20 Video Game Clones Better Than The Original
13. League Of Legends (DOTA)
As MMORPG purists should know, the roots of League of Legends go back to a custom mod for Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne called Defence of the Ancients. Using Blizzard's World Editor, a fan-made map was created, combining real-time strategy mechanics with role-playing elements. Players controlled a single hero and fought alongside AI-controlled minions to destroy the enemy base.
The mod was a cult hit, but was limited by technical and accessibility limitations, since it wasn't a standalone. In 2006, the founders of Riot Games collaborated with DotA's creators to devise a spiritual successor called League of Legends. The joint effort simplified DotA's complex interface, while keeping its strategic depth, making it easy to learn but rewarding to master. On top of that, League introduced new champions, a solid matchmaking system, and a custom-built engine optimised for online play.
Despite having a small fanbase at first, League exploded in popularity, due to its free-to-play model, relentless patches, and community engagement, which set a new industry standard. Though the MOBA community is eternally grateful for DotA for leading the genre to the forefront, it was League of Legends that perfected it.