Games to play if you are a Dota fan
Dota players are a special breed. According to statistics from twitch they have the lowest viewership overlap with other games. There is an argument that this proves how passionate and devoted we are to our game, but it also indicates how difficult it can be to recommend other games to Dota players.
We all need some time off Dota once in awhile. Even the incredibly balanced 7.06 seems less exciting after more than four months and the Dueling Fates update is still some time off. As such, we’ve decided to give our recommendations on what might be interesting to Dota players who need some time off their favorite game.
X-Com 2
Complex, unforgiving and extremely tactical — these words apply in equal measure to both Dota 2 and X-Com 2. Turn-based nature of the latter doesn’t take away from the tension of the experience, while still allowing for exhilarating game moments.
In each mission of X-Com 2 you control a squad of 3 to 7 soldiers, each belonging to one of nine different classes, with their strengths and weaknesses. Each of these classes can be further customized every time the soldier level ups and the soldiers can be equipped with different armor types, have different modifications to their weapon and bring various grenades and utility items to their missions — all in attempt to overthrow the Aliens who have conquered the earth and are now trying to achieve their hidden agenda.
But it is not the tactical depth nor the interesting technological progression that truly makes the game stellar. It is the ability to customise every soldier to look like one of your friends and then watch them die horribly after you’ve made a bad decision and left them exposed.
For the truest X-Com experience, we recommend starting with Ironman on — every mistake is final and you have to live with the consequences of your decisions. Just like Dota...
Darkest Dungeon
Darkest Dungeon is known for being a hardcore, strategic rogue-like experience filled with Eldritch horrors, undead monsters and ferocious beasts. So if you are a Dota player looking for something lighthearted and relaxing, it might be the game for you.
The game is somewhat similar to X-Com: you still control a small group of soldiers, still manage your resources on the strategic layer and try to progress through the campaign by completing missions. What is different is the setting and the presentation: while X-Com 2 is a futuristic AAA title with all the polish and gloss, Darkest Dungeon is indie to its core. What it pays in terms of presentation, however, is made up for in terms of its mechanics. At least for some people.
The opening paragraph was a bit of a joke — in reality the game will almost definitely make you think hard and stress out about every move you make. It being an indie project allowed the designers to not bother themselves with what sells best among the broader audience and fully concentrate on their niche of devoted, strategic players. The game is hard, it has an eerie atmosphere and the narration is beautiful — mocking, encouraging and creeping you out all at the same time.
It is not a game for everyone, but of all types of gamers out there, Dota players are probably the ones that can appreciate the beauty and complexity of the Darkest Dungeon the most.
Civilization Series
One of the oldest game series in the world recently got its sixth installment and after many years of hard work and dedication it seems the developers have managed to figure out how to make multiplayer work without crashing or desynchronising every five turns.
Multiplayer in Civilization VI works and it works really well, making for amazing, intense matches which last up to 4 hours… For most players it will be a hard sell, but Dota players are used to spending full days in front of their PC, so it might be less of an issue. And it is generally worth it — the game has little random, rewards planning and strategy and allows for smart tactical plays when playing against human opponents.
If, however, you are more interested in playing AI, go for Civilization V instead. Civ VI has some great mechanics and at its core it is a deeper game, but it feels somewhat barebones, compared to Civ V. It also has some of the worst AIs, if you are a competitive player. The AI in Civ VI is there to entertain you and make you feel immersed with its agendas and roleplay. When it comes to actually playing the game, it is a bit of a pushover even on Deity. Civ V AI is a lot smarter and continues being a military threat for the most of the game, while making adequate attempts at winning by other means.
Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds
This “Flavor of the Month” game actually seems to be here to stay. Battle Royale-type of games are not a new concept, but for the first time it is done mostly right, creating novel and interesting scenarios over and over again, courtesy of its mostly sandbox approach to how you play.
It is also one of the few games where anything you can unlock is strictly cosmetic — there are no pay to win elements (just like Dota), no stats to acquire (just like Dota) and generally no ways of getting an advantage over your opponent outside of the game itself.
Matches are quick, fast-paced and once you are out, no one stops you from finding the next one. They are also a lot more fun if you are playing with a group of friends in a team deathmatch — you will still probably need to carry that one friend who you like, but hate playing with, but the issue won’t be as obvious in a shooter game with a rather low skill floor. While it is much easier to get into PUBG, there is a certain degree of difficulty and learning that makes the game interesting. Knowing the terrain, all types of weapons and ammunitions and even learning the sound of every weapon can heavily impact your gameplay for the better, a progress that feels very rewarding.
Being a sucker for games that kick you in the nuts for making a wrong move, I also have a bad habit of playing an equally stressful game before opening Dota. I would habitually drive a few stages on Richard Burns Rally while waiting for updates, and effectively prime myself with pre-tilt from fixating all my focus but crashing somewhere mid-stage.
lol, i had them all in my Steam Library...
Xcom series. Enemy within and xcom2. Change ur difficulty but always make sure u playing ironman. And test how tought and strategic u are commander.
Xcom series. Enemy within and xcom2. Change ur difficulty but always make sure u playing ironman. And test how tought and strategic u are commander.