League of Legends

League of Legends is a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) developed and published by Riot Games, launched in 2009 for Windows and macOS. Inspired by the Defense of the Ancients mod for Warcraft III, it became the defining title of the MOBA genre and one of the most played and influential games in the world. In its core mode, two teams of five players each control a 'champion', chosen from an ever-growing roster of well over a hundred distinct characters, and battle across a three-lane map called Summoner's Rift, working with computer-controlled minions to push through enemy towers and ultimately destroy the opposing Nexus. Matches reward teamwork, strategy, map awareness and mechanical skill, with champions gaining levels, gold and items over the course of a game. Monetised entirely through cosmetics rather than gameplay advantages, League sustained explosive growth and built one of the largest esports scenes ever, its World Championship drawing enormous global audiences. Riot has supported it for well over a decade with continual new champions, balance updates, modes and an expansive surrounding universe spanning music, comics and the acclaimed animated series Arcane. It stands as a cultural and competitive juggernaut of modern gaming. Its surrounding universe later expanded into music, comics and the Emmy-winning animated series Arcane.