I’ve been playing League of Legends on and off for 8 years, with over 3,000 hours logged across casual queues, ranked climbs, and late-night ARAM sessions with friends. I get the same question from new gamers and people who haven’t touched the game since Season 3 all the time: is League of Legends worth playing? It’s not a simple yes or no answer, because it depends heavily on what you look for in a game, how much time you can commit, and what your tolerance for occasional frustration is. This guide breaks down every angle to help you make the call without wasting 10 hours downloading the game first.
Core Factors That Answer If League of Legends Is Worth Playing
First, let’s cover the basics of what makes League stand out from other MOBAs on the market, because these core traits are what make millions of players log in every single day. Constant content updates mean the game never feels stale, with new champions dropping every few months, balance patches every two weeks, and limited-time game modes that pop up for holidays or special events. You’ll never run out of new things to try, even if you’ve played for a decade.
The second big factor is unmatched champion diversity, with over 160 playable characters as of the latest update. You can play a sentient tree that heals your team, an edgy assassin that one-shots enemies from the shadows, a mage that throws candy at people, or a giant armored bear that shoots lightning. There’s no other game that has such a wide range of playstyles wrapped into one package, so you can switch up your role every game if you get bored.
The third core factor is the community and social aspect. It’s one of the few games where you can queue up with 4 friends for a 5v5 match, or join random solo queues and meet people who share your love of specific champions. The global esports scene also adds another layer of engagement, with millions of fans tuning in to watch the World Championship every year.
The Biggest Pros of Playing League of Legends
If you’re on the fence about giving the game a try, these upsides are why it’s remained one of the most popular PC games in the world for over 10 years.
- You can play for hundreds of hours without spending a dime. The entire core game is 100% free, and the only paid items are cosmetic skins that don’t give any in-game advantage. You can unlock every champion in the game just by playing matches and earning in-game currency, no paywalls required.
- There’s a playstyle for every type of gamer. If you hate high-pressure competitive play, you can stick to casual ARAM or rotating game modes like URF that are designed purely for fun. If you love competition, the ranked ladder lets you climb from Iron to Challenger as you improve your skills.
- It’s extremely accessible for new players as long as you take it slow. Riot has added tons of onboarding tools in recent years, including tutorial modes, recommended builds for new champions, and skill level-based matchmaking that pairs you with other new players for your first few dozen games.
- It’s easy to connect with friends across different skill levels. You can queue up with a friend who’s been playing for 5 years and a friend who’s never touched a MOBA before, and the matchmaking system will adjust to find a fair match for your group.
The fully free-to-play core experience is a huge draw for people who don’t want to drop $60 on a new game only to find out they don’t like it. You can download it for free, play for 10 hours, and walk away with no financial loss if it’s not for you. Even if you do get into it, you only spend money if you want to buy a cool skin for your favorite champion, no pressure at all.
I’ve introduced at least 12 friends to the game over the years, and most of them stuck with it because they could play on their own terms. Some only play ARAM once a week when they have free time, others climb the ranked ladder every season, and a few just log in to play the limited-time April Fools modes every year. There’s no wrong way to play, which is a big part of its long-term appeal.
Reasons You Might Want to Skip League of Legends
It’s not all fun and skins, though. There are some very real downsides that make the game a bad fit for a lot of people. The biggest issue most people run into is that player toxicity is a very real problem. Even with Riot’s improved reporting and moderation systems, you will occasionally run into players who yell at you in chat for making a small mistake, especially in ranked queues. If you’re someone who gets easily frustrated by rude comments, you’ll want to turn off chat entirely when you play.
Another big downside is the steep learning curve. You won’t be good at the game for your first 20 or 30 matches, and that’s totally normal, but a lot of new players get discouraged when they get crushed by more experienced players. There’s a lot to learn, from champion abilities to item builds to map strategy, and it can feel overwhelming if you don’t have a friend to walk you through it. I still learn new tricks and interactions even after 8 years of playing, which is fun for some people but stressful for others.
It also can be a huge time sink if you’re not careful. A single Summoner’s Rift match lasts between 25 and 45 minutes, and it’s easy to sit down for “one quick game” and end up playing for 3 hours. If you have a busy schedule with limited gaming time, you might prefer shorter, more casual games that you can finish in 10 or 15 minutes. I’ve definitely missed plans before because I got wrapped up in a long ranked match, and that’s a common experience for regular players.
How to Test If League Is Right for You Without Wasting Time
If you’re still on the fence, there’s a low-effort way to test the game without committing dozens of hours. First, start with co-op vs AI matches first instead of jumping straight into player vs player queues. You’ll play against computer-controlled opponents with other new players, so you can learn the basics without getting flamed for making mistakes. I always recommend this to new players, because it takes most of the pressure off while you get used to the controls and map layout.
Try out at least 3 different roles in your first 10 matches. A lot of new players start with the mid lane or ADC role and get discouraged because they’re too high-pressure, but they love playing support or top lane where there’s less stress. Don’t write off the game entirely just because you don’t like the first champion you try. I hated the game for my first 5 matches until I tried a support champion, and now it’s my main role.
Avoid ranked play for your first 20 to 30 games. Ranked queues are where most of the toxicity and frustration comes from, and you don’t need to touch it until you’re comfortable with the game and want to test your skills against other players of a similar level. Stick to casual queues until you’re having fun consistently, and only try ranked if you want to. You can play the game for years and never touch ranked, and that’s totally fine.
If you have a friend who already plays, ask them to queue up with you for your first few games. They can explain the basics to you, answer questions, and make the whole experience a lot less overwhelming. Playing with friends also makes the occasional loss a lot more fun, because you can laugh about it together instead of getting frustrated. Some of my best gaming memories are from losing 40-minute matches with friends, even though we were annoyed at the loss itself.
At the end of the day, only you can decide if League of Legends is worth playing for your lifestyle and preferences. If you want a free game with endless content, lots of ways to play with friends, and room to improve over time, it’s one of the best options on the market. If you hate dealing with rude players, don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to learning new games, or get easily frustrated by losses, it’s probably not the right fit for you. There’s no shame in testing it out for a few hours and walking away if it’s not fun, after all, the whole point of playing games is to have a good time.