Sometimes Dota is too stressful, and you just want to kick back and have some fun with your friends.
Dota 2 custom games are a great way to relax between matches, or for some, these custom games are the sole reason for downloading Dota 2. Arcade games can be enjoyed by anyone, no matter your skill level. This list will give you the top 10 best Dota 2 Arcade games and why they are fun to play.
10. Roshan Defense
A well equipped Roshan our heroes are protecting
Roshan Defense is a PvE mode that pits five players against relentless waves of creeps and bosses. While fending off these mobs, you must protect Roshan from taking damage any way you can. Each of the bosses you encounter has unique abilities. You will need a combination of coordination, execution, and strategy to beat them.
The enjoyment of this arcade game comes from learning and mastering new abilities and items. This game can be played casually at lower difficulties and can get extremely challenging on the highest difficulty. If you love PvE custom games, this is one you shouldn't miss.
9. 10v10
10 versus 10 Dota 2
10v10 is precisely what it sounds like, ten players against ten players on a normal Dota 2 map. This game mode was created by Valve and was even featured in the TI5 all-star match. Many players like this mode because it bends the rules just enough to make it different from regular Dota, but keeps the main features of Dota we all know and love.
What makes Dota 10v10 fun is the inherent chaos that comes with putting twenty heroes on the same map. Not only is the player count multiplied, but players get increased gold and experience as well. These changes from normal Dota make for an entertaining experience that's less competitive than regular Dota.
8. Overthrow
Valve's official loading screen for Overthrow
Overthrow is unique, as Valve created it to showcase the abilities of their custom game editor. All of the playable characters are identical to their Dota 2 counterparts, with only items getting tweaked to fit the game mode. Players compete for a spot in the Midas Throne to rack up gold for their heroes. Using this gold, they can buy items and start to get kills. The team with the most kills wins.
You can enjoy Overthrow alone or with a team of two, three, four, or five. The fun of Overthrow comes from creating unique team combinations and putting your skills to the test. Overthrow can also be a great place to practice heroes you aren't yet comfortable with.
7. Training Polygon
An Antimage preparing to Manta-dodge Lion's Finger of Death
Training Polygon is a training mode that can help any player improve, no matter the skill level. Training Polygon is a single-player game and is not multiplayer like the rest on this list. It's a fully customizable mode that tests your reaction time and proficiency on certain heroes.
This is an arcade game everyone should try as its usefulness extends to everyone. Even Arteezy has been known to play it on stream while searching for a match. It can be incredibly effective at improving a player's proficiency at Manta dodging, landing Pudge hooks, or even swapping spells on Invoker.
6. Omni Party
The official image for the Omni Party custom game
Omni Party doesn't hide the fact that Mario Party heavily inspires it. It's a collection of ten mini-games that test the player's ability to button mash, micromanage, and strategize. Each mini-game is simple but unique.
Omni Party is an arcade game that's best enjoyed with friends. The mini-games are silly and engaging. But don't let that fool you, as friendships will be tested if your friends are the competitive type.
5. Hardcore Ninja
The player's ninja just finished destroying their opponent
Hardcore Ninja is a game based entirely around reflexes. It’s a PvP mode that pits players against each other in a square arena. Players will need to dodge, shield, and blink away from enemy projectiles if they hope to win.
Hardcore Ninja can be incredibly addictive if you love competitive games. Although, if you are a Dota 2 player, chances are you enjoy competition more than the average gamer. Dota 2's responsive controls and tight movement make it perfect for these reflex games.
4. Dota Run
Dota Run's official custom game image
If Omni Party is the Mario Party of Dota 2, then Dota Run is the Mario Kart. Players race to the finish while dodging obstacles and enemy projectiles along the way. Whoever makes it to the end first is crowned the victor.
Dota Run is incredibly fun when played with friends. Sabotaging your friends by throwing powerups at them is just as fun as it is in Mario Kart. The randomness of the powerups and the RNG of the obstacles give this game plenty of replayability.
3. Watcher of Samsara
The players attempting to defend against the onslaught of enemies
Watcher of Samsara is in the tower defense genre, a genre many of you will be familiar with. You team up with up to 3 players to defend against the onslaught of creeps pushing into your base. You defend by drafting heroes and soldiers to fight for you.
Although the heroes and creeps are stationary, the game is rich in strategy. The recruits are often random, making adaption an essential skill for success. At the beginning of each game, you can choose your difficulty, with the highest difficulty having a global ranking system. It's incredibly fun to improve and use your newfound skills to proceed to the next difficulty.
2. Custom Hero Chaos
The player is picking their starting hero
Custom Hero Chaos is unique, as it's a mix of PvE and PvP. This arcade game is played with seven other players where you take control of a randomly selected hero. Players start the game by selecting a skill from a randomly generated list of options. After this, they will fight creeps in a round-based system until being pitted against each other in a 1v1 format. If the player loses too many rounds, they will be eliminated from the game. The last surviving player wins.
What makes Custom Hero Chaos fun to play is its inherent randomness and its addictive betting system. Every time players go into a 1v1, the other players can bet gold on who will win. This system encourages players to take risks and hope for the best.
1. Auto-chess
An Auto -Chess battle to the death
he most well-known Dota 2 custom game, Auto-chess, is a unique PvP game that's incredibly addictive. Contrary to the title, the only similarity to chess is the board you play on. At first glance, the game seems simple. Each round, you pick a hero, put it on the board, and let it fight for you. But a new player will soon find out it’s much more complicated than it looks.
Like Watcher of Samsara, being able to adapt to each match is the key to success. It is incredibly nuanced, and much of the fun comes from improving at the game. Because each game is riddled with RNG, it always feels like next game you will get lucky, so might as well play again. This has kept people playing actively since its 2019 release date.
