Multiplayer Online Battle Arena is a sub-part of strategy games where two teams fight against each other in a Battle Arena. The players of each team control a playable character with abilities to contribute to the cooperative gameplay and fulfill the objectives. The Moba genre is the fusion of action, role-playing, and real-time strategy games.
This genre has a massive fanbase in the gaming community due to its complexity and addictive, dynamic gameplay. In the early days, Blizzard Entertainment played an enormous role in the acknowledgment of this genre. Warcraft III set the stage for several infamous MOBA games.
There are several MOBA games available in the market. It can be difficult for you to choose suitable MOBA games. To help you, here is my take on the top 5 MOBA games you can play in 2023.
Table of contents
Dota 2
Let’s start with the best game of the MOBA genre. It is the official sequel of The MOBA originator Defense of the Ancients mod. Valve Corporation developed and published this game in 2013.
Dota 2 is played between two teams consists five players on each team. The players have to occupy and defend their side of the base on the map. Each of the players can control powerful characters, also known as heroes.
The heroes have unique abilities and different sets of playing styles. During a match, players collect experience points and multiple items for the heroes to combat with the other Player’s heroes and defeat them to progress in destroying towers.
Towers are the main line of defense of each team. Towers can attack enemies within their range. The Player’s primary objective is to destroy the opponent’s central tower, ‘ Ancient.’
Dota 2 has been among the best MOBA games due to its rewarding and addictive gameplay. The game is hard to master due to its complexity and steep learning curve. There is a large pool of heroes and items; it takes time to know the basics and implement them in real-time matches.
Dota 2 is free-to-play, and the game has no pay-to-win element. The heroes and gameplay elements do not require any purchases. But you can buy several loot boxes, battle pass subscriptions, and hero cosmetics from Valve. Valve is dedicated to maintaining the in-game balance by providing regular updates and patch notes.
Dota 2 has a huge competitive gaming scene. It is one of the most famous esports games where several teams participate in tournaments and leagues. Valve operates the Dota Pro Circuit and The international, where the best of the bests compete against each other.
The media coverage, broadcasting, and playing games in front of audiences, Dota 2 is no lesser than a gaming festival. You should play this game and experience every bit of it.
- Platforms: Windows, Linux, and macOS
League of Legends
League of Legends, commonly known as League, is one of the best MOBA games you can play on your system. The game is inspired by a custom map of Warcraft III known as Defense of the Ancients. Riot Games developed and published this game in 2009, trying to make it the best game in the MOBA genre.
League of Legends is one of the most popular games due to its detailed back-story and inclusion of fantasy environments. It is a five-versus-five game, where the objective is to defend ally towers and destroy the opponent’s towers. The team that can beat the main building, Nexus, is declared the winner.
Like most MOBA games, in every match, every Player has to gain exp points and get items to advance. There is a vast pool of several playable characters known as ‘champions’ differentiated by unique skills and roles that ten players in the match must control.
The game is free-to-play, where the players do not have to spend money to use characters and features. It is also not a pay-to-win game, but players can purchase cosmetics to customize the Champions and change their appearance. Riot games focus on regular bug fixes and patch notes to maintain the game’s balance.
The game is very much active in the esports scene. Several tournaments organized by Riots Games and various esports organizations have created a strong base of League of Legends as competitive esports.
Critics praise the game for its accessibility, character designs, and production value. Riot has also launched several comic books, music videos, and Series like Arcane to maintain its relevance in gaming. Riot has also developed a simpler mobile version named ‘League of Legends: Wild Rift’ for mobile gamers.
- Platforms: Windows, macOS
Smite
Smite is still going strong today. The game was developed and published by Hi-Rez Studios in 2014. It is one of the most exciting games in the MOBA genre due to the playable characters. If you are a mythology nerd, you will love this game as you can choose hundreds of characters from mythological cultures.
The game allows the players to control mythological figures from Celtic, Babylonian, Chinese, Greek, Hindu, Egyptian, Norse, Slavic, Japanese, and other pantheons. Each playable god/goddess is divided into multiple classes according to their combat style. Multiple game modes are available in this game, such as Conquest, Joust, Slash, Assault, and Arena.
Conquest is the most popular among those game modes. In conquest mode, two teams with five players must combat each other. The players must collect resources and items to gain an advantage in combat.
The primary objective of the game is to destroy the base of opponents. The protector of the base, known as Titan, must be defeated to win the match.
Smite is a free-to-play game that offers several in-game purchases, including characters’ skins, boosts, poses, and more. There are only a dozen gods available to play for free. The free gods’ pool changes every month. The Player must pay to access all gods, emotes, bonus skins, and quests.
The game also has an intense esports scene. Hi-ReZ Studios and several esports giants have organized championships and tournaments with a massive prize pool.
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Amazon Luna, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch
Mobile Legends Bang Bang
Famously known as ML or MLBB, Mobile Legends Bang Bang was developed and published by Moonton in 2016. The game has gained massive popularity across the world. Dota 2 and League of Legends have dominated the PC gaming market, but this was completely new for Mobile gamers.
The game features traditional real-time battle arena gameplay. The game’s core concept is similar to other MOBA games, where two teams of 5 players combat each other in matches. The primary objective is to destroy the opponent’s towers and defend ally towers. The team which can destroy the opponent’s base tower is declared the winner.
There are multiple playable characters known as heroes with different skills and classifications. The players must master the skill sets and combine their talents with teammates to fight against opponents. This game has a steep learning curve but is not as hard as PC MOBAs. The game is indeed addictive if you play it for hours.
The game is free-to-play, and there is no pay-to-win angle in this game as it is entirely based on strategy and skills. Moonton offers paid Starlight membership, hero skins, and other in-game items. Moonton is also working hard to maintain in-game balance with different patch notes, updates, and changing meta to keep it interesting for the players.
The game has also conquered the esports scene with several regional tournaments. Though League of Legends inspires the game, you will enjoy fights in the ‘Lands of Dawn.’
- Platforms: Android, iOS
Arena of Valor
Arena of Valor, also known as AoV, is the international adoption of the Honor of Kings. This MOBA game was developed by TiMi Studio Group and published by Level Infinite and Garena. Arena of Valor’s gameplay resembles League of Legends by Riot Games.
Like other MOBA games, the primary objective of this game is to destroy the opponent’s structures. The players control heroes with unique abilities and roles. While moving forward, the players have to confront opponents. The players must collect special items from the match shop to get an edge in the fights. Things do not carry over matches.
The winning and losing are entirely based on the skills and strategies of the players. The game has several other modes, but 5v5 is more popular than others. The game is free-to-play with purchasable cosmetics of the heroes and items.
Arena of Valor has a strong base of professional players. AOV tournaments and championships have been held across the world. This game was featured as a competitive sport in the 2018 Asian Games, the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, the 2021 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, and the 2021 SEA Games.
- Platforms: Android, iOS, iPad, and Nintendo Switch
Conclusion
No matter your preference or skill level, there is a MOBA game for everyone in 2023. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or just starting, these top five titles will keep you engaged and entertained for hours. So gather your friends, sharpen your skills, and get ready to embark on epic battles in the world’s most popular multiplayer online battle arena games.
Most MOBA games need practice and require a decent amount of time from the players. The MOBA games are addictive, and players play for hours continuously. You can purchase a Green Soul Beast Racing Edition Ergonomic Gaming Chair from below to maintain the balance of comfort and correct posture.
FAQs
Q: What’s the best MOBA right now?
A: Dota 2, Mobile Legends, League of Legends, and other titles mentioned in the blog are currently ranking in the best MOBA list.
Q: Which is the best MOBA out there for Android?
A: Mobile Legends Bang Bang stands out as the ultimate MOBA experience for Android users. With its stunning graphics, immersive gameplay, and extensive hero roster, it’s no wonder it is considered the top choice among mobile gamers. Its popularity speaks for itself, making it an undeniable must-have game for any MOBA enthusiast on Android devices.
Q: Is Dota 2 popular in India?
A: Yes. Dota 2 is one of the most popular PC games in India.
Q: Why is LoL so popular?
A: The widespread appeal of LoL can be attributed to its incredible accessibility. League of Legends revolutionized the gaming industry by being one of the pioneers of the free-to-play model. Unlike other games, they didn’t charge players to access their game. Instead, they found a clever way to monetize through cosmetic items that enhanced the visual appeal of characters without providing any in-game advantages. This approach demonstrated their commitment to creating a fair and enjoyable gaming experience for all players while still generating revenue in a creative and non-intrusive way.
Q: Is Mobile Legends: Bang Bang on PC?
A: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is a Mobile strategy game developed by Moonton. You can run it on your PC with the BlueStacks app.
