If ever there was a game to prove that mobile gaming is now being taken seriously, Vainglory is exactly that game. Developed by Super Evil Megacorp, this free-to-play mobile game is available on iOS and Android devices and is a fantastic entry point into mobile gaming for newbies as well as hardcore gamers. The mobile version of Vainglory is a simplified version of the PC-based multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game. The MOBA genre is becoming incredibly popular with online and mobile gamers alike, with the ability to control a character in real-time and feel a genuine part of a team. As a fusion of action, strategy and role-playing gameplay, it’s unsurprising why Vainglory has taken mobile gaming up a notch, with no fancy gaming hardware necessary, as it often happens with PC titles.



On the face of it, what’s great about Vainglory is that it doesn’t pretend to be anything like other MOBA titles such as Dota 2 or League of Legends. It’s a compelling game in its own right, with engaging characters and detailed maps that offer a stiff test of any online team. To describe the game in simple terms, two teams of five battle it out to destroy their enemy’s base. They do so by dominating the walkways between each base, dotted with turrets and patrolled by AI enemy creatures. Players can venture off the beaten track to pick up much needed control points that give their team greater resources to reach the enemy’s base. It’s a really intriguing tug of war style game where each player really plays their part and can make a big difference.



The iOS mobile version of Vainglory has been available since November 2014 and the Android version was launched half a year later in July 2015. The game has become so popular that Super Evil Megacorp recently reached a deal to partner with Alibaba’s Alisports division and showcase Vainglory in the upcoming World Electronic Sports Games (WESG), featuring eSports professionals from across Asia. This year’s WESG event covers headline team-based games such as Counter Strike: Global Offensive, Hearthstone and StarCraft II. Vainglory’s inclusion is fantastic news for Super Evil Megacorp, who has invested a lot of time and energy into getting the game off the ground and building its following. Vainglory teams will be able to take part in WESG and play for a fraction of the $5.5 million tournament prize pool. Events such as WESG do wonders for the profile of eSports. Market researcher Newzoo anticipates the global eSports market to expand to 286 million regular viewers by the turn of the next decade, with millions more casual viewers.

There has certainly been a real shift from casual games to hardcore, purpose-built gaming on mobile devices of late. There are games now built for hour-upon-hour of gaming on mobile, rather than just ten minutes sitting on a bus. You’ve got sport-themed titles such as Football Manager Mobile and FIFA Mobile that incorporate much of the gameplay from their console-based ancestors. The former allows you to take part in manager challenges and even create your own club from scratch to play in any league you desire. Virtually every type of casino game is now available on mobile too, with native apps and in-browser options and all the mechanics available traditionally on PCs. There have been some quite epic RPG releases on mobile in the last 12 months too. Torment: Tides of Numenera was released to much fanfare and it also saw its predecessor, the 1999 cult classic Planescape: Torment remastered for mobile devices, set in the world of Wizards of the Coast's Dungeons & Dragons.

In Vainglory, there are five game modes that you can explore within the game. Standard 5v5, which sees two additional heroes added to each team and more objectives given; Standard 3x3, which sees the action unfold on the Halcyon map with a single battle lane; Battle Royale, which sees the action confined solely to the battle lane; Blitz, where players must accumulate as many in-game points as possible or reach the maximum 15 point total within a five-minute game; and Onslaught, which sees players pitted into sudden death battles with shrinking borders over five short, sharp rounds. Most battles last up to 20 minutes and eventually end when one team becomes too powerful for the enemy team to contain. Generally, the team that is able to capture the Kraken creature and use it to their advantage to destroy enemy turrets will win. The Kraken absorbs a tremendous amount of damage from opponents, so you don’t need to worry too much about protecting it.



Players have up to 37 different avatar options, known as heroes. The guys at Super Evil Megacorp are continuously adding to the options available to players in frequent updates. Each new hero offers different skills in combat, but all 37 currently available are evenly matched to offer fair play and many different strategy options. If you have the free-to-play version, there are a limited number of heroes you can choose from. However, the free-to-play roster is switched up most weeks is certainly a mobile game where in-game purchases can enhance the gaming experience. There are two in-game currencies you can accumulate towards in-game purchases. Glory, which is earned by completing missions in normal play; and Immensely Concentrated Evil (ICE). ICE can also be purchased with real money as well as earned with in-game achievements.

At the time of writing, Vainglory is arguably the only no-compromise MOBA game available on mobile devices. With immense depth to the gameplay, the characters and the strategy involved – combined with some of the most stimulating visuals and frame rates we've ever seen in a mobile game – it’s one that’s not to be missed.