Why is League of Legends so Popular
Ever wondered how League of Legends got so popular? Let’s look at some reasons why League of Legends is so addicting to so many players.
The enormous popularity of League of Legends is undeniable, and the game has been a standout of gaming for more than a decade. It defined not only a genre but the way people perceive and approach video games. From the games-as-a-service model to the groundbreaking LoL e-sports scene, there’s plenty to love. Still, how did it get there?
How did League of Legends become so popular?
There are plenty of reasons to love Riot Games’ smash hit. Let’s dive into some of the biggest reasons League of Legends is popular.
1. It’s Free
Listing this might look like a bit of a cop-out, but it’s absolutely true. The League of Legends free-to-play model is one of its defining features. In fact, it’s arguably the feature that sling-shot the game into superstardom.
It’s important to understand that free computer games were quite rare at the time of LoL’s release. Especially if we’re talking about the kind of size and quality League offered. Moreover, the game’s biggest competitors back in the late 2010s were decidedly not free.
This is one of the main reasons why League of Legends became so popular. Its rapid growth was most prevalent with young audiences and/or in developing countries. Since games like LoL thrive on a large and active community, a large player-base only drew in more and more people. The game then snowballed into the giant we see today. Of course, it’s important to remember that the game isn’t just free.
It’s also good. The low barrier for entry drew players in – the addictive, fun gameplay ensured that they’ll stick around. League also avoided the common pitfalls of “pay-to-win” mechanics. It places all players on equal footing and lets their skill determine the rest.
2. LoL Is Accessible
We purposefully avoided saying the game is “easy.” League boasts incredible depth and room for players to improve their skills. However, it’s one of the most beginner-friendly MOBA games on the market.
It’s hard to claim something like that is objectively true, of course. However, compare it to its biggest competitor in Valve’s Dota 2. Dota’s difficulty is a sort of badge of honor for both the game and its players. Lol, on the other hand, takes more active steps to ease new players into the experience.
There’s more to accessibility than that, though. Every match in League of Legends is fun. It might sound obvious from today’s perspective, but the fact LoL matches are self-contained is key to the experience. Some games like MMORPGs might take days, weeks, and even months before you really get into the meat of the game. On the flip side, you can fire up LoL and instantly have fun in 30-minute chunks.
Oh, and while we’re at it, League of Legends system requirements are very low. It runs perfectly on older or non-gaming computers. This accommodates even more players, which draws in yet more.
3. The Competitive Nature
There’s a lot to unpack with this next point, but we’ll try to keep it brief.
First of all, gamers are an inherently competitive lot. It’s not enough to be good at something. More often than not, proving that you’re better than others offers a unique adrenaline rush. And with the superb League of Legends matchmaking system, you’ll never feel like you’re just rolling over newbies. Nor will you ever just “master” the game and take on all the challenges it has to offer like most single-player games. There’s always someone better, there’s always room to improve, and there’s always the next hill to climb. That’s one of the main reasons why players go back to the game. League of Legends is so addictive because the game’s goals are “internal”, so to speak. You’re not beating the game, you’re improving your own skills.
LoL rewards you for your work, too. As you climb the matchmaking system, you eventually climb to the rank of League of Legends Challenger. Reserved for the cream of the crop of LoL players, this division pits you against professional players. Work hard enough and who knows – you may end up being invited to a pro team.
4. The League of Legends Esports Scene
The League of Legends competitive scene culminates in one of the most vibrant esports communities in the industry. Simply observing and analyzing others playing League of Legends has become a massive attraction, much like professional sports leagues have been doing for decades. In fact, we’re pretty sure there are thousands who no longer even play League of Legends themselves. They simply watch in awe as pro LoL players showcase their incredible skills.
This just hoes to show how much League of Legends esports have grown. The top tournaments can match up to the biggest sports leagues in the world in both viewership and production quality.
Back in 2013, a pro player called Danny "Shiphtur" Le was the first pro gamer to receive the American P-1A visa. Reserved for "Internationally Recognized Athletes", this is solid proof of how the popular consciousness of esports changed thanks to LoL.
5. You Can Play League of Legends With Friends
Another key League of Legends feature is that it’s multiplayer. You probably know this already, but it’s an important aspect of the game to consider.
League is undeniably a social experience. As we stated previously, it completely relies on its community, which was a distinct design choice from the get-go. However, the practice of just logging into the game with a few friends and playing for hours while on voice chat is just as much of an LoL staple as the competitive scene.
Much like any other online multiplayer game, you also get to meet people and make new friends. However, the huge popularity of League of Legends drives this even further. So many people play LoL that you’re quite likely to run into them out in the real world. Chances are that one of your classmates, co-workers, or acquaintances enjoys League. If nothing else, your shared love of the game is an ice-breaker because you know you at least have that much in common.
6. Regular LoL Updates
League has been going strong for more than a decade at it never stopped growing. Regular updates and improvements mean that the core experience is always changing. That’s exactly why people play the game for years on end and never get bored. If you ever feel that League of Legends is boring, you can simply quit for a few months. By the time you’re back, things will probably be different enough to change your opinion.
These are just some of the biggest reasons why people love League of Legends so much. It combines excellent game design with broad market appeal and executes its ideas perfectly. Still, LoL also quickly got in touch with what the multiplayer gaming market needed at the time of its release. The stars aligned, so to speak, and the result is one of the most important games in the history of gaming.