To answer the question of what the first MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) game was, we have to go way back to Aeon of Strife (AoS). Released in 1998 as a custom map for StarCraft by the modder Aeon64, Aeon of Strife established the key ingredients that have defined MOBAs over the past 20+ years of evolution.
Gameplay Innovation – The Building Blocks of MOBA
As a passionate StarCraft player when AoS first came out, I was blown away by how pioneering it felt. Here‘s what made AoS special even back then:
- You controlled only a single powerful hero unit – the Sorceress, Lich, Ogre Mage or Warrior.
- You fought alongside weaker AI ally units – "creeps" in modern MOBA terminology.
- Pushing lanes was crucial – clearing enemy creeps to assault defensive towers.
- The goal was to pave the way to destroy the enemy base.
Simple right? But combined in a competitive multiplayer context, these ingredients formed the foundation that future MOBAs would come to be built on.
The Lasting Impact of AoS
Just take a look at modern mega hits like League of Legends or DOTA 2 – all of these core ideas are still integral parts of their gameplay today, a testament to Aeon64‘s vision over 20 years ago!
As an industry insider and gamer who‘s been playing MOBAs from the very beginning, it‘s incredible to see how AoS’s seemingly basic rules would shape one of gaming’s most popular genres. Even simple design choices like making you control a single character fundamentally guided how an entire genre formed around the concept of unique hero abilities, leveling and skill progression over time.
The Mod That Sparked a Phenomenon – DOTA Allstars
Of course, Aeon of Strife itself remained a fairly niche, if influential, custom map – it took another mod years later to truly kickstart the MOBA genre into the stratosphere.
That mod was Defense of the Ancients (DotA). Created originally in 2003 by the pseudonymous designer “Eul”, DotA kept AoS’s core gameplay but took it to the next level.
DotA Allstars – Lighting the Fuse
Having played the early versions myself, I still remember that “aha!” feeling when I realized DotA had nailed the MOBA formula – the addictive fun of hero abilities, leveling up and getting shiny new gear just hit different.
But it was the 2005 release of DotA Allstars by modder IceFrog that secured DotA‘s legacy. Adding heroes, items and mechanics at a furious pace, IceFrog in many ways codified modern MOBA conventions over years of patch updates. From a niche curiosity, DotA grew into a global phenomenon that just kept getting bigger.
By my early college days in 2008, nearly every LAN party and computer hall was running endless DotA matches. As its popularity exploded, DotA proved beyond a doubt the mainstream appeal of competitive online battle arenas. MOBAs were here to stay.
| Year | Major Event |
|---|---|
| 2003 | DotA first released by "Eul" |
| 2005 | IceFrog creates iconic DotA Allstars variant |
| 2009 | League of Legends launches, popularizes MOBA genre commercially |
League of Legends – MOBAs Go Mainstream
Sensing the growing fad, gaming studios scrambled to adapt DotA’s appeal into new games.
League of Legends by Riot Games was the first to break out in 2009. LoL captured lightning in a bottle – taking DotA’s core and streamlining it for mainstream gamers, while using an innovative free-to-play model.
Coupled with Riot’s professional esports push that rewarded pro players with salaries and celebrity status, LoL became a cultural sensation that kicked the MOBA genre into hyperdrive.
The Juggernaut Awakens
A decade later, League of Legends still dominates the MOBA scene with over 115 million monthly players as of last year. Having played since the early seasons myself, LoL’s ever-expanding roster and competitive skill curve has kept me hopelessly addicted year after year!
Back during my college years grinding up the ranked ladder, I never imagined LoL would ascend to become one of the most played games on the planet. As both a longtime MOBA fan and industry observer, its rise still amazes me – a testament to Riot’s vision in taking DotA’s appeal to magnify it a thousand times over.
| MOBA | Est. Monthly Players | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| League of Legends | 115+ million | Oct 2009 |
| DOTA 2 | 785K | July 2013 |
| Heroes of the Storm | Unknown | June 2015 |
*Player count estimates for January 2023
The runaway success story of League of Legends founded a genre empire – analysts project over $24 billion in yearly revenues for MOBAs by 2024. Over 100 million players log in daily to battle it out in their favorite online arenas. As the progenitor of modern MOBAs, Aeon of Strife’s legacy is still driving 21st century gaming to new heights.
The Future of MOBAs
Decades since I first controlled my single Sorceress heroine in Aeon of Strife, the sheer staying power of the gameplay ideas it pioneered still awes me.
From daring indie experiments applying the formula to new genres, to the rise of mobile allowing MOBAs on the go, Aeon64’s vision will continue evolving gaming for years to come. Having been addicted since the very first days of the genre, I know I’ll still be theory-crafting builds and battling rival heroes long into the future alongside millions of passionate fans worldwide.
The spark first lit by Aeon of Strife has ignited a ever-growing phenomenon, its flames still burning bright.
