Looking for a competitive, active online / multiplayer game where matches/rounds aren't half an hour long.
I really enjoy very competitive games, whether it's 1v1, team based or something with a competitive ladder, the pursuit of getting better is the game loop that really drives me.
I'm currently playing Wild Rift, and even though it's a great game, the game lengths are just way too long sometimes. However, I do deeply appreciate it's free to play / cosmetics only model.
Previous to that I used to play Clash Royal at a high level (top 1000) then Brawl Stars but both really degenerated in it's design and overall philosophy (let alone it's blatant disregard for respecting it's playerbase and predatory monetization practices)
I am looking for something that is:
- competitive (whether that's leader boards, rankings, MMR, whatever. I need to climb something!)
- doesn't have a massive financial barrier to entry. (Where something like Wild Rift excelled. Literally install and go)
- I am very open minded to the actual game TYPE. FPS, Auto battler, Moba, gatcha RPG thing, card game, whatever. I don't care, I just want to compete.
- Social aspect would be nice but not a need. I love games that have strong guild/social integration.
My competitive history went something like: Dragons and Puzzles, Clash Royale, Brawl Stars, Hearthstone, Super Mecha Champions (rip), Wild Rift (with some dabbling in Pokemon Unite)
Games that are free with a cosmetic only monetization are definitely the preference but if the monetization strategy is simply pay-to-progress rather than pay-to-win outright, than I can probably stomach a grind to get ladder competitive. I also have never seriously played a battle royale type game (outside of Super Mecha Champions) so I'm battleroyal-curious :D
Any ideas? I have a leaning bias towards something newer so I don't have too big of a FOMO or "feeling behind" but it isn't a huge deal.
Thanks so much!