Airmech currently has an identity crisis and your experience vary on what version of the game you’re playing or what platform. On PC and Steam, Airmech is still in early access (aka beta) and on one update has gotten Airmech the ire of fans. For PC, you get Airmech Strike and if you’ve been following the game, they removed the singleplayer features from the original Airmech and ported it over to the upcoming game Airmech Wasteland. But on consoles, Airmech Arena is the one to go and it’s free-to-play. Now that’s out of the way, let’s talk about the game.

Before the MOBA genre was a thing, the community was deciding on how to name the genre. One side says MOBA or Multiplayer Online Battle Arena while the other says ARTS or Action Real-Time Strategy. MOBA ended up being the most accepted term, ARTS still lives on as a type that focuses on action and base management. Airmech is one such ARTS game where building your army and strategically deploy them across the map is essential. And as the player, you control airmechs, flying vehicles that can transform into robots Transformers style. You guide your airmech like a twin stick shooter destroying turrets, halt ground forces from advancing, dodging anti-air rockets and fight other airmechs using special abilities. Airmech may not be the MOBA you’ve come to expect, but it’s still a MOBA with unique mechanics and ways to defeat your opponents.

Demigod is a game that has the making of a unique MOBA experience but fell short due to its lack of updates, low user base, low playable heroes, or in this case, demigods, and topped it off with a steep barrier of entry, aka you need to buy the game. However at its core, Demigod is a fun MOBA that stands out among its contemporaries.

You the player control one of 10 demigods that are divided into two types: assassins and generals. Demigods of the assassin type are lone units that are built to take down other demigods while the general type can summon minions for assistance. While the lack of demigod variety is low, the variety of maps (though still a few) and a fully customizable skill tree, and base upgrades makes every battle play out differently. Give Demigod a try if you have a few bucks and gift a few friends a copy.

Awesomenauts is a side scrolling, 3v3, hero battle royale platformer where you advance destroying creep waves and opposing heroes. Since the 2D perspective limits movement and ambushes, Awesomenauts has platforms for players to use to flank, ambush or even escape their pursuers. The skill ceiling is a bit low, so anyone can pick this up and have a blast.

MOBA games come in shapes, sizes and perspective. Awesomenauts prides itself as a 2D MOBA with an 80s charm, a sense of humor, and gone are the edgy backstories of heroes from other games. The game has turned free-to-play, with updates coming in, and the PC getting essentially an infinite amount of custom maps to use thanks to the Steam Workshop, Awesomenauts will see a bright lengthy future.

There were two game developers who wanted to make a standalone MOBA game based on the Warcraft 3 custom map Defense of the Ancients and while Riot Games’ League of Legends became, well, legendary, S2 Games also created another MOBA named Heroes of Newerth.
The difference between the two games are very distinct: League of Legends branched off to implement new mechanics to separate itself from the mod, Heroes of Newerth stuck to the basics and ported over the tried and true, and the familiar mechanics that what defined the current MOBA.

Jumping to Heroes of Newerth is a smooth and natural affair so any seasoned player can easily get used to the controls and map layout. And actually the familiarity of the game is also attributed to one of the game’s designers has worked on the Warcraft 3 custom map. So if you want a classic MOBA experience with a dedicated client that manages everything from stats to friends, Heroes of Newerth is your first stop.

At first glance, Gigantic is similar to SMITE due to its third person perspective, and similar to team-based games like Paladins or Overwatch due to its capturing points mechanics. But once you get your hands on it, Gigantic is very unique. Just like any MOBA, you select a roster of heroes with unique abilities and roles and you advance to enemy territory and destroy their core (in this case guardians). You advance by summoning creatures at strategic points and depending on the situation, you may need to summon a creature that will heal you, or a creature that can attack incoming enemies, etc. And once certain conditions are met, your guardians will do battle against the opposing guardian and the match ends when one of the guardian has suffered enough damage.

Gigantic is fast-paced MOBA that requires reflexes and a good aim because all projectiles don’t lock on and some heroes have very small frames. The barrier of entry is a bit high, but once you get the hang of it, Gigantic is a fun distraction that offers a lot of variety when it comes to hero customization and very fast gameplay that you’re like playing an arena shooter where accuracy and quick reflexes are essential.

This is the very mod that started it all. DotA Allstars, a custom game in Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne, founded the MOBA genre and ever since, other MOBA games still follow and uses the core mechanics of two opposing sides fighting by advance through lanes guarded by towers and opposing side’s heroes. It can be argued DotA Allstars was inspired by other mods like Starcraft’s Aeon of Strife custom map, but it was DotA, especially DotA Allstars, which added heroes from other variants of DotA, who launched the MOBA genre into the stratosphere as the its poster boy. DotA Allstars was so popular, player population in Warcraft 3 multiplayer dwindled as they end up playing the mod instead.

With the rise of other MOBA games like League of Legends and Dota 2, Allstars is still being played by fans who prefered it old school and it’s a testament that a great game doesn’t need cutting edge graphics nor corporate backing. Dota Allstars is simply a game where you pick sides and beat the crap out of each other. It’s a simple premise, but the execution is complex all thanks a ton of heroes to choose from and years of tweaks and balances to keep players thinking of new ways to beat the opposition. And hearing the GODLIKE! announcer scream is the most satisfying thing you’ll ever hear.

Heroes of the Storm, formerly known as Blizzard Allstars and Blizzard Dota, is, uh, arguably, Blizzard’s desperate attempt to win back the MOBA crowd after they let Valve Software created the sequel of the mod that was based on Warcraft 3 and made it into a standalone and profitable game. The story behind this fiasco is muddled at best but it’s a fact Icefrog, the lead-developer of the Allstars mod got hired by Valve Software to develop the sequel Dota 2 to carry on the mod’s stellar legacy.

Did Blizzard win back the crowd? Yes, more or less. Heroes of the Storm claims to be a “hero brawler” and plays differently than the typical MOBA game like there is more than one viable map to play on, has focus on teamwork and some of the maps have different objectives, so each game plays out differently. The barrier for entry is low so anyone new to the genre can easily pick up Heroes of the Storm and win a few matches. For veteran MOBA players however, the experience is mixed due to the everyone levels up at the same time so there’s no incentive to play as a lone wolf. Actually everything is shared to everyone, so gone are complex strategies of denying your opponent of gold by killing your creeps first, prioritizing the group’s carries, and so on.

Regardless, Heroes of the Storm is different and easy to pick up. And it certainly wouldn’t hurt seeing the game is a huge fanservice with heroes coming from every Blizzard game ever released. What that mean is, that Genji player in Overwatch you found annoying or was difficult to deal with will be in Heroes of the Storm because Genji is also a playable hero.

Leave the mortal plane behind to become one of the gods of myth, and do an eternal battle against other gods for conquest and glory. This is SMITE where you can play a god, goddess, an immortal or mythical being in a MOBA format of advancing through lanes, clearing out creep waves, destroying enemy towers and face off against other deities using skills and ultimates.

SMITE got many things right like standing out from the rest by letting the players choose 90+ mythical beings from different pantheons like Celtic, Chinese, Egyptian, Greek, Hindu, Japanese, Mayan, Norse, and Roman mythology and let them duke it out in an arena MOBA fans will find familiar. The real draw of SMITE is shift in perspective: You control your god in a third person view instead of a top down perspective MOBA is known form. With this new perspective and controls, SMITE plays like a 3rd person hack and slash game akin to God of War, Darksiders, and Devil May Cry where you time your dodges, attacks require timing, spells are skillshots with actual aiming, and but with additional blind spots like you’re more prone to get ambushed from behind if you don’t look behind often. SMITE may not be as complex, but with the new perspective, you’re more up close and personal and each encounter against opposing gods is fast-paced, intense and landing a perfectly timed skillshot is rewarding.

Plus SMITE is also available of Xbox One and PS4, so it has more reach than other MOBA games.

Uh oh, the screams of a million fanboys can already be heard after seeing League of Legends in number 2. And that’s the thing about MOBAs, the fans of the genre are passionate and love their games. Friends were made and lost through hundreds or thousands of hours playing together and eventually communities clash arguing which game is better. And of course, with such huge communities comes with extremely unreasonable and violent fans. The MOBA genre is perhaps one of the most toxic communities out there because it really ticks someone off when they hear the game they devoted their free time on was called crap. And it’s not just fanboyism, it’s the competitive side of MOBAs that added to the toxicity. A MOBA session may take 30 minutes up to an hour to complete and if you ended up losing due to poor team synergy, and multiply that to many hours of gaming sessions, it’s gonna make you grumpier than your grandpa.

Now then, yes, League of Legends. MOBA never really hit the mainstream and no one thought any game would make a viable business model until League of Legends came out. One of the key members of Riot Games once developed the original DotA Allstars from Warcraft 3 and used their experience as foundation of LoL and it paid off - League of Legends brought the MOBA genre to the spotlight and created one of the largest competitive esports in existence. Free from the constraints of Warcraft 3’s World Editor, and potential legal issues with Blizzard Entertainment, LoL stands out with a huge 137-champion roster to pick from running on a game engine built specifically for MOBA. LoL is not a mod, LoL is a complete game that showed the world what the MOBA genre can do.

With that said, LoL is often criticized for its supposed streamlined features as dumbed down mechanics, majority of the champion roster needs to be unlocked or can be played during scheduled rotations, and one of the champions play way similar to certain heroes from DotA Allstars, so your mileage with this game may vary. But if you just wanna play a MOBA without needing to be an expert, LoL’s casual side is easy to get into. But if you plan to play competitively, be sure to follow the meta or the screams of your angry teammates and bans will surely come your way.

After the wake of the MOBA phenomenon that is League of Legends, other MOBA games surfaced and the genre grew. Some games were okay, some didn’t appeal to the gamers, some gained popularity and a huge user base, some innovated and improved the genre and some flopped. but there’s one thing the genre lacked -- a true sequel to the very game that created the modern MOBA. There were lots of clashing heads between developers and gaming companies, but the true sequel of DotA Allstars has finally surfaced in 2013 and it’s aptly named Dota 2.

Dota 2 ported over every mechanics, heroes, gameplay nuances like unit turning, denying, creep wave blocking, and map layout of the original to a tee that you might consider Dota 2 a direct copy instead of a sequel. Dota 2 is so identical that a long time DotA Allstars player will feel right at home with no additional learning required. And that’s what made Dota 2 great and an instant hit -- it plays like the original in every single way. Dota 2 didn’t reinvent the wheel like other MOBAs did, Dota 2 simply added tons of new features while keeping the core mechanics.

Sadly, the learning curve of Dota 2 is extremely high with lots of mechanics to think and consider like team composition, creep wave blocking, denying, last hitting, setting up wards, securing the jungle for the carries to farm for gold, and what items to buy and equipment to wear. And with a roster of 113 unique heroes and constant balancing updates, Dota 2 is very hard to master. But if you do master half of Dota 2’s mechanics, and with the right teammates (ie friends who knows how to play), each match is grueling but exciting as strategies change all time that’ll make your head spin. Do everything right, then you’ll be all right. If you don’t, we’ll report you for using your ult on creeps.

Like most MOBA, Paragon consists of maps that allow access to the other team’s base through three different routes. Each route is then surrounded by a jungle, where players can sidetrack to search for upgrades or useful items. A team’s success is thus determined by the combination of the team’s players and what is gathered during the game. After taking a team’s castle, the winning team games experience points and cards, which players can use during other matches to their advantage.

Currently, Paragon is free to play, making it a good option for people looking for a causal introduction to MOBA games. As the game is still in development, there will be plenty of evolvement for players to look forward to and enjoy the progressions of the game. Currently, a new characters is released every three weeks, ensuring that even long-time fans will have something new to explore. Therefore, some of the most appealing aspects about Paragon is its dynamic structure, able to offering something new to any player of the game.

A derivation of a World of Warcraft map, Heroes of Newerth is a well-developed MOBA game that is fun for all. Players are divided into two different teams; the Legion and the Hellbourne. Depending on the team, the set-up of the game is different, as the Legion and the Hellbourne are two specific groups of characterization, rather than just two separate teams competing. The goal is to either destroy the other team’s base, similar to most MOBA, or force the opposition to concede.

The differentiation between Hellbourne and Legion add to the nuance of the game, making it stand out from the standard MOBA. As an asymmetrical battle map, compared to the normal attempt at mirroring sides, there are more aspects that differ which add excitement to the game. Additionally, different game modes are offered, such as Co-op, Casual, and Hosted, which allow for players of different interests or experience join in the fun.

Players must divide up into two teams and attempt to destroy their opponents’ base, known as an Ancient. Players form units made up of different characters with different abilities, and can collect points and experience which can help level up their own specific characters. Combining battle with resource gathering strategy, a team can attempt to triumph against the other in this classic game.

Defense of the Ancients, or DOTA, as it is more typically called, is arguably THE most famous of all of the MOBA games, with nearly all of the other games that followed it mimicking its format. In actuality, the only reason DOTA is not ranked higher on this list is due to its age, as the game was released in 2003. Therefore, even if more recent games are played more often now, DOTA will always be considered as one of the best of the best.

In Gigantic, teams of five battle against each other. Each team, in addition to the human controlled players, also possess a huge magical creature known as a Guardian. The ultimate goal is to defeat the other team and their respective Guardian, and prove yourself victorious. Like other MOBAs, a wide variety of unique characters are available to be played.

Placing at number 7 on the list, Gigantic is more of an up and coming game than a classic MOBA such as DOTA. However, the game shows potential, and also offers a more unique game design. The magical aspect of Gigantic, which puts more emphasis on the mystique surrounding the characters and arena than other MOBA, is a unique feature. Therefore, while not as popular as other games mentioned here, Gigantic is a fresh take on the MOBA standard.

The second MOBA released by S2 Studios (the first of which was Heroes of Newerth, already mentioned on this list) Strife is an updated version of many of the original MOBA concepts. Players are split into two teams and positioned at opposite sides of the map, with the objective to destroy the other players base, known in Strife as the Cruz. The map consists of paths, generators, hero spawning points, and creep spawn points, among other things. Each character has their own abilities that enhance the team dynamic.

The beauty of Strife is in its target market; unlike other MOBA games, which can be savage as dedicated players demolish the inexperienced, Strife is marketed for a more casual audience. The game has some improvements that Heroes of Newerth lacked, such as improved game mechanics, different features, and reduced player toxicity. A wonderful choice that is both accessible and enjoyable, Strife was an undeniable addition to this list.

Vainglory is very much your typical MOBA in all aspects except for its available platforms. Players are split into two teams of three and battle to destroy the other team’s base. Players attempt to both advance along the path while defending their own base. This is done simultaneously while fighting against AI controlled creatures and also scavenging for extra resources.

Vainglory is the only Android, iOS specific game mentioned on the list, and simply for that distinction, deserves to be mentioned. This platform allows for MOBA fans to enjoy the game format anywhere, not simply just in front on their controller. This accessibility is a huge benefit to the game. Fans of any other MOBA game should consider getting this game in order to stay connected to the MOBA community at all times. For this, in addition to the game’s enjoyability, Vainglory ranks number 5 on our list.

A controversial addition to the list, Heroes of the Storm possess the traditional components of a MOBA. Players are split into two teams and battle with the objective of conquering the opposing team’s base. However, there are more objectives that engage with the environment than in a typical MOBA. Quickness is also a highlight in the game, keeping the pace fast and streamlined.

Heroes of the Storm is the best MOBA that refuses to be called a MOBA. By daring to break the mold in terms of game format, Heroes of the Storm distinguishes itself from the typical MOBA, even if it’s creators claim it is not actually a MOBA. Infusing RPG (role playing game) elements as well as shorter matches, Heroes of the Storms certainly breaks away from the traditional structure of MOBA.

Rather than control a normal character, Smite allows a player to control a god, goddess, or other powerful mythological creature. Teams of gods battle each other in a combat that combines both player controlled and AI controlled figures. Players can choose from a wide variety of different gods from different cultural backgrounds. all of which possess their own specific skills and abilities.

Smite possesses a large number of different gameplay modes, making its diversity one of the most appealing aspects of the game. Players can choose between 5 unique structures, such as Conquest (the most popular) or Ranked. Because of this, players can develop their skills and not get bored by the same format. Smite has all of the features of a top notch MOBA as well as its own unique charm. Therefore, it places number 3 on the list of ten best MOBA.

An updated version of the all time classic MOBA, DotA, DotA 2 is even more fun for a modern audience. Two teams, each with five different players, occupy a base on different sides of the map. The two teams then battle in order to overtake the other team’s base, using a combination of skill, cooperation, and experience to win. The game occasionally features special in game events, and also hosts real-life tournaments where players can test their skills.

The game’s highlights include good game play, production quality, and its efforts in both maintaining the qualities of the original version while also making significant improvements. DotA 2 also can boast being the most played game on Steam, with over a million players. The game did the seemingly impossible; DotA2 took the most classic MOBA game to exist and made it better. For those reasons, DotA 2 is an obvious choice for the list of top ten MOBAs.

One of the most iconic and popular MOBA games, League of Legends is undeniably addicting and has an immensely huge fan base. In the game, players act a summoner who controls champions (aka the character) in order to join a team and battle against a team of either CPU or other real life players. The objective is to the destroy the other team’s Nexus using the skills you have amassed during the course of the game.

League is by far the most impactful MOBA, with millions of daily players and hours of Youtube videos dedicated to it. There is also countless merchandise available, as well as contests and tournaments where players can pit themselves against others and prove their skills. It is without a question the biggest community of MOBA gamers that exists, and is representative of the game genre as a whole. It should come as no surprise that the number one game on the list of top ten MOBA is therefore League of Legends.