Brawler video games, often called MOBA, are one of the most popular genres in the gaming industry right now.
League of Legends stands at the top, which is clearly indicated by the number of active players, professional tournament watchers, and other IPs that Riot is investing in, Arcane being one of the best recent examples.
A good thing about MOBA is that these games usually do not demand powerful hardware. For instance, if you have a MacBook, you can still enjoy playing games like League of Legends.
Sure, it is important to take care of your device and maintain it in good condition. Otherwise, you will start asking why is my disk full on my mac, or why it takes so long for applications to load.
In case you end up playing League of Legends and liking the game and the genre, it is worth checking some of the alternatives. Despite the fact that LoL is the most popular of the lot, it does not necessarily mean that you need to stick to it. If you are up for it, explore the alternatives we talk about in this article.
Best Alternatives to League of Legends
1. Dota 2
Let’s start with Dota 2, which is sometimes considered to be a far superior MOBA to League of Legends.
The whole genre started back in the day when people would play the Defense of the Ancients custom game mode on Warcraft III. The popularity incentivized a more modern approach, and that’s how League of Legends came to be.
In 2011, Dota 2 was released by Valve, and it took everything great about its predecessor while also adding extra and modernizing the game.
Dota 2 is the second most popular game on Steam if we are talking about concurrent players. It does not have content (heroes) locked behind payment gateways. Players can choose from any hero they want.
The game also has multiple modes, a custom game workshop, and one of the best and most competitive esports leagues in the industry.
As expected, Dota 2 requires higher specs compared to LoL, but you should still not have any trouble running it on more recent Mac models.
2. Smite
Smite took a bit of a different approach to the MOBA genre and made it into a first-person shooter-like game.
Some players appreciate this stance, whereas others might find it a bit unusual. With the latter, however, the stance usually changes once they play the game for a bit and get used to the point of view.
Just like other MOBA games, Smite also has a progression system that relies on players leveling up, capturing objectives, and buying items.
Besides its first-person POV, Smite also focuses entirely on introducing various deities from different mythologies. If you are a fan of that, you are bound to appreciate the game even more.
3. Heroes of the Storm
Heroes of the Storm is another MOBA on the list. If you are a fan of Blizzard games, you will instantly recognize notable characters from IPs like Starcraft, Warcraft, and Diablo.
HotS is not a standout game in the genre, but it has a few things going for it. If you are looking for quick games rather than prolonged matches, Heroes of the Storm is a great fit. Because of how the game modes are created, skirmishes are relatively short, lasting around 20 minutes.
The game might have a few balance issues, and new characters are added more frequently than they probably should be, but it still offers entertainment.
4. Arena of Valor
Arena of Valor is a MOBA for mobile devices. If you want to experience a game similar to League of Legends on your smartphone or tablet, then Arena of Valor is the go-to option at the moment.
At first glance, the graphics of this one are quite similar to LoL, which can be a plus. Of course, playing a MOBA game on a mobile device might feel a bit janky or clunky, but you should get the hang of it after a couple of games.
5. Paladins
Paladins is another mobile MOBA game based on the first-shooter video game with the same name. If you have not tried the Paladins FPS before, it does not mean that you should not consider the mobile MOBA version.
The two games are different, and if you want to jump straight into the MOBA, go for it. Learning the characters and abilities should not be too hard due to a simplistic game design.
6. Heroes of Newerth
If we are talking about video game alternatives, we have to mention Heroes of Newerth. It is one of the most recognizable titles in the genre despite the fact that it was abandoned by the developers.
Think of HoN as a middle game between Warcraft III Dota and Dota 2. The similarities are quite clear, and many HoN players transitioned to Dota 2 after its release.
Even if it is just for the sake of familiarizing yourself with the game, Heroes of Newerth should still be something you have to play at least once or twice.
Let us know in the comment section. Which one is your favorite?
Recommended Reading on Alternativoj: If you’re looking for gaming alternatives check out our posts like Games like Minecraft, Games like Clash Of Clans, and Games like Tinierme.
