PC Gamer - UK (2022-01)

(Maropa) #1
W

ith the new Arcane
animated TV series
out on Netflix and big
events launched all
across Riot’s different
games, November might as well
have been called Lolvember. But
aside from sinking a few hours into
LeagueofLegends: WildRift, the
one Riot game I’ve been obsessed
with lately isLegends ofRuneterra,
its unparalleled card battler that’s
secretly the best game in the whole
LeagueofLegends universe


It’snot justthat Legends of Runeterra
isfilled withinnovativeideas and fun
new mechanics, but thatit slots into
mylifein a way no other free-to-play
gamereallyhas. UnlikeHearthstone
orMagic: The Gathering, Legends of
Runeterra is generousenoughwithits
currencythatevencasual players can
eventuallycollect every card
available. Thatalsomeans thateven
whenI takelongbreaks, I don’t feel
left behindby the release of new
expansions. Just start slingingcards
and, soonenough, I’m ableto afford
whateverflashy new deckI’m ogling.
Legends of Runeterra isalsosucha
lovelygamebecause it’s always


changing. Entirenew setsdropevery
few months, but I alsoappreciate
how muchRiothas investedin
fleshing out the singleplayeraspects
too. Lastyear, its Lab of Legends
modeintroduceda roguelike
deckbuildingcomponent to the game,
opening up an entireavenue of play
that doesn’t require squaringoff
against other players. And, recently,
that modewas transformed intoPath
of Champions, which expands the
roguelike elementswhile also
introducing a lot morestorytellingin
the formof littlecutscenes that
sometimes playbetween battles.

“LegendsofRuneterrafeelslikeit’sin

the midst ofits own goldenage”

WEARE THE CHAMPIONS
UnlikeLab of Legends, which was a
staticgauntlet of bossfights, Path of
Champions gives you a map witha
web of encountersyou can choose
between – similar toSlaythe Spire. It
alsoaddsa whack of new progression
systems, likebeing ableto level up
specific champstounlockpermanent
bonuses for futureruns.
I’m not sureif Path of Champions
ismy favourite iteration on this
roguelike deckbuildingideathatRiot
has beenexperimenting withfor the
past year, but it is excitingto see how
muchRuneterra is willing to reinvent
itself every few months. And it still
retains thatdistinct joy of slowly
assemblinga deckfilled withwild
synergies that, if you’relucky, turn
you intoan unstoppable force.
Coupled withhow generouslyit
doles out new cards to you and how
diverse the competitive metais at the
current moment, Legends of
Runeterra feels likeit’squietly inthe
midst of its own goldenage. In fact, I
muchpreferthismorerelaxed pacing
and the waysit’s becomesuchan
articulateexploration of Leagueof
Legend’siconicchampions – but in
cardform.

LEGENDS OFRUNETERRA isstillthe bestdigital cardgameevermade


I APPRECIATEHOW MUCHRIOT

HAS INVESTEDINFLESHING

OUT THE SINGLEPLAYER

STEVEN MESSNER
THIS MONTH
Got wrapped up in the League
of Legendsuniverse.

ALSO PLAYED
League of Legends, Final
Fantasy XIV

LEFT: (^) Each node
on the path has
new events,battles,
or shops.
BELOW: (^) Some Path of
Champion’smissions
have funnarrative
moments.
THE GAMES WELOVERIGHT NOW
NOW PLAYING
Building a powerful deck
can be a rush when luck is
onyour side.

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