Why Dota 2 is the Only Game that Does Free-To-Play Right

Longtime World of Warcraft fans know that the Hearthstone was originally an item found in Blizzard's still popular MMO long before it was used as the title of a standalone collectible card game. Regardless of which version you prefer, this Hearthstone Throw Pillow Plush is perfect for a quick nap in between gaming sessions or as a back support while playing Hearthstone's upcoming December expansion . The pillow is 46 centimeters tall and made out of premium "Supersoft" plush mater

As someone who plays Dota 2, I thought "'worth'? What do you mean 'worth'?" It hit me pretty quickly that they meant worth money. The concept of paying real money for a hero eludes me, as a Dota 2 player, with a game that has more than 100 heroes available to everyone, free of charge. While League of Legends is technically free to play, players can get a better experience by buying access to better champions - champions that have "worth." Dota 2, not so. There's not a single item in the MOBA Game Story Guide that can be purchased in any way to give players an advantage. This got me thinking how Dota 2 really is the only game that does Free to Play right, that is, in a way that benefits the player as much or more than the company.

Shovel Knight was released back in 2014 but it just wasn’t enough. Luckily, Yacht Club Games came out with a whole new storyline and adventure centered around Plague Knight with Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows. In it we’re playing as one of the bad guys as we go off to do bad guy things, but is Plague Knight really all that bad? He’s definitely one of the most interesting characters in the game and ditching the shovel in favor of potions and explosives is a great change of pace. Altering the story to fit Plague Knight is a great addition to the classic NES-style platformer. Playing through all the same levels we’re used to but as a different character bring a new perspective to the world. We can only hope every knight will get their chance in the spotlight.

Perhaps the biggest point of contention, and the biggest criticism, plaguing Justice League is that it feels like the product of two directors - which, of course, it is. Though Justice League was meant to be the capper in Zack Snyder's DC Films trilogy that began with Man of Steel and continued through Batman V Superman , the director stepped away from the project due to a personal tragedy. After reports that an early cut of Justice League was "unwatchable," Warner Bros. brought in Joss Whedon to helm reshoots , though he'd already done some work on the scr

Combining characters across all of Blizzard’s properties made Storm of Heroes feel like the Smash Bros. of MMO games. It’s a clever move on their part and one that I felt drew fans of yesteryear back to the good fight. Warcraft, Starcraft, Diablo and more combine heroes and villains to bring a full-on war between factions. The amazing promotional trailers made wanting to play Storm of Heroes even more enticing. Even if you’re terrible at MMO games, you can still enjoy the sights and sounds of nostalgia in a new world.

I saved the best for last on this list. While many folks pointed out Nintendo’s lack of original titles, Splatoon made a splatastic debut and made up for the last few decades. The cute, colorful, simple online shooter is a friendly way to introduce players to the genre. Clever weapon designs and fresh gear to wear makes Splatoon a uniquely designed game. It’s not serious or violent like many others, which appeals to players of all ages. Friends, parents, kids and squids can all enjoy this game together and not have to yell or scream about campers. Inking the entire level and fending off the other team is a big task, but Nintendo made it enjoyable. Plus, you might run into a Squid Party and those are always fun to mess with. Splatoon is my choice for best game of 2015.

The creative teams behind The CW's DC shows have continually pushed themselves to exceed expectations each year and do something they've never done before - and something no other superhero TV series has done before. The result is that each Arrowverse crossover feels fresh and new.