Games Inspired by League of Legends (LoL)

League of Legends is a title that is hardly rivaled by the number of games that have influenced the culture of modern gaming in the same way. Since its inception in 2009, Riot's MOBA has evolved from a competitive game into a global ecosystem, influencing the game genres of MOBAs, auto-battlers, shooters, and card games.

One of the main reasons for this is that developers worldwide find the LoL mechanics, champions, and esports structure incredibly inspiring, leading to the creation of many diverse spin-offs and lookalike games.

That said, we will delve deeper into the types of games most affected by LoL and how it has transformed the gaming industry.

1. The Genre of MOBAs That Followed in LoL's Footsteps

One of the most obvious things that we can notice is that the most significant impact of LoL was inside its very own genre of Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA).

• Dota 2 (Valve) has been the biggest LoL competitor, as both games are very similar and have a lot in common since League itself originated from the Defense of the Ancients mod in Warcraft III. Dota 2 decided to embrace complexity while LoL targeted accessibility, resulting in two very different types of communities.
• Heroes of the Storm (Blizzard) made it possible for fans of Blizzard to see their favorite heroes play in a more simplified and easy-to-understand MOBA world. The game borrowed a lot from the simplicity of League of Legends.
• Smite (Hi-Rez Studios) gave a fresh air to the genre with its third-person viewpoint, making the fight similar to that of an action RPG but still keeping LoL's concept of lanes, minions, and objectives.

2. Card Games Inspired by LoL

One of the most unexpected spin-offs of media is not a new MOBA; it is the card games world. Riot has launched a new game, Legends of Runeterra (LoR), a digital collectible card game that allows the LoL champions and regions to be reimagined tactically.

LoR's uniqueness lies in its strict intertwining of classic card games and LoL-like mechanics. A champion can get experience in the course of the game, and at that very moment become level-up; a spell, for example, may be thrown at the opponent right after his attack, and different regions comprising characters with related concepts may set the pace for the game. For those who love LoL, it immediately reminds them of the broader universe.

Surprisingly enough, LoR is still part of a massive family of games where competition is based on cards. While it’s rooted in digital fantasy, many players compare the strategy and thrill of LoR matches to real money poker, where the stakes, bluffing, and tactical decisions create an adrenaline rush. Of course, Legends of Runeterra is not about betting. Still, the demand for foresight, risk management, and reading your opponent in the game are similar experiences that poker players have at the table. This fact explains the presence of common grounds between competitive card games and poker communities.

3. The Rise of Auto-Battlers

An additional genre that was influenced by LoL directly, is the auto-battler. Auto Chess was the one who brought the concept to the spotlight, but Riot did not take long to come up with their version called Teamfight Tactics (TFT).

TFT, with the help of LoL champions as pieces, allows players to draft, upgrade, and strategically place units that automatically fight. The influence of LoL is obvious - from champion abilities to the connections that are based on their regions and classes.

One of the main reasons for TFT's meteoric rise to the status of one of the most played auto-battlers around the globe was its ease of access through the LoL client. The game’s life as a significant entry in the casual and competitive scenes is ensured by its seasonal updates and the existence of esports competitions.

4. Expanding into the Shooter Genre

The influence of LoL is not restricted to strategy games only. On the occasion of Riot introducing Valorant, their tactical shooter, many design aspects were very similar to LoL. In the same way as the champions in League, the agents in Valorant have unique abilities that can be used to put an additional strategic layer over the traditional FPS gameplay.

The decision to go for character-driven design is undoubtedly one of the results of Riot’s success with LoL champions. As a matter of fact, just like Riot’s LoL players get attached to characters such as Ahri, Yasuo, and Jinx, the Valorant players form bonds with agents like Jett or Phoenix. Furthermore, the focus on fair play and esports organization is also very similar to the way LoL global tournaments were structured.

5. Other Genres Taking Inspiration

Besides Riot’s projects, numerous games from different genres have discreetly taken pieces of League of Legends to incorporate them into their own works:

• Paladins (Hi-Rez Studios), a hero shooter at its core, has adopted the concept of champion-driven progression and team synergy as its own.
• Mobile RPGs and gacha titles are gradually adopting LoL-style champion systems. The main gameplay loop becomes defined by collecting, leveling, and synergizing characters.
• Non-gaming industries such as esports platforms and streaming services have evolved based on LoL’s framework of converting a competitive game into a cultural phenomenon.