Dota 2 Arcade: Getting hooked on custom games

Dota 2 is more than just a multiplayer online battle arena, with thousands of custom games available to play within the Arcade.

Back in the days of Defense of the Ancients (DotA), when we still played through the Warcraft III client, custom games were some of the most fun. From Run Kitty Run and Battleships (Shippies to the veterans), through to a Pokémon-catching and battling game, there were hours of fun to be had outside of DotA itself. Sadly, when Dota 2 released, these custom games remained a thing of the past.

However, in 2015, alongside the Dota 2 Reborn update, custom games returned with the Arcade. The community jumped on board, once again creating some of the best custom games around. Of course, the classics returned, but now the door was open to a new side.

With thousands of custom games available in Dota 2, we have curated a list of the top 3 that everyone should try, especially when the ranked grind is getting too tedious.

The best Dota 2 custom games to try

Dota Auto Chess

Dota Auto Chess was released in 2019, and since then, it has consistently been one of the most popular custom games. As the “auto battle” genre became famous due to the title, Auto Chess pulled in non-Dota 2 players and professional players, too. The rise in popularity of the genre got the attention of Valve, who later released Dota Underlords – although this only peaked on launch.

Dota Auto Chess, like any auto battler, involves picking units and placing them on a board. Units have different synergies, and the game involves a lot of strategic placements which can make or break your run. In this game, species and class are the two separate synergies, and having multiple units of the same species or class will empower them.

Although not the easiest of games or genres to enter, Dota Auto Chess can provide hours of fun for you and your friends.

Overthrow

Overthrow is the original Dota 2 custom map, which gained quick popularity all the way back in 2015. The game, with varying maps and modes, functions similarly to a battle royale. However, instead of being the last one standing, you need to reach the score limit in order to claim victory.

Since its release, Overthrow has seen many different iterations. While the original game was created by Valve itself, later it was taken over by the community to keep the updates coming. Spirit Bear produced Overthrow 2.0, before 3.0 took over by the same developer. Still, to this day, the game functions in the same way, with players able to go in solo or with teams of up to eight.

While not as massive as Dota Auto Chess, Overthrow provides a quick burst of fun, as players fight for control at the Midas Throne.

Pudge Wars

While Pudge Wars may not be a hugely popular mode in the Dota 2 Arcade, it holds a special place and is easily one of the most fun custom games ever created. Back in the DotA days, lobbies for Pudge Wars were immensely common and filled fast. Not only was the mode a fast way to overcome a loss and reset, but it was also extremely entertaining, especially with a group of friends at a LAN.

Pudge Wars is a 5v5 custom game where everyone is their favourite hero, Pudge. Equipped with his Meat Hook skill, which is upgradable in multiple ways, and various skills depending on how long the game lasts. The objective is simple: hook your opponents and massacre them until the score limit is reached.

Although the custom game does not gain much traction in the Dota 2 Arcade, the game still holds a certain charm. This is definitely one for a few friends looking to kill a few minutes or hours, depending on how quickly you get hooked.

There are too many custom games in the Dota 2 Arcade to even try mention. Above are just some of our favourites or the most played. These are always a lot of fun, whether playing solo or with a group of friends. When it comes to custom games, there is no limit to what you can find in the Dota 2 Arcade.