First-person MOBA games have transformed competitive team-based gaming. Traditional MOBAs use a top-down view, but new games like Predecessor are changing this approach. Predecessor stands as the only MOBA built on Unreal Engine 5 and provides stunning graphics with full crossplay support for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation.
The genre keeps growing with innovative titles. Battleborn pits two five-player teams against each other in intense combat to destroy enemy sentries. Major developers see potential in this hybrid genre too. Valve’s Deadlock has already earned positive user ratings of 3.35 on Grouvee.
Professional players’ experiences reveal fascinating insights about first-person MOBAs. This piece covers everything from gameplay mechanics to key differences between first and third-person views. You’ll understand why competitive gamers worldwide are drawn to this exciting genre.
The Evolution of First Person MOBA Games
Image Source: COGconnected
MOBA games started in the early 2000s and have their roots in real-time strategy games. Custom maps and mods laid the groundwork for what would become a new competitive gaming genre, before first-person MOBA games came into existence.
From MOBA elements in shooters to full hybrid games
Eon of Strife, a custom map for StarCraft created in 1998, kicked off traditional MOBAs. Players controlled a single hero unit against computer-controlled opponents across three lanes. The genre took a big step forward when Eul created Defense of the Ancients (DotA) in 2003 for Warcraft III. DotA established the core mechanics that would shape the genre.
First-person MOBA experiences didn’t appear right away. League of Legends (2009) and Dota 2 (2013) became hugely popular, and game developers started to blend MOBA strategic elements with first-person shooter mechanics. This mix began with shooter games that added team-based objectives and hero-like character classes.
A breakthrough came when developers found ways to combine MOBAs’ strategic depth with immersive first-person combat. Players could now enjoy tactical team coordination and quick-paced shooter gameplay at once, creating something entirely new.
The first hybrid games leaned toward either MOBAs or shooters. Some games added MOBA elements like lane-based objectives to shooter experiences. Others took MOBA gameplay and showed it from a first-person view. Later games managed to balance both elements equally.
Red Fox Insights called these games “MOBA-infused shooters” and noted how they stood apart while appealing to the same audience. Players from both genres found something they liked, creating an appeal that standard games couldn’t match.
Key milestones in the genre’s development
Several games shaped first-person MOBA games:
Battleborn (2016) balanced FPS, MOBA, and Tower Defense elements. It added a single-player campaign alongside competitive modes, which helped attract more players than other games in the genre.
Gigantic brought artistic team-based combat to the scene. Teams of five players fought to destroy enemy guardians while protecting their own, mixing hero-shooter elements with strategic MOBA objectives. The game came back in 2023 as a premium USD 20 title without microtransactions after its initial shutdown.
Predecessor took MOBA mechanics into a third-person shooter format, building on ideas from Epic Games’ discontinued MOBA, Paragon. Built in Unreal Engine 5, the game features 35 playable characters and lets players compete across different platforms. The game added ranked modes and new heroes before its full release after drawing over one million players during its 2024 open beta.
Deadlock, Valve’s newest creation, brings fresh ideas to first-person MOBAs. This 6v6 team-based hero shooter and MOBA hybrid takes inspiration from League of Legends, Heroes of the Storm, and Valve’s Dota titles. The game surpassed 100,000 concurrent players in its closed beta while still under development.
I am glad you are enjoying this content… I have other articles related to this topic… Click Here
Developers keep improving the balance between strategic MOBA elements and immersive first-person gameplay. These hybrid games let players experience deep strategy and team coordination along with intense first-person action.
The genre now reaches beyond PC to console and mobile platforms, making these games accessible to more people. This broader reach and competitive nature make first-person MOBAs a powerful force in esports today.
Breaking Down the Top First Person MOBA Games
Image Source: TweakTown
The digital world of first-person MOBA games has grown faster over the last several years. Several standout titles now expand the boundaries between traditional MOBAs and first-person shooters. These hybrid games give players a unique experience that combines team strategy with first-person action.
Deadlock: Valve’s new shooter MOBA hybrid
Valve’s Deadlock stands as the newest high-profile game in the first-person MOBA genre. This 6v6 team-based game combines MOBA elements with shooter mechanics in an 80% MOBA to 20% hero shooter ratio. The game features four lanes with three layers of turrets, followed by Shrines that work as inhibitors. Players must destroy these to reach the enemy base.
Deadlock’s appeal comes from its classic MOBA mechanics like:
- Laning and denying creeps
- Neutral monster camps for additional resources
- Soul collection system for purchasing equipment
- Progressive game phases (early, mid, late)
T
he game puts a strong emphasis on gunplay and verticality. Players battle in “The Cursed Apple,” a reimagined New York where humans, robots, and demons fight for control. Most matches take 20-30 minutes but can last 45-60 minutes in close games.
Gigantic: The artistic team-based combat experience
Gigantic stands out with its vibrant art style and guardian-based gameplay mechanics. After Motiga’s original release, the game returned as Gigantic: Rampage Edition, a premium version without the free-to-play model and microtransactions.
This 5v5 MOBA hero shooter offers 25 playable heroes, including Roland and Kajir who joined in the Rampage Edition. Players must control map points and coordinate attacks on the enemy guardian while protecting their own.
The Rampage Edition brought cross-platform play between consoles and PC. Players got two new maps (Picaro Bay and Heaven’s Ward) and an optimized “Rush” mode that’s more available to new players. The original “Clash” mode stays available for players who want more strategic depth.
Battleborn: What went wrong with this pioneer
Gearbox Software launched Battleborn in May 2016 as one of the first true first-person MOBAs. The game came with 25 unique characters, featuring per-match leveling systems and skill trees. Its Incursion mode showed its MOBA roots clearly, as two five-player teams fought on laned maps with minions and sentry objectives.
The game’s early promise faded quickly. PC player numbers dropped from 12,000 at launch to under 1,000 by July 2016. Gearbox ended up shutting down the servers permanently in January 2021.
There’s another reason for Battleborn’s failure. The game launched just before Blizzard’s Overwatch, which created unexpected collateral damage. On top of that, its marketing didn’t explain the MOBA elements well enough. Many players expected a Borderlands-style shooter instead of a strategy-focused experience. New players struggled with the game’s learning curve and chaotic team fights.
Other notable entries in the genre
The first-person MOBA world includes several other important games. Predecessor combines MOBA strategy with third-person shooter mechanics, offering three-lane gameplay, high-quality graphics, and vertical map design. Its free-to-play version has attracted over 2 million players, showing that shooter-MOBA hybrids still appeal to many gamers.
Super Monday Night Combat and Smite also explored this space, though Smite’s third-person view separates it from true first-person MOBAs. Each game has helped refine the balance between shooter mechanics and strategic MOBA elements in this growing genre.
Core Gameplay Mechanics That Set These Games Apart
Image Source: PC Gamer
The essence of first-person MOBA games goes beyond their viewpoint. These games create a unique gaming experience that sets them apart from regular shooters or MOBAs.
Objective-based gameplay vs. traditional shooters
First-person MOBA games put objectives at their core instead of just player elimination. Regular shooters measure success by kill counts and survival stats. These MOBAs challenge players to destroy enemy structures while protecting their base.
The battlefields in first-person MOBAs follow a well-laid-out design with specific victory conditions. To cite an instance, see these common elements:
- Destroying the enemy’s main structure (not just getting kills)
- Taking and holding strategic map points
- Moving or defending payloads/objectives
- Controlling AI minion waves that move along set paths
Games like Paladins show why “you must pick a champion with skills that will synchronize with your teammate’s picks.” Players can’t rely on aim skills alone. This strategic element revolutionizes the basic shooter format into something more intricate.
Regular shooters reward solo skill, but these games need team coordination. The team’s success depends on working together to destroy the enemy base while keeping their structures safe.
Hero abilities and their effect on combat flow
Combat in first-person MOBAs feels different because of hero abilities and character growth systems. Each character has “a set of 4 skills exclusive to them,” which creates unique battle scenarios.
Hero abilities change how fights play out compared to standard shooter combat. Players need to watch cooldowns, combine abilities, and manage resources along with aiming and moving. The rhythm of combat shifts to timing abilities rather than just shooting accurately.
Character customization adds another unique layer. Many first-person MOBAs use preset skill sets for different roles (Tank, DPS, Support) or let players customize abilities to match their style.
Yes, it is challenging for developers since “balancing the game would be a nightmare” with multiple character classes seen from first-person view. Questions like “How do you design AOE skills when FPS players can’t see who’s behind them?” show the unique hurdles these hybrid games face.
These games also feature longer survival times than traditional shooters. This slower pace lets teams work together and coordinate in ways that quick-death games cannot match.
The Pro Player’s Guide to Mastering First Person MOBAs
Becoming skilled at first-person MOBAs takes a unique set of abilities that blend traditional MOBA strategy with first-person shooter mechanics. My journey up the ranks in these hybrid games has taught me that players just need both transferable skills and completely new abilities.
Everything in traditional MOBAs that carries over
Map awareness stays crucial in first-person MOBAs. “Look at the mini map most of the time. That’s where your eyes should be,” advises one pro player. This alertness helps you track enemy movements and spot team opportunities.
Team coordination makes another vital skill that transfers well. “This is a team game. Play like a team. Help each other,” emphasizes a high-level player. Match outcomes often depend on knowing when your team should fight or back off together.
Your focus on objectives sets winning teams apart. Note that “the objective is to score points, not just knock out the enemy 20 times,” says an experienced competitor. Teams that put objectives before kills win consistently.
Skills you’ll have to develop
First-person view changes your positional awareness completely. Traditional MOBAs let you see behind your character, but first-person games need you to scan your surroundings constantly. Studies show that “MOBA and FPS gamers were found to have similar preferences for competitive and fast paced games requiring quick and precise actions”.
Managing abilities gets tougher when you can’t see everything around you. “How do you design AOE skills when FPS players can’t see who’s behind them?” expresses this unique challenge.
Professional players must handle multiple tasks under pressure:
- Track ability cooldowns (both friendly and enemy)
- Keep spatial awareness in three dimensions
- Work with teammates through voice chat
Mistakes good players still make
First-person MOBAs make tunnel vision especially dangerous. “When you die unnecessarily, you feed XP to the opponent, making their competitive advantage even bigger for the next fight,” explains a top player.
Even seasoned players struggle with being too aggressive. “You died solo from being too aggressive? Start over, figure out right then and there in the game if it was bad mechanics or over commitment,” advises a coach.
Players often fail because they don’t value team synergy enough. Many “expect too much out of their teammates, which is an unrealistic strategy that is entirely dependent on variables they can’t control”. Your best bet is to focus on your gameplay and adapt to your team’s style.
Why Third Person vs. First Person View Matters
Image Source: YouTube
Players’ experience of MOBA gameplay changes based on their point of view between first and third person views. This design choice reaches way beyond the reach and influence of just looks. It shapes core mechanics and strategic approaches.
Combat awareness differences
First-person point of view creates deeper immersion because players see the game through their character’s eyes. Studies show this view guides players toward greater “real-world dissociation” and mental involvement since they feel more connected to the action. The immersive quality comes at a heavy price to spatial awareness. Players cannot see what happens behind or beside them without turning around. This creates natural blind spots that third-person players don’t face.
Third-person point of view places the camera behind and above the avatar. Players can see their character and surroundings clearly. The wider field of view gives major tactical advantages. Players spot threats from multiple directions at once. Combat starts very differently – third-person players often spot enemies without being seen, which lets them make better strategic choices.
Ability targeting considerations
MOBA players find ability targeting nowhere near as simple in first-person view. Design challenges emerge with questions like “How do you design AOE skills when FPS players can’t see who’s behind them?” Players must rely on sound cues and minimap info to make up for limited visual feedback when using abilities.
Third-person views aid in targeting area-effect abilities since players see multiple enemies’ positions at once. Character abilities that need precise aim become “skillshots” in first-person view. This demands both mechanical skill and tactical knowledge.
Team fight visibility trade-offs
First-person MOBAs create visual chaos during intense team fights where “flashing lights and impressive effects obscured crucial visual information.” Players often end up “spamming fire in the general direction of the enemy” when they can’t process what they see.
Third-person view offers better battlefield awareness during team fights. First-person players adapt by developing better minimap awareness. They check it “every few seconds” to understand what’s happening. This dependence on extra information sources changes how teams coordinate compared to traditional MOBAs.
Conclusion
First-person MOBA games show evidence of gaming’s constant rise, as they blend strategic depth with immersive action. These games need both tactical thinking and precise mechanical skills. This creates an exceptional gaming experience that makes them different from traditional MOBAs or shooters.
Successful titles like Deadlock and Gigantic, among lessons from Battleborn’s challenges, reveal why competitive players love this genre. Teams excel when they become skilled at objective-based gameplay while managing the added complexity of first-person combat awareness.
My competitive gaming background has taught me that success in first-person MOBAs needs commitment to learning both transferable MOBA skills and new viewpoint-specific techniques. A player’s limited field of view makes map awareness even more significant. Ability management becomes more challenging in this format.
The first-person viewpoint does create some limitations compared to third-person views during team fights. Yet it delivers unmatched immersion and exciting gameplay possibilities. Players who accept these unique characteristics instead of resisting them often excel in this hybrid genre.
First-person MOBAs mark an exciting path for competitive gaming that combines strategic depth with immediate action. These games are a great way to get fresh challenges and grow as a player, whether you come from MOBA or FPS backgrounds.
FAQs
Q1. What are the key differences between first-person MOBA games and traditional MOBAs?
First-person MOBA games combine strategic elements of MOBAs with immersive first-person combat. They typically feature objective-based gameplay, hero abilities, and team coordination, but with a more limited field of view compared to traditional top-down MOBAs. This perspective change impacts combat awareness, ability targeting, and overall gameplay dynamics.
Q2. Which are some popular first-person MOBA games?
Some notable first-person MOBA games include Deadlock (Valve’s new shooter-MOBA hybrid), Gigantic (known for its artistic style), and Predecessor (built on Unreal Engine 5). While Battleborn was an early pioneer in the genre, it ultimately shut down due to various challenges.
Q3. How does the gameplay in first-person MOBAs differ from traditional shooters?
First-person MOBAs focus more on objective-based gameplay rather than just eliminating opponents. They often feature structured battlefields with specific goals, hero abilities that impact combat flow, and longer time-to-kill compared to traditional shooters. This creates a unique blend of strategic depth and immersive action.
Q4. What skills are essential for success in first-person MOBA games?
Success in first-person MOBAs requires a combination of traditional MOBA skills (like map awareness and team coordination) and FPS mechanics. Players must develop strong positional awareness, ability management in first-person view, and multitasking under pressure. Avoiding tunnel vision and overaggression are also crucial for high-level play.
Q5. How does the first-person perspective impact team fights in MOBA games?
The first-person view in MOBA games can create more visual chaos during intense team fights, making it harder to process information. Players often rely heavily on sound cues and minimap awareness to compensate for limited visual feedback. This perspective change fundamentally alters how team coordination occurs compared to traditional top-down MOBAs.
