What are MOBA games?
MOBAS are a type of game that focuses on generating a characteristic feeling of competition in it’s players, since we’re talking about the multiplaying type. MOBA stands for Multiplayer Online Battle Arena. This genre/type has become one of the most representative in the video games' world.
How does this type of game work?
Firstly, something to remember is that the main objective of this type of game is to destroy the
enemies’ structure, which is usually in the other side of the map, and to protect your specific
structure.
In MOBA games you have the possibility to choose a character from the ones the game provides you (with its predetermined abilities) or you can create one by
yourself. This is the character you’ll control Once that part is done, the game will assign you a
team, those persons are going to be your allies, they’ll help you to the destroy the enemies and their characteristic structure (a tower, a fount, a titan). Right after that, you’ll probably appear with your teammates in your base or your characteristic structure. Once the game starts you’ll fight the enemy according to the role you assumed until the enemy structure is finally destroyed, this way you can win. Yes, there are roles.
The roles in MOBA games:
Before anything, the difference between the type of the character and its role must be clarified. The types are usually divided in: Mages, warriors, assassins, hunters and guardians. The roles, however, make reference to the function the character you choose has in the game.
The tank:
The character that assumes the role of tank is going to be the one that protects its teammates. This character is also the one that owns the largest amount of live (HP) and endurance. Due to this, this is the character that will inflict the least damage. This role is usually awarded to the guardians, mages with the capacity of curing themselves and others, or warriors.
The ganker or jungle:
The character that assumes this role is the one that sometimes has one of the shortest HP in the whole team. However, the more the game lasts, the more powerful its abilities will become. This abilities will allow them to easily gank a lane and kill the character in that lane. This character is usually very fast, but its debility is that they don’t own the same resistance tanks have. This role is usually awarded to the assasinss or the hunters (maybe, even warriors).
The mid:
Usually, in MOBA games there are different lanes in the map, so, the lane you’ll have to defend and attack goes according to the role you assume. (the lanes will change depending on the game you’re playing). The character that assumes this role goes in the middle lane alone. Along with the ganker, it will be one of the ones that inflicts lots of damage. It is, however, very easy to kill at some point, since this character inflicts ranged damage, so once someone gets close, they can say goodbye. This role is usually awarded to the mages.
The carry or the adc:
The character that assumes this role is specifically made to inflict a lot of damage in the middle or late part of the game, meaning their early is not half of the damage they gain in the late. Along with the mid and the ganker, it is going to be one of the ones that inflicts a lot of damage. It is usually protected by the tank, since this character’s HP is really low and their agility is not as good as other characters. its damage is done at a long distance. This role is usually awarded to the hunters.
The solo:
This kind of role can be found in only some MOBA games. The solo laner is also one of those characters that goes alone in one of the lanes. it is sometimes in the frontline with the tank, because these are the roles that have the best endurance. The solo can inflict more damage than the tank, tho. this role is usually awarded to the warriors or even the mages.
In MOBA games you can find some particularities such as…
Most of the time you’ll play with a maximum of 5 teammates.
You and your teammates will have to make a great use of your strategy.
People usually comparing MOBA games with ARPG games, since both are played in real time.
Big amount of playable characters.
Variety of abilities within the characters.
Some of the most popular MOBA games
League Of Legends (LoL):
Developed by Riot Games, LoL is the most popular MOBA game. Its first version came out back in 2009. It’s quite known because of its playable characters (155 champions, until now). The game has three game modes: The Summoner’s rift (the classic 5v5), The Howling Abyss and Teamfight tactics. The games usually last between 15 and 50 minutes on average. In each of the game modes LoL has, the teams are going to cooperate and fight the other team, so that they can destroy the main structure named Nexo. In all of these modes, the player will choose a champion equipped with different and unique abilities. They’ll play with the champions they choose until the game finally concludes.
SMITE (Battleground Of The Gods):
Developed by Titan Forge Games, specifically, for Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, this MOBA has gained over 30 million players these past years. Its first version came out in 2014. The team-fights are done between two teams. In SMITE you have the possibility to play under the skin of some god from 16 different pantheons(Norse mythology, greek mythology, voodoo, mayan, japanese, egyptian, etc). The game has 114 gods until now. This MOBA has 5 or 6 games mode: Conquest, Arena, Assault, Siege, Just, and sometimes Adventures. (the amount of game modes changes according to the time you entered SMITE). The games usually last between 30 and 50 minutes on average.
These MOBA games are usually played with a strategy to follow to destroy the enemy's structure, Sometimes you have to rotate position depending if your teammates need you to fight the enemies. It is very interesting how you developed the topic and how you know about the mechanics of these type of games. The best of the MOBA games are that it adapts of your kind of playing style.