2013 · MOBA · PC
Dota 2 is the most complex and strategically deep competitive game ever made, with a fully free roster and legendary esports scene, though its crushing learning curve and demanding matches make it a lifestyle commitment rather than a casual hobby.
2009 · MOBA · PC
League of Legends remains the most popular competitive game in the world for good reason, offering strategic depth, constant evolution, and an esports ecosystem that no rival has matched, though its notoriously toxic community remains its biggest obstacle.
2015 · MOBA
Honor of Kings is the most commercially successful mobile MOBA ever made, and the gameplay backs that up. Matches are fast, the hero roster is deep, and the controls feel remarkably tight for a touchscreen experience. The sheer volume of content can overwhelm newcomers, and the pop-up notifications on the home screen are relentless, but the core competitive loop is strong enough to justify wading through the clutter. If you want a serious team-based multiplayer game on your phone, this is the gold standard.
2018 · MOBA
Onmyoji Arena brings a polished MOBA experience to mobile with a distinctive Japanese folklore aesthetic, generous hero system, and tight 10-minute matches, though its smaller Western player base and steep learning curve for newcomers keep it a niche pick outside Asia.
2016 · MOBA
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang delivers one of the most accessible MOBA experiences on mobile, with fast matches and a hero roster deep enough to keep things interesting for years. The cosmetic pricing runs high and matchmaking can be rough outside of peak hours, but the core 5v5 gameplay is polished and responsive in a way few competitors match on touchscreens. If you want a team-based competitive game that doesn't demand 40-minute commitments, this remains one of the strongest options available on phones.
2014 · MOBA
Vainglory was the first mobile MOBA that proved the genre could work on touchscreens, and its tap-to-move control scheme remains one of the most precise input methods in mobile gaming. The game's transition to community servers after the developer stepped back has kept it alive but changed its character, making it a bittersweet experience for long-time fans and a curious artifact for newcomers.
2014 · MOBA · PC
Smite carves its own path in the MOBA genre with a third-person perspective that makes the action more immediate and accessible, plus a mythology-based roster that's endlessly fascinating, though it's always lived in the shadow of its bigger competitors.
2015 · MOBA · PC
Heroes of the Storm reimagined the MOBA genre with team-focused design and Blizzard's beloved roster, creating the most accessible and fun game in the genre that was ultimately abandoned by its own developer before reaching its full potential.
2016 · MOBA
Arena of Valor is a polished, accessible mobile MOBA from the studio behind Honor of Kings. The controls work well on touchscreens, the hero roster is large, and matches are short enough for mobile play. But living in the shadow of its more popular siblings and struggling with player population in Western markets has kept it from reaching its full potential.
2021 · MOBA
Pokemon Unite succeeds as an approachable MOBA built around a roster people already love, but aggressive monetization and the item enhancement system keep it from reaching its potential. Free players can compete, but paying players progress meaningfully faster. If you can live with that tension and want a quick, entertaining team game, it delivers more than it frustrates.
2020 · MOBA
Wild Rift delivers a genuinely capable mobile MOBA built on one of gaming's most recognizable brands, and for players who've never touched the PC version it can feel like a revelation. The core gameplay holds up, the production quality is high, and Riot keeps updating it. But matchmaking problems and a persistently toxic player base drag the experience in ways that matter most during actual games. If you can tolerate those rough edges, or if you have friends to queue with, there's a real competitive game hiding underneath them.