Dota 2

 PC
User Score
6.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 11934 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7,265 out of 11934
  2. Mixed: 790 out of 11934
  3. Negative: 3,879 out of 11934

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  1. Jaragon
    Dec 2, 2013
    8
    Amazing, unique game. Only thing is there are just so much heroes its pretty hard to figure out which one is your favorite, the tutorial introduces you to a couple of them but there are alot more out there that players will miss on because they want to stick to the heroes they know.
  2. TheRockerDude
    Dec 10, 2013
    8
    I easily gave this game a 8/10. Dota 2 is an amazement to have. I've played it since the beta and still find people better than me, which provides an ever-lasting challenge. I have yet to spend any money on it, but i do enjoy how it's free to play and the items you can buy doesn't make you any better or worse. Dota 2 is based on skill and teamwork, which is hard to find in games theseI easily gave this game a 8/10. Dota 2 is an amazement to have. I've played it since the beta and still find people better than me, which provides an ever-lasting challenge. I have yet to spend any money on it, but i do enjoy how it's free to play and the items you can buy doesn't make you any better or worse. Dota 2 is based on skill and teamwork, which is hard to find in games these days. I recommend playing it on Steam some time.… Expand
  3. ScrewItgaming
    Dec 10, 2013
    8
    I'm going to start by saying dota 2 isn't for everyone. As you can see there is a very even based user score. The gameplay does what it is meant to do and the mechanics of the game are well engineered. Visuals are much nicer than LOL or any other mmoba on the market. But on the other hand it takes a lot of time to fully understand the mechanics of this game and the way it is mean to beI'm going to start by saying dota 2 isn't for everyone. As you can see there is a very even based user score. The gameplay does what it is meant to do and the mechanics of the game are well engineered. Visuals are much nicer than LOL or any other mmoba on the market. But on the other hand it takes a lot of time to fully understand the mechanics of this game and the way it is mean to be played. Lots of negative reviews are poured in because people argue that it is unbalanced and many heroes are OP. This isn't true. Its more so that they don't understand the game well enough to play against these things right. The next thing you should look out for is the community. Most people on dota are horrible people and will yell at you get mad and report you saying you fed. As a member of this gaming community it shames me that I have to play on the same teams as them. Valve does what they can but the report system has backfired to the point where innocent noobs get reported and than quit cause they cant have fun. The reason i ranked this game so high is the problems that come with the game are nothing that valve could have done to fix. Its simply the way that human nature has perverted it and twisted it. However this game is fun and you should definitely give it a try… Expand
  4. Aerials
    Dec 19, 2013
    8
    Dota 2 is a fantastic example of how a MOBA/ARTs should be. It seems tedious for new players at first, as the game has an extremely steep learning curve for those who are not familiar with games of its kind. The amount of depth included in this game is phenomenal. At the time of this review, I have played roughly 1,500 hours of Dota 2 and there is still so much to learn.

    The only    Dota 2 is a fantastic example of how a MOBA/ARTs should be. It seems tedious for new players at first, as the game has an extremely steep learning curve for those who are not familiar with games of its kind. The amount of depth included in this game is phenomenal. At the time of this review, I have played roughly 1,500 hours of Dota 2 and there is still so much to learn.

    The only problem I, and many of my friends, have had with Dota is the sometimes arrogant, immature and hateful community. I understand that every community has a few bad apples, but in Dota, they are much more prevalent. An example is the entire "Diretide" scenario; because the fans didn't receive a holiday event that they were expecting, they published negative reviews of the game, spammed Facebook pages and ranted all over the Internet after all the effort that Valve has put in.

    Those without tough skin may want to seek elsewhere, as playing through your first 100 games without in some way being criticised or insulted is almost impossible due to Dota's highly competitive nature. But for those who can withstand criticism and are willing to invest time into the game are going to be rewarded by the amount of depth and playability that Dota 2 offers.    … Expand
  5. Crackers1097
    Apr 10, 2023
    8
    DotA 2 proves itself a faithful, albeit ambitious sequel to the original World of Warcraft III fan created mod Defense of the Ancients. With a deeper level of mechanical depth and a fairer business model to its competitors, DotA 2 continues to enjoy a highly active community.

    Unfortunately, as with all MOBA titles, DotA 2 suffers from a steep learning curve, and an experience ultimately    DotA 2 proves itself a faithful, albeit ambitious sequel to the original World of Warcraft III fan created mod Defense of the Ancients. With a deeper level of mechanical depth and a fairer business model to its competitors, DotA 2 continues to enjoy a highly active community.

    Unfortunately, as with all MOBA titles, DotA 2 suffers from a steep learning curve, and an experience ultimately determined less by the quality of the application--and more by the current players in each lobby. As a result, the mileage and enjoyment of individual users may vary.

    Mechanically sound, well optimized, and constantly updated, DotA 2 remains as a major force in the current gaming industry; however, its genre and playerbase leave the game short of perfection.    … Expand
  6. justareview
    Dec 30, 2013
    8
    Excellent game, especially considering it's free. Fun, smooth gameplay, a wide variety of heroes and endless opportunities for improvement are some of the best aspects of the game. However, there is one facet of this game that keeps me from giving it a 10. The community. There are plenty of friendly, fun people playing the game but they are the silent majority. It is almost guaranteed thatExcellent game, especially considering it's free. Fun, smooth gameplay, a wide variety of heroes and endless opportunities for improvement are some of the best aspects of the game. However, there is one facet of this game that keeps me from giving it a 10. The community. There are plenty of friendly, fun people playing the game but they are the silent majority. It is almost guaranteed that you will have at least a couple rotten, pathetic losers in each match. Generally they will attack the person that in their mind is bringing the team down and it can quite often ruin the experience for everybody involved.

    In summation, this game is definitely worth a try. If you have thin skin make frequent use of the mute button and most of your matches will go smoothly. The learning curve for this game is very steep but also very rewarding.    … Expand
  7. Tetsuro
    Jan 31, 2014
    8
    Nice game, nice graphics and sounds. Very good gameplay. It's a cooperative RTS so it could be very stressful, a match could last an hour. Anyway the interface is pretty and very clean and the game is well balanced. Just perfect for it's genre (beside the aforementioned design choices).
  8. dev4psn
    Feb 5, 2014
    8
    Dota 2 is strictly competitive MOBA and it is not easy to learn.

    Pros: - Dota 2 is absolutely free - There are a lot of tournaments played on this game - Great roster of heroes - Deep item builds and team strategies - High replayability Cons: - Hard to learn - Has TF2 hat virus - New heroes are often promised to get released yet it takes a lot if time to release them. - A    Dota 2 is strictly competitive MOBA and it is not easy to learn.

    Pros:
    - Dota 2 is absolutely free
    - There are a lot of tournaments played on this game
    - Great roster of heroes
    - Deep item builds and team strategies
    - High replayability

    Cons:
    - Hard to learn
    - Has TF2 hat virus
    - New heroes are often promised to get released yet it takes a lot if time to release them.
    - A lot of ragequitters that ruin the game.

    I gave this game 8 our of 10 because this game is not perfect but still a great game nontheless!    … Expand
  9. francisnight
    Feb 22, 2014
    8
    Don't say that this game is bad... of course league of legends is better ( it has more 5 years in it's age)... but Dota is pretty good too i hope this community changes. The graphics are epic and the game play it is not so good but you can play it very well. Review your ideas about this game!
  10. CynicalCyberCat
    Feb 28, 2014
    8
    A very engaging game with a plethora of heroes, abilities and extreme re-playability - rare to find even in bought titles. For a free game, this offers thousands of hours of entertainment as you encounter players from all around the globe. Team up with your friends for your best chances of winning and minimising rage-inducing moments.

    It is unfortunate that there are many players out    A very engaging game with a plethora of heroes, abilities and extreme re-playability - rare to find even in bought titles. For a free game, this offers thousands of hours of entertainment as you encounter players from all around the globe. Team up with your friends for your best chances of winning and minimising rage-inducing moments.

    It is unfortunate that there are many players out there who will go out of their way to make it hell for one to play. Steel yourself for the insults and cat calls and all the 'your mum' jokes because it will all come back with the fields of twelve year olds roaming on the servers.

    However, if you're lucky to encounter courteous players, you're in for a treat. There are ban systems in place to educate those to overstep the boundaries. Remember guys, it is just a game, no need to get too mad over a few deaths and lost kills.

    Game mechanics are mostly sound, a few minor bugs and tweaks, updates are constant, albeit at times small, they do make a difference to the game play. If you do find some bugs, it is mostly hilarious than become a game breaking moment.

    There are heroes to suit every play style and several modes for your choice of play: ALL PICK for a somewhat uneven play field. For your best shot, perhaps the least played hero mode. For those who are just looking for a good time with laughs; the Random Ability Draft mode is sure to tickle your fancy with a vast variety of skills being up for grabs for the random hero you are allocated. Enjoy!

    A great game all in all. Great for quick games (usually 40 minutes long) if you're not in the mood for something too long. Regular and attentive updates and a good 90+ heroes for you to master.    … Expand
  11. Brainstudio
    Sep 30, 2014
    8
    To explayin my opinion about why this game have a lot of 10 and 0...
    First is FREE for real, you can pay or play only to estetic rewards that have not gameplay impact.
    probably many Zero are from players that love the competitors.. Now, the game is a Strategy game, and very deep so is not a game for all! And more important is not a COD, here if you don't play with the team..you    To explayin my opinion about why this game have a lot of 10 and 0...
    First is FREE for real, you can pay or play only to estetic rewards that have not gameplay impact.
    probably many Zero are from players that love the competitors..

    Now, the game is a Strategy game, and very deep so is not a game for all!
    And more important is not a COD, here if you don't play with the team..you loose.
    The map is only one because the game follow a simple rule... destroy the enemy base.

    108 fantastic different unlock character at your disposition.

    if you don't know the rule..if you don't try to know one hero at time..if you don't speek english, if you don't follow or play whit your team YOU CAN'T ENJOI THIS GAME.

    The best to play ifact is 5 friends (5 is the team) but if you play not well but triing to do ..you'll find a lot of friends.    … Expand
  12. Sokerii
    Jun 16, 2014
    8
    I enjoy Dota 2 but the biggest problem is matchmaking. I have over 1300 hours played and my win ratio is 51% (Yes, i win over half of my games but it's really annoying when i get a 10 lose streak because lack of communication in my team or that the enemy skill level is far higher than my teams. My teammates are like first timers most of the time and the enemies are professionals comparedI enjoy Dota 2 but the biggest problem is matchmaking. I have over 1300 hours played and my win ratio is 51% (Yes, i win over half of my games but it's really annoying when i get a 10 lose streak because lack of communication in my team or that the enemy skill level is far higher than my teams. My teammates are like first timers most of the time and the enemies are professionals compared to them. I didn't play for almost a year because i got tired of people that are noobs or either some Russians who shout: SUUUKA BLYAD IDI NAHUI I **** YOUR MOTHER NOOB. I play on EU servers with language set as English but over half of the games i play, i can't understand anything my teammates say.… Expand
  13. TimTeamTebow
    Nov 18, 2014
    8
    The balance is good, graphics are fine, hero diversity is great, and the depth is amazing.
    Its one of the few games that is really F2P. No need to pay to avoid grinding, the only things you pay for are cosmetics
    I've put over 3000 hours into it and I'm still learning stuff and hopefully improving. The only bad part is that its made by valve... That means the content comes out    The balance is good, graphics are fine, hero diversity is great, and the depth is amazing.
    Its one of the few games that is really F2P. No need to pay to avoid grinding, the only things you pay for are cosmetics
    I've put over 3000 hours into it and I'm still learning stuff and hopefully improving.

    The only bad part is that its made by valve...
    That means the content comes out incredibly slow.
    The game officially released in 2013, now its almost 2015 and they still haven't ported every hero. I'm not talking new heroes, just a straight up copy/paste of their skills with a graphics/audio update.
    The game frequently goes 5-6 months with no updates.
    About 6 months ago they promised customizable buildings and new mega creep appearances.
    Still nothing about that.    … Expand
  14. Lycria
    Oct 31, 2014
    8
    Dota 2 was the sequel (its basically a HD remake, not a sequel) to the hugely popular Warcraft 3 mod. It was based off you select one hero from a pool and you control that hero and your creeps (AI minions) would just come wave after wave and go down a preselected lane. The original game created the MOBA genre.

    Now years after the original game, huge popularity and many games to follow    Dota 2 was the sequel (its basically a HD remake, not a sequel) to the hugely popular Warcraft 3 mod. It was based off you select one hero from a pool and you control that hero and your creeps (AI minions) would just come wave after wave and go down a preselected lane. The original game created the MOBA genre.

    Now years after the original game, huge popularity and many games to follow in its path do we get Dota 2. When they announced this game I was really excited, and even after thousands of hours of playing I do still enjoy it...at times.

    The game runs flawlessly in the source engine, every animation looking amazing. It makes vast improvements over the original game from pregame hero selection to patches and updates to balance out heroes and items.

    Since the launch of HoN (Heroes of Newerth) and LoL (League of Legends) I felt less inclined to play the older brother of the 3 and gravitated more to HoN where it got most of its ideas from Dota. S2 games is quite a bit smaller then Valve obviously, but I've found they have done a few things right.

    First off, Dota has the option of what region you want to play in, but no region lock like HoN did. You will queue up for US East, and still get Brazilian and Chinese players. Now nothing against playing with people from different regions, but when you play a game that is reliant on communication, and you speak 2 different languages it makes it difficult. The game really should be region locked.

    Another thing S2 did was provide a concede vote. When a player leaves the game in a ranked game, you are forced to play out the game or take a leaver status if someone leaves or you are losing. Some teams will drag out the game to an hour if the game could of ended 15 mins in.

    Another very minor thing would of adding skins for your heroes over very minor pieces of gear. Some barely make your hero unique in any way and basically looks like the same as the default skin, but like i said this is a minor gripe that doesn't affect game play at all.

    Overall ive spent 1000's of hours in the game and still play it, so they must of done something right, if only they would add a concede vote and a region lock I would finally be able to fully enjoy the game.    … Expand
  15. Termin8ter
    Nov 16, 2017
    8
    4 years old, still one of the most popular games on Steam. Dota 2 is a great fleshing out of the original Dota mod of Warcraft 3. Designed by the same guy behind the first game, and has Valve's support to release a polished, professional game to the masses, Dota 2 is a great game. My only issue is that it doesn't seem like Valve did much to help build this game aside from publishing it.4 years old, still one of the most popular games on Steam. Dota 2 is a great fleshing out of the original Dota mod of Warcraft 3. Designed by the same guy behind the first game, and has Valve's support to release a polished, professional game to the masses, Dota 2 is a great game. My only issue is that it doesn't seem like Valve did much to help build this game aside from publishing it. This is still a great MOBA and a worthy successor to Dota 1. I wish they had followed up this game better, with a Dota 3 perhaps. But Artifact is a terrible idea, and no one asked for it either.… Expand
  16. TChau
    Jun 10, 2015
    8
    Great game, constant game improvements/changes keep the game fresh. Very addictive.
    Cons, community is populated by toxic players. Hopefully this game doesn't ruin any of your friendships.
  17. Apabila
    Jul 22, 2015
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The best MOBA in the world. but need some little improvements at the description of heroes about heroes level and heroes name is too small, hard to find the description for me as a new player… Expand
  18. sleekpretender
    Nov 12, 2015
    8
    DOTA a well known and a respected game in the industry of MOBA games aside from it's top competitor know as LOL. This game is pretty much good on one end and has some dark characteristics on the other end. Let's talk about the good side first, knowing that this game is very popular, people around the world gather just to see what this game will hand out to them. Mainstream doesn't matterDOTA a well known and a respected game in the industry of MOBA games aside from it's top competitor know as LOL. This game is pretty much good on one end and has some dark characteristics on the other end. Let's talk about the good side first, knowing that this game is very popular, people around the world gather just to see what this game will hand out to them. Mainstream doesn't matter to this game at all. Its adrenaline never fades to a player so eager to win. Now on the dark side, yeah it does have great gameplay and mechanics, but... the updates are just freaking annoying sometimes. Some days will have a 10mb update which is so good, then here comes the day where it updates at nearly 300mb and another day which updates a harsh fit of 1gb which is very frustrating to players who have a very slow internet connection. Overall this game is very good game, with it's mechanics and gameplay, a player can't argue no more. I give this game a rating of 8/10. Till next time, Game on!… Expand
  19. brook
    Sep 15, 2015
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Not bad game but the Reborn updated made it worst! If not it was 1 of the best game plus it has a better graphic then Dota 1 but i would prefer the old Dota 2… Expand
  20. YeasirOmi
    Dec 19, 2015
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The new dota 2 update is great. Graphics are better than before and heroes abilities are slight balanced.
    A lot of different heroes (Characters to choose from)
    Each hero has their own set of moves
    Competitive
    Customized
    Ability to learn
    Constantly puts cosmetic items into the game (Items that don't do very much)
    Has things set up for new players
    Very nice looking
    Can be fun in some games    … Expand
  21. NoPeace
    Jan 15, 2016
    8
    Dota is by far the best moba i have played. It is complex and ever changing. Its fun and punishing, but also rewarding. Its played best when witch friends.
    However, when u don't have the luxury of playing with people you know it is filled with the most toxic player base I have ever seen.
  22. OrbitalDefDrone
    May 21, 2016
    8
    Fun game, free can you get all the character. It's a pretty solid and well polish moba. Yeah you get the usual toxic moba community, but that's in every moba.
  23. roachzc
    Jul 27, 2016
    8
    Review from a guy who spent 3,000 hour playing. Listing the most relevant points.
    Pros:
    1. Great competitive scene. The game is fun to play casually but is more fun to play in a competitive setting or even watch the pros playing. It feels like an art of war when the teams are trying their best to outpick or outplay the other team. Playing in a group of five is just waaaaay more fun than    Review from a guy who spent 3,000 hour playing. Listing the most relevant points.
    Pros:
    1. Great competitive scene. The game is fun to play casually but is more fun to play in a competitive setting or even watch the pros playing. It feels like an art of war when the teams are trying their best to outpick or outplay the other team. Playing in a group of five is just waaaaay more fun than playing by yourself.
    2. Free to play. You can play 111 heroes right off the start. It can be a bit overwhelming at first and people tend to end up playing a pool of 20 heroes that fits their playing style, but it gives you the freedom to play whoever you want unlike most other games. However, you have to pay for the skins, which people tend to spend a lot of money on.
    3. Game is constantly improving. We can see the effort of Valve in developing new game engine, new game features, new game settings, the balance of heroes, and the balance of each roles. For example, as of patch 6.86, I can see that the role of supports are much more important and more fun than when I first started to play (patch 6.68?).
    Cons
    1. Very sharp learning curve. As I said, people can get overwhelmed by the amount of heroes that are accessible at the beginning and it takes a looong time to figure out what each hero is and what their skills are.
    2. Unfriendly community. The pub community is just extremely toxic (either in NA or China). It frustrate me a lot, like a lot.    … Expand
  24. Panica3643D
    Jun 17, 2018
    8
    Неплохая игра, однако во всём уступает своему брату League of Legends.
  25. NotMyKoDa
    Apr 3, 2017
    8
    1600+ hours. If you're looking for a free game to spend all of your time on then this is it, as it can get quite addictive. The graphics are subpar, but I believe this is due to the fact that Valve want this game to run on a hell of a load of systems without needing the top tier newest graphics card. Besides that, it was first released as a mod for another game.

    To describe DotA    1600+ hours. If you're looking for a free game to spend all of your time on then this is it, as it can get quite addictive. The graphics are subpar, but I believe this is due to the fact that Valve want this game to run on a hell of a load of systems without needing the top tier newest graphics card. Besides that, it was first released as a mod for another game.

    To describe DotA accurately, it goes like this: You hate the fact that you continue playing the game but the adrenaline you get form winning is like a drug. Dear god it feels so GOOD. However, you will begin to hate anyone who plays from X country even though you are on Y server (i.e. Russians/EU West, Mexicans/US East). Then finally, the microtransactions are only worth it if you buy battle passes, AKA Volvo gimmie stuff equal to the amount of work I put in.    … Expand
  26. Axilley
    Jul 22, 2021
    8
    good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good good
  27. Amorph0us
    Jan 11, 2022
    8
    Rate a game for the actual game, not anything else. You can make a comment about the rest but we are reviewing the actual game here. For me Dota was the game that begun all the trend and the second title was the best.
  28. TheMegumin
    Feb 2, 2020
    8
    It's great game. All the apparent "hate" only comes from people that wouldn't play dota anyway or they play other mobas so their "hate" is unbased. The game is challenging because you need to learn a ton of stuff. Hero abilities, items and all the possible counters. Frankly with updates they've made this very easy to do. You can select guides to guide your way through a game and help youIt's great game. All the apparent "hate" only comes from people that wouldn't play dota anyway or they play other mobas so their "hate" is unbased. The game is challenging because you need to learn a ton of stuff. Hero abilities, items and all the possible counters. Frankly with updates they've made this very easy to do. You can select guides to guide your way through a game and help you choose items and abilities in live.… Expand
  29. Yohane
    Jul 26, 2020
    8
    Nice Game ,i like the way how they patch this game ,use any strategy to win a game unlike League of Legend.
  30. nightstroller
    Apr 30, 2020
    8
    The game as of this writing is pretty good. It's FREE. You can pay for things that are purely cosmetic. It's not as straight forward as LoL but that's not a bad thing for me. The learning curve is steep, but there's a huge amount of strategy to utilize if you can get into it. The game also makes for a great way to connect with friends. The only issue I have is that some time ago, forThe game as of this writing is pretty good. It's FREE. You can pay for things that are purely cosmetic. It's not as straight forward as LoL but that's not a bad thing for me. The learning curve is steep, but there's a huge amount of strategy to utilize if you can get into it. The game also makes for a great way to connect with friends. The only issue I have is that some time ago, for practice/fun, you could make uneven personal lobbies (e.g. you vs a team of three bots) and have a blast in your own way. But as of now, that's no longer posssible, where all empty slots get filled. But meh, the game itself is still fun. It is always the same loop of play, but oddly that's part of the fun, is mastering the characters you like to play as. I also dig the more serious/realistic approach to the way graphics are rendered, as compared to LoL, where in that it all feels cartoony.

    Dota 2
    Gameplay Enjoyability (0 - worst, 10 - best)

    Lore - 6
    Looting/equipment finding - 7
    Combat - 10
    Music/soundtrack - 9
    Visuals - 9
    Disconnections - 2
    Hero/character variety - 9
    Hero/character balance - 8 (saw some say the talent tree messed with balance, but to me, that makes me and my friends stay on our toes, a threat can come from anywhere now hahaha)    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

5
#5 Best PC Game of 2013
1
#1 Most Discussed PC Game of 2013
5
#5 Most Shared PC Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. Polygon
    Aug 15, 2017
    85
    And this dichotomy is perhaps the best descriptor I can attach to Dota 2. It is frequently a game which occupies two opposite spaces simultaneously. It is the best game. It is also the worst game. No game has ever made me as miserable as Dota 2 has. But no game has made me feel so consistently rewarded for my time, and as consistently, wonderfully connected to the friends I play it with.
    Read full review
  2. GameOver.gr
    Feb 19, 2014
    95
    Simply irresistible and addictive as hell.
    Read full review
  3. Games Master UK
    Sep 1, 2013
    90
    Unforgiving from the get-go, but a landmark in competitive multiplayer design. [Oct 2013, p.68]
See all critic reviews »