Who plays League of Legends?
League of Legends is played mainly by teenagers and young adults, roughly 16 to 30, with a male majority but a growing share of women. Its players tend to like team strategy, competition and esports, and many first get into the game through friends or by watching streams and tournaments. Riot designed it as free-to-play and runs on most PCs, which keeps the audience broad.
Where League is popular
- China and South Korea: the largest and most competitive scenes; Korea's LCK and China's LPL are top leagues.
- Europe and North America: big player bases and their own professional leagues, such as the LEC in Europe.
- Southeast Asia, Vietnam, Brazil and Latin America: large and active communities.
Why people play
- Team-based strategy with deep mechanics and 160+ champions.
- Ranked competition and a clear skill ladder.
- One of the biggest esports, with the World Championship drawing huge audiences.
- Spin-offs like Arcane, Teamfight Tactics and Wild Rift that bring new fans.
League of Legends vs Dota 2
Both are MOBAs inspired by the original Defense of the Ancients mod for Warcraft III. League is generally considered more approachable, with shorter matches and simpler mechanics; Dota 2 has a smaller but very dedicated audience, especially in Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia.
FAQ
Which came first, Dota or League of Legends?
The original DotA mod came first. League of Legends launched in 2009, and Dota 2 in 2013.
Which is harder, Dota 2 or League?
Dota 2 is usually considered harder to learn because of more complex mechanics, but both are hard to master.
How many people play League of Legends?
Riot has reported well over 100 million monthly players in past years; exact current figures are not published regularly.