There is a continuous, ongoing debate over whether LoL is better than DotA, and owing to the rabid fanbases on both sides, the debate is naturally a rather heated one. This subject is indeed sensitive, as most fans usually have a clear preference for one or the other, and disagree regarding the superiority of two Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games. The MOBA genre is leading gaming’s charge into the e-sports world, which makes the battle between LoL and DotA intriguing for multiple reasons, as the leader could legitimately be seen as the face of gaming right now, replacing World of Warcraft as the defining game of its generation.
The development of video games has changed the entire entertainment industry, and some of these games have even generated cult followings around them that persist to this day and clamor for more (where is a new Chrono game??). It isn’t easy to tell which video games are the best of all time, although some have, undoubtedly, made history. If you are interested about which are The 10 Most Popular Video Games of All-Time, check out the list we’ve made featuring a ranking with the most popular videogames of all time. Within this top ten, gamers have chosen names like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.
Yet this time, we wanted to present a silent battle between two extremely popular multiplayer online battle arena games: League of Legends and Defense of the Ancients. League of Legends is developed by Riot Games, and is a free-to-play game. The game was released in October, 2008, and its popularity since then has only grown, eventually building into the number one game in the world that it is today. Taking into consideration the number of players, in both Europe and the USA, LoL is consistently one of the most played games today, as have been for years. As of January 2014, over 67 million people play LoL per month. League of Legends has created a massive movement in its wake, and could be seen as the true champion of e-sports.
Defense of the Ancients is another MOBA game. It features a scenario originally developed with the “World Editor” of the Warcraft strategy game Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its expansion Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, in which each player has a “hero”, and seeks to destroy the opponents’ Ancient, assisted by allies. The first version of Defense of the Ancients was released in 2003 by a mapmaker under the alias of Eul. As of January, 2014, DotA 2 had 7,126,569 unique players, growing its base by 600,000 players since December 2013.
Each one has many features which have attracted millions of people worldwide; each has its fan-boys and followers. Yet, it has come to be quite an obvious thing to say that LoL is superior to DotA. We have compiled 5 of the top reasons that explain why LoL is better than DotA, within the most neutral viewpoint possible. Check out our list and let the controversy begin!
No. 5 Map and Scenario
Both maps are pretty similar, being based on the same tenets of the genre (three lanes, jungle, middle neutral territory). Yet, LoL’s map contains neutral camps with various bonuses, adding a great dynamic to the game. Moreover, LoL has branched out into different maps with their 3v3 map Twisted Treeline, the single lane ARAM map Howling Abyss, and the small, combative map Crystal Scar. If you want just to have fun, and play with a large group of people in various ways, LoL and its variety of maps and modes wins out.
No. 4 Number of Players
The two games have very large player bases, no doubt. Yet, LoL is still ahead of DotA by a mile, and the numbers don’t lie, they tell the story of which game is better, more accessible, and just plain fun. League of Legends’ player number is a massive 67 million players compared to DotA 2’s 7 million, despite its prominent position on Steam. More than nine times as many people are playing LoL for a reason.
No. 3 Number of Spectators
Both Dota 2 and LoL have revealed some of the greatest plays and epic moments in eSports history throughout their histories. Nevertheless, LoL dominates the spectator numbers, and is growing exponentially every year. While LoL’s World Championship had 8.5 million simultaneous spectators, DotA 2’s The International 3 received only 1 million simultaneous spectators. People want to play LoL, and they want to watch others playing LoL far more than DotA.
No. 2 Better Characters to Play
While DotA 2 has quickly pushed out dozens of characters to try and match LoL’s roster, they’re simply not up to snuff with the characters being released by Riot. Complaints abound about recycled skills, and unbalanced characters, while LoL has reached a happy medium of releasing quality characters with unique skills and play mechanics that don’t fall into the trap of being overly overpowered upon release, and later nerfed.
No. 1 Time Lasting
It isn’t easy for games to keep updating their graphics and gameplay, but LoL has done it. While DotA had to completely revamp its mechanics and release a new version, we can safely say that LoL is unlikely to have a sequel any time soon. The game has continued growing, and releasing updates since it was first released in 2009, perfecting its system and developing new features and attracting new players every year. LoL is easier to learn and more accessible, with a charming and colorful style, and continues to stand the test of time as the best MOBA in the world. Maybe DotA 3 can give it a better run for its money; but we doubt it.
