On paper it all looks so simple. Strip the base-building and resource-gathering elements from a traditional RTS and give players just one unit to control. The catch – and the source of much of the game's undeniable magic – is that a single unit is no ordinary RTS grunt. He/she/it is one of 60 fantasy heroes each with their own unique strengths, weaknesses, and customisable upgrade paths.
There are leafy treemen, armoured owls, acrobatic pandas, sorcerous newts, demonic puppeteers… Add in an Aladdin's Cave of purchasable magical items, and you have a recipe for infinitely subtle, improbably replayable multiplayer team duelling.
Heroes of Newerth is receiving its final content update in the latest patch
If you're looking to improve your MOBA horizons or just want new options, then we've got a list of games like League of Legends.
Fly, MoonMeander and N0tail mastered Dota – by playing another game first.
