Are MOBAs the Most Strategy-Heavy Games?

When you imagine the most difficult video games in the world, what comes to mind? Overwhelmingly, the world’s most competitive games put a huge emphasis on mental gymnastics and accuracy. In other words, the best players must be passionate gamers and critical thinkers if they want to succeed. 

Today, most gaming fans would probably list MOBAs as some of the most difficult in terms of strategy. These multiplayer online battle arenas require players to work with teams in order to win. This presents two unique challenges: first in thinking strategically, then in fulfilling those strategies with a dynamic team. Even for the most elite groups, teamwork can be difficult. 

In order to succeed in a MOBA like League of Legends or Valorant, players must seamlessly back one another when they get into trouble, communicate effectively to keep everyone on the same page, and focus on positions that let each player highlight their strengths. All while fighting off enemies, defending towers, and much more. 

Still, that doesn’t mean that MOBAs are actually the most strategy-heavy games in the world. Maybe they’re just the most popular, instead. Let’s take a closer look at other global favorites that require complex strategic thinking, both in the digital and analog realms.

Poker

As early as the 2000s, competitive poker moved online. Today, it’s estimated that somewhere close to 100 million players are active on poker platforms globally. And if there’s one clear reason why players still love hits like Texas Hold’em and Omaha, it’s thanks to the game’s emphasis on strategy. 

Once players have their poker hands memorized and have logged a few hours at the tables, they can start practicing their strategic approach to the game. For poker players, strategies cover things like how to read other players, how to bet based on their seat at the table, and so much more.

4X

4X is a relatively new category that focuses on games in which players must eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate. That probably sounds wildly intense and violent, but the focus is concretely on strategy. The most famous 4X game is Civilization, a series that requires players to build and expand empires (so there’s not a lot of gore involved.) 

Obviously, there are a lot of moving parts when it comes to empire-building, from militias to city planning to trading. As players advance, they’ll need to refine their tactics as they relate to technology, diplomacy, resource management, and even agriculture. The goal here is to maintain a long-term vision for success, and then implement it.

Chess

Similar to poker, chess remains a favorite that has survived well into the digital age. That’s because this game beautifully combines fields like strategy, probability, and critical thinking. Plus, there’s no linguistic element to the game, meaning it transcends cultural boundaries easily. That’s helped keep this game in the limelight for some 1,500 years.

The barrier to entry is also a bit lower. Compared to other games on this list, it doesn’t take long to learn the rules of the game—but it might take a lifetime to master. A player’s strategic approach is constantly evolving, and likely changes with each opponent they take on. Interestingly enough, there are a few chess Grandmasters who have also done well at the poker tables, likely thanks to this emphasis on strategy.  

RTS

Real-time strategy games cover a huge range of titles—but the emphasis is on ‘real-time’. That means that players don’t have a ‘turn’ to think and make a move, like they do in 4X games like Civilization. Instead, players are usually tasked with managing a concrete resource live as they battle other opponents. 

You may have heard of Age of Empires, an empire-building game that’s similar to the Civ series. However, in Age of Empire, players must build an empire, train units, and explore the world at the same time as their opponents. There are no breaks (while the game is live, at least), which means things move quickly and strategies must constantly evolve.