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What Defines a MOBA Game?

Understanding Gaming Genres

All games have unique aspects that separate them from the competition. Even if you enjoy the same type of games, different genres will offer different gameplay experiences. Genres help gamers categorize their favorite games, making it easier to find new titles to play.

While there are many gaming genres, a select few dominate the market. First-person shooters (FPS) and multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBA) are two of the most popular genres when it comes to competitive gaming.

FPS games have been around since the beginning of gaming and are self-explanatory in terms of gameplay. On the other hand, MOBA games may sound complicated, but they have been around since the late 90s and slowly started taking over the world in the early 2010s.

MOBA games revolve around strategy and can be similar to real-time strategy (RTS) games. The main difference is the number of characters you control, which is usually just one in MOBA games.

What are MOBA Games Like?

MOBA games are typically played with two teams of players. Before a match starts, players must select characters. Each character has different spells, builds, and purposes, so teams need to come up with strategies to build strong lineups.

Once characters are chosen, everyone loads into the map and heads to their designated lanes. Players focus on accumulating gold by defeating minions, while also fending off enemy players doing the same.

As the match progresses, teams engage in fights with the enemy team for objectives and resources on the map. These fights can snowball, leading to one team gaining an advantage over the other.

The main objective for each team is to destroy the monument in the center of the enemy’s base. The time it takes to achieve this heavily depends on teamwork and the current game situation.

Some popular MOBA games include:

  • Dota 2
  • League of Legends
  • Smite
  • Heroes of the Storm
  • Heroes of Newerth

gaming genres, competitive gaming, MOBA games, FPS games, gameplay experiences