League of Legendshas become the face of the MOBA genre in recent years and remains one of the most-played PC games around the world. Across the board, from the casual player base to the Esports scene, it continues to grow, with new changes and additions arriving every year to keep the game fresh.
The MOBA genre is still thriving outside ofLeague of Legends, however, as are several games outside the genre that share similar themes. For players who are just a bit sick of the solo queue grind, or simply looking for something to add to their library or skill set, here is a great selection of games that offer something a little different toLeague, while sharing some of the same core themes.
Updated on June 19, 2025, by Gerardo Molina:Competitive games have been around for a long time, even before League of Legends took over the world and captivated millions of players with its amazing game mechanics, great match designs, and overall fun experience.
There’s just something about facing off against other players with similar skills that makes the entire concept very interesting and, naturally, popular. While some of the games on the list below are more fast-paced than others, players can rest assured that no matter which one they try, they’ll have a blast alone or with their friends, regardless of the class they pick or their approach to combat.
Paladinsis a team-based FPS that pits two groups of five players against each other in competitive matches based on combat-based goals. Similar to other games in its genre, this title does not allow two different players to pick the same character, otherwise known as “Champions”, during a match.
With game modes like Siege, Onslaught, Ranked, and Team Deathmatch, there’s always fun to be had, regardless of players' preferences. Moreover, each Champion has varying skills and unique abilities that complement the combat experience wonderfully and make it feel complete.
2Battlerite
A Great Title That Strays From Some MOBAs' Key Elements
Considered to be the spiritual successor to Bloodline Champions,Battleritepresents players with a unique competitive experience where two teams of either two or three players each can battle against each other and test their skills.
One of the most unique aspects aboutBattlerite, is that, unlike other MOBAs, the main goal is not to conquer or destroy enemy towers or craft new base structures to gain an advantage. Although not as popular as other titles on this list,Battleritestill offers an amazing experience to those who want to join a competitive match.
3Bandle Tale: A League Of Legends Story
Yordles Front And Center
For those who love the ever-so-memorableLeague-original Yordles,Bandle Tales: A League of Legends Storyis the perfect pick. This charming RPG puts fan favorites like Corki, Teemo, and Tristana front and center as the player - with their very own custom character - explores Bandle City and the lands that lie beyond it.
Bandle Talesis purposely a completely different genre fromLeague of Legends. As a new spin-off, Riot teamed up with Lazy Bear Games (Graveyard Keeper and Punch Club) to create an originalLoLexperience that builds on preexisting characters. The game is themed around knitting and is a crafting-focused RPG. While the story isn’t exactly canon, the world and surrounding lore are accurate, meaning it’s a great option for those who love the world ofLeague of Legends. It’s also a great choice for those who never quite adapted to the MOBA style but love a whimsical RPG.
Divinity: Original Sin 2is a classic game that’s essentially thought to beD&Din a video game. This, alongside titles likeBalder’s Gate, has drawn crowds in from all corners of the gaming world - since ultimately, being the hero in one’s own story appeals to everyone. While it’s a big switch-up fromLeaguein terms of gameplay, players might be surprised by how much they enjoy this RPG.
One of the biggest differences isDivinity’sturn-based combat, which is a brilliant breath of fresh air for those who findLeague’sreactionary gameplay a little too intense - even those who just fancy a break from the fast-paced rounds will appreciate the time they’re allowed. Nonetheless, fighting is still ability-centered, and players can focus on building their character with unique skills and expertise - just like champions, but with even more range. WhileDivinityis story-based, at its core it’s an easy pivot forLeagueplayers who fancy something a bit calmer.
Most gamers who’ve playedLeaguewill likely have come acrossTFTby now. It’s on the same client asLoL, which means it’s super accessible and doesn’t require a separate installation.Teamfight Tacticsis an auto-chess style game where each player creates a team ofLeaguechamps which then battle against each other. It’s almost like a board game version of the normal game, except it hasits own metas and tactics.
Players should move their champs around the board to find the best position, pay attention to the traits of each character, and use in-game gold to acquire others with the same traits. These traits offer unique bonuses and buffs, and often certain traits complement each other.
TFTis a great choice for players who love theLoLworld but findLeaguea little too stressful to play all the time. Although rounds are timed,TFThas fewer things to think about, and it doesn’t rely on quick reaction times or meticulous gameplay. It’s more forgiving thanLeague, and many players find themselves becoming bigTFTfans once they start playing. The game also avoids being monotonous through seasonal Sets, which regularly introduce new themes, augments, traits, and Little Legends. Purchasing a Season Pass will allow players to receive prizes that are unlocked by gaining XP, including Little Legend eggs, newTFTboards, and elimination animations.
Overwatch 2is a team-based, PvP first-person shooter with a few different game modes and is generally dubbed as a hero shooter. LikeLeague,Overwatch 2requires players to compose a balanced team with each player serving a purpose, like offensive class or support class, and players can choose from a broad selection of characters with unique stats and abilities.
Game modes include escorting a payload behind enemy lines, or simply executing all opposing team players. It’s certainly a change in playstyle, but a lot of the fundamentals are there. Additionally, theOverwatchteam released story and lore-based videos that give insight into their characters, which is also something Riot does for their champions. Those who enjoy the expansive narrative ofLeaguemight find themselves enthralled byOverwatch’soriginal characters too.
Wild Riftmight seem like an obvious choice, but sometimes those are the best. It’s essentially a mobile phone version ofLeague, which is great for players who want to switch up gameplay without leaving the Rift. For those who travel a lot or have some downtime throughout the day, it’s as close to theLeague of Legendsexperience as possible. It offers a nice change of scenery since the environment of the game is very different, even if it has the same map and characters.
Wild Riftalso features a very different set of mechanics, as well as an adjustment to lane assignments, which will help it feel like anentirely new experience. It’s also designed to be quicker, which means games are almost guaranteed to be over in fifteen to twenty minutes - considerably quicker than the averageLeaguegame. The real perk, however, is that it can be played on the move, which is not a perk to be sniffed at in the world of MOBAs.
Fortniteis one of the most popular games in the world, capitalizing on the sensationally popular battle royale format. Released in 2017, this wacky free-for-all game took the gaming world by storm and continues to be one of the most regularly played games in the world. With millions of games played every day, players will find themselves occupied for hours.
AlthoughFortniteisn’t a MOBA, it shares similarities withLeaguein several of its gameplay modes. Those who like the battle arena style but dislike teamwork will love the basicFortnitebattle royale mode. Those who enjoyLeaguebut want a change of scenery and mechanics will also enjoy Save the World mode, which has players teaming up to defend a base and survive various challenges. For fans who want something new without straying too far into other genres,Fortniteis a great choice.
Defense of the Ancientsbegan as amod forWarcraft 3and is widely heralded as responsible for popularizing and inspiring most modern games in the genre.Dota 2is the sequel, released in 2013, and is similar to League of Legends in a lot of ways, but differs in some key ones that make it an entirely different experience.
Dota 2is a much more strategic, complex game, with typically longer match lengths, so for players looking for a challenge within the genre, it’s the perfect game.League of Legendsoffers faster, more mechanical gameplay, and while the debate about which is better has been fierce for years now, it’s entirely down to personal preference.
MOBAs aren’t for everyone. Some players might have picked upLeaguehoping they’d take to it, but found themselves unable to adapt to the playstyle. Luckily, for those who find that their skills lie more in first-person, Riot has the perfect option.Valorantis a tactical first-person hero shooter, equipped with its own set of agents who have unique talents and abilities.
Not everybody who likesLeaguewill likeValorant,and vice versa, but both games have a distinct Riot touch to them. Simplified,Valoranthas two teams that are either attacking or defending. The attacking team needs to infiltrate enemy territory to place and activate the Spike in a certain location - and doing so will win the round. In classic Riot style, the games can run for a long time - especially since the standard unranked mode is the best of 25 - but players can vote to surrender if they feel there’s no hope of redemption. It’s great for players who want a change from MOBA gameplay but enjoy Riot’s innovative game development.
