League of Legends review

League of Legends ranks fifth: it has the most depth on this list but asks the most of new players, which costs it on ease of setup. Riot describes it as a 5v5 MOBA where teams battle to destroy the enemy Nexus, and its how-to-play guide says you can choose from over 170 champions grouped into assassins, fighters, mages, marksmen, supports and tanks. Summoner's Rift is the most popular mode, with three lanes guarded by turrets and inhibitors and a jungle where monsters such as Baron Nashor and the Drakes grant team buffs. ARAM and ARAM: Mayhem offer quicker single-lane fights, and Teamfight Tactics is an auto battler where you outlast seven opponents. The game is free to play, with money spent on skins. The cost is time: learning lanes, roles and champions takes many matches, and a game lasts longer than a shooter round. We compared documented features and the publisher's free-to-play terms.

Who it is for

Strategy-minded players who want a deep free team game with esports and many modes.

Price

Free to play; optional purchases for skins and other cosmetics.

PLAY FOR FREE
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• Over 170 champions across assassin, fighter, mage, marksman, support and tank roles
• Summoner's Rift, the main 5v5 mode
• ARAM and ARAM: Mayhem for faster single-lane games
• Teamfight Tactics, an eight-player auto battler
• Skins to change champion looks

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Very deep strategy with over 170 champions
• Strength: Several modes beyond the main map
• Strength: Large esports scene with a yearly World Championship
• Weakness: Hardest game here for beginners to learn
• Weakness: Matches take longer than shooters
• Weakness: Skins and cosmetics drive most spending

Key facts

• Price: Free
• Champions: Over 170
• Modes: Summoner's Rift, ARAM, ARAM: Mayhem, Teamfight Tactics
• Format: 5v5

Where it ranks

League of Legends is No. 4 in our Best Free Online Games verdict.