After a long session of solo or party queue games in Dota, it is obvious that one gets tired of the same old game mode. That’s when you switch it up a bit by trying out Arcade games. Arcade or Custom games as they are called, are various game modes, different from the normal Dota you are used to playing. The custom games have features and creatures that you may not have seen anywhere else in the game! These game modes are often enjoyed better with friends and can result in some fun and memorable game nights.
With so many Arcade games in the Steam Workshop, it may not be possible to try all of them to find one which you like. That’s where we step in! We bring you the Best 15 Arcade Games We Love, which are both fun to play and challenging at the same time.
15. Roshpit Champions
Once the rage, Roshpit Champions is one of the most played custom games in recent times. It is an RPG that can have up to 4 players, with 23 unique heroes to choose from. There are over 270 items, which vary in their purpose and ability. If you are tired of the same old party queue games then it is ideal that you try this arcade mode to have some quality time with friends.The game begins with you slaying different NPCs, which drop loot or other items which can be beneficial in the later stages of the game. There are various levels to the root items as well, making the game more interesting. The goal of the game is to get extremely overpowered and destroy the final NPC boss, which takes quite a coordination and team effort to do so. This game is extremely enjoyable with friends and gets better as you keep on playing.
14. Legends of Dota
Legends of Dota is quite the niche arcade mode, it has been around for a while, but it hasn’t been getting the deserved attention it deserves. The game mode is extremely similar to Ability Draft, where you get to craft a new hero by picking abilities from a pool, barring a few exceptions.
Earlier, you could select up to 4 abilities like the normal Ability Draft, but now the number has been upped to 6, making it extremely chaotic to play. The game is immensely fun if you’re planning to end the game night with your friends, with so much chaos and everlasting memories!
13. Dota Run
Dota Run is essentially a Need For Speed mod for Dota. It is exactly what you think it is, it’s the all-supreme Olympics where all players race, with the addition of some obstacles and annoying disturbances by peers. This game is highly entertaining if you have a few friends to play along with. The game in the later stages can get very competitive, as it is a racing game.
Dota Run is a hilariously fun mode that has unique spells and animations which can be rather humorous at times. This is one of the few custom games on this list that does not require the player to be skilled. It is a real example of a casual mode.
12. Custom Hero Chaos
Custom Hero Chaos is quite the niche arcade mode, it has been around for a while, but it hasn’t been getting the deserved attention that it deserves. You are allotted a random hero, and you select your abilities just like the ability draft mode. After a basic fight against the creeps, you are pitted against the remaining 7 players, and the one that survives wins the game! It's essentially a Dota battle royale.
Earlier, you could select up to 4 abilities like the normal Ability Draft, but now the number has been upped to 6, making it extremely chaotic to play. The game is immensely fun if you’re planning to end the game night with your friends, with so much chaos and everlasting memories!
11. Attack on Hero
Inspired by the critically acclaimed anime Attack on Titan, you have to hold your ground and survive against 36 waves of monsters, The difficulty of the monsters increases with their levels. The game mode gets more challenging as the hero skills are altered and swapped along with the addition of custom items.
Attack on Hero caters to the casual Dota audience. Since this is a PvE mode with up to 5 players, you may feel more relaxed than you usually do in your ranked Herald games. Just call a few friends and make it a fun custom game night with Attack on Hero!
10. Skil Shot Wars
If you are having difficulties in landing those game-changing skill shots, then this mode will help you learn how to land them precisely while having fun. In Skillshot Wars, every player has the same spells, Mirana Arrow, Pudge Hook, Invoker Sunstrike, and Clockwerk Hookshot. Your goal is to lock down and slay the enemies with those skills shots.
This custom game mode is extremely gripping if you are a new player who is struggling to land the skill shots. This game may get competitive pretty quickly since it requires some team communication so you don’t end up stacking the spells!
9. Angel Arena Reborn
Angel Arena is one of the OG custom games when the custom games were first introduced back in 2015. Originally designed as a mod for Warcraft 3, Angel Arena has found its way into Dota 2, hence the name Angel Arena Reborn. It’s a 5v5 PvP mode with a simple goal in mind, the first team to reach 100 kills wins the game.
And that’s not it! With over 10 unique heroes and 50 interesting items, you are guaranteed to learn a new strategy or playstyle no matter how many hours you’ve spent playing it. Good team coordination and synergy will lead you to victory in this mode. If you plan on having a Dota game night with your friends, Angel Arena Reborn can result in long-lasting and fun memories.
8. Hardcore Ninja
Hardcore Nina was designed to test your reflexes. It can be played both as a 5v5 or 1v1 if you like the standoffs. You play as Juggernaut, but with the abilities that you only see in the Ability draft mode. You have both offensive and defensive spells which are the same for all players. You need god-tier reflexes in this game mode because no one enjoys getting wrecked in this game.
You can dodge spells with Refraction, move away from enemies using Blink, or you could show your offensive side by using Shockwave or Stifling Dagger to assassinate your enemies. If your offensive spells land then it is a confirmed kill. Adapting to this mode can be hard for casual players, as the skill level required is high. The regular and more competitive players will have an edge in this mode. It all boils down to your reflexes.
7. Watcher of Samsara
In Watcher of Samsara, you will be fighting against the deadly horde of creeps with 3 teammates on your side to guard your Towers. It is similar to normal Dota game mode, but the only difference is you defend towers instead of ancients. You can appoint 8 creeps yourself to assist you on the battlefield. Watcher of Samsara
The game ends if the creeps are successful in outnumbering you. You can prove to be successful when you face the final boss, the almighty Roshan. Even if you are a newbie or a veteran, this game remains enjoyable as you can choose the difficulty before starting the game. Watcher of Samsara is addictive due to its replayability and RNG.
6. Overthrow
The prestigious Overthrow holds the title of being the first of a few Valve-designed arcade games. Overthrow has different map settings, which range from two players on each team, four in total, fighting it out to a more hardcore setting of three teams of five players ferociously ripping each other apart.
The team with the most kills wins the game of Overthrow, it is as simple as that! Typically, most kills take place in the center of the map, right next to the Midas Throne. The throne drops random items as well as huge chunks of gold randomly on the map. Overthrow is a mode best enjoyed with friends. Its unpredictable and chaotic nature of it makes it a unique and fun arcade game.
5. Atomic War
One of the recent sensations in Dota custom game world is Atomic War. To master this game, it is essential to be well-versed in the normal game of Dota. Currently, you can choose from over 20 lords to use for a skirmish in this arcade mode. You get to choose between one of the four options in the picking phase, every lord has bonuses that are different from the actual game’s bonuses.
The game finally begins, you get to buy heroes with the starting gold. You can place only one hero at a time on the battlefield board. The fight starts and your hero skirmishes with the other heroes, which is out of your control, you can only buy items before the start of every round to strengthen your heroes and dominate the game. The last man remaining is considered to be the winner. This game may sound complex to play but is extremely easy if you get the hang of it.
4. Dota 10v10
As if the game couldn’t get any more chaotic, Dota 10v10 is exactly what it’s called, 10 players on two teams each, battling it out on a normal-sized map of Dota. Talk about claustrophobia. Other than increased XP and gold there aren’t many changes in this game, except the chaos that ensues every two minutes.
On paper, this may sound like a hectic and competitive mode, but in reality, it is hard to take this game seriously due to its vast and unpredictable nature. Wander in the enemy jungle alone and you are guaranteed to get ganked by 6 blood-thirsty enemy heroes! Dota 10v10 was a fresh breath of air in the game as people got fatigued from the same 5v5 mode. It is always nice to take a break from the competitive games and enjoy a few rounds of custom 10v10 chaos.
3. Dota 2 IMBA
If you don’t think that Dota is a balanced game, then Dota 2 IMBA will change your mind about it. This custom mode is what you would expect if the devs just decided to buff everything in the game. Everything, including towers, runes, most heroes, and even Roshan is buffed in this mode. Essentially, this is Dota on steroids, and there is no stopping how chaotic this game mode can get. Just imagine Roshan stomping you to death when you hit him just once.
Dota 2 IMBA is a hilariously fun mode that has unique spells and animations which can be rather humorous at times. This is one of the few custom games on this list that does not require the player to be skilled at the game. It is a real example of a casual mode.
2. AutoChess
Auto Chess is by far the most famous arcade game in Dota 2. There aren’t many similarities to chess except the layout and a few basic concepts. Auto Chess has achieved acclaim from gamers outside the Dota space. Tens of thousands of people downloaded Dota just for this custom mode. It is a turn-based game (akin to chess), where you’re up against 7 other players, but after you place the heroes, they automatically start fighting each other! Have you never seen that in a real chess game, have you?
This game is entirely dependent on RNG, so you just sit back and watch your heroes slay the other heroes and proceed to the next round until one player proves victorious. The game may look rather easy for a beginner, but it takes hours of play to understand the dynamics of it, but just like real chess, you improve with time!
1. Pudge Wars
This game mode lets all 10 players enter the battlefield as the hook-wielding butcher as if one Pudge on your team wasn’t enough. The two teams of 5 are divided by an uncrossable river, with only the hook ability available. As the game mode progresses, all the Pudges will gain certain abilities which are unique from each other, giving them an edge over their enemies. Just like other game modes on this list, the first team to reach the set amount of kills, wins the game.
Not only is Pudge Wars one of the most played Dota Arcade games, but it is also a blast from the past for many Warcraft 3 players, bringing back those LAN cafe memories. It is an ode to the Pudge Wars mod from Warcraft 3, providing the exact fun and exciting experience.
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