purchasing items and leveling up to improve their character over the course of the match. This is the formula that nearly every other MOBA in the genre follows, and for good reason -- no point in fixing what isn't broken.
Smite - While many MOBA titles follow a similar basic formula, Smite was one of the first to buck off tradition and experiment within the genre. Most MOBAs are played from a top-down perspective, similar to that of a strategy game. Not so in Smite. Instead, the game takes a third-person "behind the shoulder" approach to combat that makes it feel more like an action game.
It still offers a large roster of heroes, in this case gods and goddesses from mythologies the world over, each with unique abilities and powers, as well as the lanes and minions found in other games. It's is the unique third-person perspective though that lends Smite's combat an up close and personal feel that is hard to find in other games in other MOBAs. The game will also be coming to Xbox One in early 2015.
Infinite Crisis - The world of DC Comics is filled with multiverses and alternate realities, each with its own unique spin on popular DC heroes like Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. It's the perfect source material for filling up a diverse MOBA roster, and that's what Infinite Crisis offers. From The Flash to Green Lantern and nearly every hero in between, Infinite Crisis has all your favorite characters and then some.
Unlike some MOBAs that predominantly feature one arena, Infinite Crisis offers several, each with different layouts and objectives. Players buy items and level up their hero (or villain) over the course of the match, but the real draw is the ever-growing cast of characters, characters like Vampire Batman and Mecha Wonder Woman. And that's just the start.
Heroes of Newerth - Heroes of Newerth is old school in every sense of the word. The game was on the scene long before League of Legends and Dota 2. For that reason it plays very closely to the original Dota, but with improved graphics and an ever-growing roster of heroes. For players who want to go back to the roots of the genre, Heroes of Newerth is for you.
Strife - From the creators of Heroes of Newerth comes a newer title called Strife. S2 describes its game as a second-generation MOBA, similar to that of classic MOBAs like Dota and League of Legends but with a focus on reducing toxicity between players (a known problem in MOBA titles) and adding even more customization.
In addition to selecting a hero, every player can choose from a large number of pets to join them in battle, each with special abilities and attributes. Players can also enchant and craft items of their own to fit their unique play style, opening up even more options for a customized playing experience.
League of Legends - League of Legends has brought in nearly $1 billion in revenue this year alone. Why? Because its player base is massive and fans can't get enough. It's also been on the scene longer than most with the exception of Heroes of Newerth. Developer Riot has had years to fine tune its game, develop new heroes and deliver some premium cosmetic items that some players don't hesitate to throw money down for.
The game is also constantly evolving and updating. The primary arena of the game, Summoner's Rift, and many of its older, playable champions are receiving a much-needed visual update this year. League of Legends is positioning itself for a long and prosperous future, one that will serve as a perfect jumping-on point for players joining the MOBA fray for the first time.
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Photo: Riot Games
