League of Legends and Arcane might take place in the same universe, but they couldn’t be more different. Yet with the popularity of the animated show, many are questioning whether they will enjoy the MOBA if they loved the show inspired by it. Hot tip: you will not.
I had the same conversation with myself when the first season debuted in 2021. I loved Arcane so much that I had a sudden urge to consume all related media. I became one of the few regular Legends of Runeterra players because it had cute lesbian cards, while the folks over at Riot made a concerted effort for them to be palatable for newcomers.
League of Legends and Arcane Couldn’t Be More Different
You also have games like Teamfight Tactics, a more appealing version of League that is very easy to recommend, but the main experience is still a MOBA defined by almost two decades of ingrained toxicity. It has an audience that is a far cry from the relatively progressive fans we’ve seen gravitate towards Arcane. I’d recommend a lot of the solitary games that have come out over the past several years, like The Mageseeker, Ruined King, Bandle Tale, and Convergence, rather than League itself. They are distinct in genre, introduce you to compelling characters, and don’t ask you to team up with strangers demanding you kill yourself.
Perhaps I’m just not hardened enough to enjoy League of Legends, but it exists in a space where learning to play is incredibly difficult, and failing to know your role or stay within your lane is frequently met with toxicity. Games can take upwards of 30 minutes too, meaning it requires you to pick a character you have no experience with, play as them, and pray you will come out of the other side unscathed. Trial by fire is one thing, but getting into League is asking you to cast all other games aside and pretty much ruin your life.
But Part Of Me Still Wants To Jump In
Despite my reservations, the Riot marketing machine has me looking at new skins and character designs in League of Legends with envy. I want to play as revamped versions of Caitlyn and Vi with Arcane-inspired costumes and dialogue, even if it’s within a genre that I just don’t enjoy. I’m not going to have a good time, nor do I have the patience or skill to learn a game when the community is willing to spit me back out.
Chances are you won’t either, and the community that remains faithful to League of Legends as a video game couldn’t be more different than the legions of people falling in love with Arcane. There is some crossover, but such outliers will always be the exception.
But what if you’ve never played video games before and this MOBA that is designed to run on pretty much everything is calling your name? Give it a try, by all means, but be ready to walk away or commit yourself to a gauntlet of complicated mechanics and players who will drag you through the dirt if they have to.
If it’s the storytelling, animation, and characters or Arcane that cast a spell on you, I’d recommend checking out shows similar to Arcane or a narrative adventure game or two with similar thematic ideas.
Arcane Is Its Own Beast With Or Without League Of Legends
Arcane worked because it understood the inherent appeal the League of Legends world has, but how the entirety of Runeterra was locked within a genre that isn’t designed to tell stories, let alone allow us to grow closer to characters. Though marketing execs intend for Arcane to sell us the game that inspired it, the show is so much bigger than that. Whether you play League or not, as a viewer, that ultimately doesn’t matter, you’re still a part of the ecosystem.
I fell in love with this show because it took the foundations of League of Legends’ universe and characters and made them into something more. It gave them surnames, backstories, and something to fight for beyond a generic point in the battle arena.
The fact it made Runeterra so appealing to so many people who may have never even heard of Riot’s free-to-play behemoth is a massive achievement, but I implore those on the fence to throw the MOBA aside if they’re thinking about jumping in. It will consume and destroy you. So if you want more Arcane, just read some fanfiction like the rest of us.
