Arena of Valor

Arena of Valor is the international version of the game that, in its home country of China under the name Honor of Kings, has long been among the highest-grossing mobile titles in the world. TiMi Studio Group, the same studio behind Call of Duty: Mobile, adjusted the maps and match pace compared to classic PC MOBAs so that a fight fits into fifteen minutes and is comfortably controlled with thumbs on a touchscreen – a virtual joystick on the left, abilities and attacks on the right, similar to competing titles in the genre. The hero roster was also filled out with crossover characters from other brands, including licensed DC Comics heroes, which was unusual for the genre at the time.

Unlike the domestic Chinese market, where the game benefits from a massive player base and a strong esports foundation, the global Arena of Valor never really broke through in Europe and North America – even though Tencent invested substantial resources in promotion and localization, including sponsorships and marketing campaigns, in the West the space was already taken by earlier-established competition, mainly Mobile Legends and later Wild Rift. Monetization rests on unlocking heroes with in-game currency or direct purchase and on cosmetic skins sold for real money; purchases don't affect gameplay itself. The game thus remains an interesting example of a title that's a phenomenon in one part of the world and an almost unknown name in another.

Why play: For MOBA genre fans who want to try a variant different from the established Western hits, keeping in mind that the player community outside Asia is considerably smaller and matchmaking reflects that.