Best Of
5 Best MOBA Games on Xbox Series X|S (May 2023)
Multiplayer online battle arenas, or MOBA games, are a highly sought-after genre on PC. Evidently, because they require a high level of skill as well as quick and critical thinking to outperform your opponent. As a result, the more proficient you become at them, the more addictive they become. This is what the best MOBA games, like League of Legends and Dota 2 are most known for. The only issue is that the most popular titles, such as those, are PC exclusive. Meaning, you can't enjoy their fun on Xbox consoles.
Contrary to popular belief, not all MOBA games are PC exclusive. In fact, thanks to the power of the Xbox Series X|S, more MOBA games are making their way to the console. As a result, there's now a good variety of MOBA, and MOBA-esque, games up for grabs. However, today we're only going to be looking at the best MOBA games on Xbox Series X|S as of May 2023. So, read on to find out which MOBA games are making the most recent strides on Xbox.
5. Paladins
Paladins, a free-to-play title, kicks off our list of the best MOBA games on Xbox Series X|S. One of the most acclaimed MOBA games on console, Paladins has been a long-running success on the last two generations of Xbox consoles. Safe to say, the dedicated player base behind Paladins isn't going anywhere.
In 5v5 teams, you can choose from three game modes: Siege, Onslaught, and good ole fashioned Team Deathmatch. Either way, it's not the game mode but the champions that make the fun. You can choose from an extensive roster of champions, who fit into four classes: Damage, Front Line, Tanker, and Support. The best part is that each champion has a distinct personality and set of abilities, so there's bound to be one that fits your playstyle.
4. Chivalry 2
Chivalry 2 isn't your typical MOBA game; in fact, it's difficult to call it a MOBA at all. Nonetheless, it shares many characteristics with a MOBA, and Xbox has it listed as such, so we'll take what we can get. Chivalry 2 is essentially a first-person medieval warfare game in which you storm and siege castles as knights and foot soldiers. The MOBA aspects stem from the 32-player matches that take place across a large map, or in other words, battle arena. Moreover, there is a variety of Knight classes to choose from, each with its own set of skills and weapons.
With those aspects in mind, we'd have to consider Chivalry 2 one of the best MOBA games on Xbox Series X|S. It's a never-ending clash of steel as one team relentlessly pushes a castle's keep while the other desperately tries to hold it. So, if you're looking for some medieval warfare, grab your sword and shield and play Chivalry 2.
3. Apex Legends
Apex Legends is another game that we can't truly consider a MOBA. In terms of gameplay, you'd classify it as a battle royale hero shooter. Nonetheless, it, like the previous game, has a number of MOBA characteristics. This mainly stems from the “Legends” who you play as. Each of these “Legends” have a passive, tactical, and ultimate ability, much like a true dedicated MOBA's characters or champions would have. The main difference is that you are viewing these characters in first-person rather than top-down. Just think of it as a similar vein to Paladins.
Nonetheless, Apex Legends isn't just one of the best MOBA games on Xbox Series X|S right now; it's also one of the most popular games of 2023. So, despite not being a dedicated MOBA, it has a lot going for it, which is why we recommend you check it out. Because the only way to increase the intensity of a MOBA is to have the player look through the eyes of the champion they are playing as. That's exactly what Apex Legends does, and they do it well.
2. SMITE
To no one's surprise, Smite, one of the most well-known MOBA games on console, makes our list of the best MOBA games on Xbox Series X|S. In Smite, mythical Greek gods and goddesses make up its roster of champions. Furthermore, you play these characters from a third-person, over-the-shoulder perspective, which isn't commonly found in MOBA games. However, it works great in Smite and makes the minion-clearing gameplay that much more enticing.
Smite has five game modes in total: Conquest, Arena, Assault, Joust, and Slash. The best part is that you can create your own custom matches in any of these game modes, from 1v1 to 5v5. As a result, Smite is a very user-friendly MOBA game that is simple to pick up, learn, and quickly get addicted to. It's also in high contention with Paladins, though Smite has proved more popular over the years. So, why not try out both and see which one you prefer?
1. Overwatch 2
Saving the best for last, we have Overwatch 2. As we said, the most intense MOBAs place you through the looking glass of your champion, which is where Overwatch 2 glory comes from. This 5v5 hero-shooter is one of the most popular MOBA games of all time, thanks to its dynamic roster of over 35 Heroes, each with unique abilities and thus very different playstyles from one another. From Tracer, who can skip forward and backward in time, to D.VA, a mech-based champion with a lot of firepower.
The best part of it all is that Overwatch 2 is entirely free to play. In fact, so is Smite, Paladins, and Apex Legends – Chivalry 2 is the only exception. Nonetheless, you can make a more confident choice knowing that the best MOBA games on Xbox Series X|S are free to play. As a result, you might have to try them all out.
