In celebration of League of Legends' 10-year anniversary in 2020, Riot Games released a mobile version dubbed Wild Rift. This marked the company’s entry into the highly profitable mobile games market and expanded its reach to a new audience.
Over the past four years, Wild Rift has achieved massive success, outpacing competitors and copycats while establishing its own unique identity. This identity, though parallel to that of League, remains distinct and original.
This success has prompted discussions and comparisons between the two games, particularly regarding which one is easier and more approachable for newer players. While it’s clear that Wild Rift is the easier title to get into—“It’s a mobile game… duh!”—the reasons behind this are not as straightforward.
For first-time players, it’s also important to consider which game is more suitable for them, as ease of entry isn’t the only factor that determines how enjoyable one is compared to the other.
So, let’s start by discussing the core aspects that make Wild Rift easier to get into:
League of Legends: Wild Rift is easier by design. It had to capture the spirit of classic League—the thrill of outplaying your opponent, the excitement of chaotic team fights, and the strategic thinking necessary to mow down the enemy’s Nexus—all while accommodating the limitations of a mobile platform.
Four abilities, two summoner spells, six active item slots, 20 other macros, and a mouse had to be condensed into something that could be easily controlled by two thumbs.
Surprisingly, Riot did a good job of transitioning these complex controls to a handheld format. The precise aim for auto attacks and abilities was condensed into a highly customizable joystick, surrounded by easy-to-reach abilities, level-ups, summoner spells, active items, and pings, all of which can be controlled with just one finger!
This simplified system makes it easily accessible for casual users who are more accustomed to scrolling through Instagram than playing competitively with a mouse and keyboard.
You won’t have to worry about an unlocked camera, misclicking an item, or accidentally canceling your auto attacks, as there are quick settings that let you auto-target minions, champions, or structures.
So, it’s pretty safe to say that Wild Rift is, by far, the easier game to pick up. However, its simplicity extends beyond the controls and is evident in every aspect of the game.
Since Wild Rift is primarily made with casual players in mind, many of League of Legends’ core systems had to be toned down to make the game less challenging to get into and understand.
The most impactful change from League to Wild Rift is the shorter game duration. Matches in Wild Rift usually last between 10 and 15 minutes, less than half the time of an average League game.
This has a ripple effect across all aspects of the game. Compared to League, Wild Rift features a substantially smaller map, shorter recalls and death timers, the removal of inhibitors and Nexus turrets, a lower time to kill, and more XP and gold gained throughout the match. You even get access to your ultimate at level 5! League would spiral into chaos if it had these features.
The friendlier nature of the game is also evident in the simplicity of the runes system. There’s no need to scour a dozen websites for the optimal rune pages for your champion or thoroughly study the matchup to choose the correct keystone and secondaries. In Wild Rift, you pick one out of 12 keystones and three secondaries of your liking. You’re not restricted to choosing from two select rune paths as in League. Tailor the game to your liking and just have fun!
Last hitting isn’t a game of Osu anymore, where you have to perfectly time your attacks. It’s infinitely more forgiving in Wild Rift, and even if you miss a CS, you still get some gold. How generous of them!
Even the shrunken champion pool makes learning each champion’s abilities and intricacies a lot less intimidating. Understanding synergies, counters, and matchups doesn’t require memorizing 168 champions and their distinct kits. Wild Rift’s roster of 115 champions, while still sizeable, is a lot more manageable.
These champions also have altered kits that make them more intuitive for mobile players, with some minor reworks and quality-of-life changes that suit a mobile platform and contribute to the faster pace of the game.
Some of the most drastic changes include Lux’s ultimate becoming global, Lee Sin’s dash not requiring a ward or an ally to target, Ashe’s arrow becoming guidable like Sion’s Ult, and Garen dealing AoE true damage with his ultimate.
These changes might seem unbelievably overpowered, but it’s important to remember that these two games aren’t striving toward the same goal. One is an esports monolith with competitiveness and control in mind, while the other offers a more laid-back and casual experience. And what’s more fun than flying everywhere with Aurelion Sol? If everything is overpowered, nothing is overpowered—Game Design 101.
Wild Rift isn’t just easier mechanically; it’s also a lot less mentally draining.
You know what I’m talking about: It’s 12 minutes into a League game, and suddenly your ADC gets mad because you took one CS. They start saying nice things about your mom and feel generous enough to donate gold to the enemy team. You want to surrender, but they and their duo keep declining. You’re now stuck in a 35- to 40-minute game against your will, with no way out but to tediously wait for the enemies to push in. Sounds familiar?
This is one of the reasons League of Legends can be so mentally taxing and why it has earned its notoriety.
We’re not saying that Wild Rift is all sunshine and rainbows. It has the typical “ff at 3” (a far cry from the “ff 15”) and occasional griefing, but players there are generally much friendlier than what you’d find on PC.
People mostly communicate using premade quick chat messages instead of typing out every single one themselves. The game’s pace doesn’t let them recite their evil manifesto anyway.
Plus, Wild Rift players aren’t that competitive at the end of the day. They’re looking for a fun experience on the go or a way to join their friends who have no access to a PC, and Wild Rift does a pretty good job in that regard.
All of this not only makes the game easier to get into but also easier to enjoy and stick with. And, of course, to buy those sweet, sweet skins!
The term “better” depends on what you’re looking for in a game.
If you’re looking for a simpler game, one that you could easily teach your non-gamer friends to pick up in 15 minutes without needing an entire PC setup, then League of Legends: Wild Rift is the game for you.
On the flip side, if you want those higher highs, the competitive feel, and one of the most iconic gaming experiences ever made, League of Legends would be the more suitable and “better” game.
At the end of the day, nothing is stopping you from trying both and enjoying them equally! They’re designed to complement each other—a way to take your favorite game with you wherever you go, and to sit down for a true League experience when you return home.
Ultimately, Wild Rift and League of Legends have adapted differently to their respective platforms, catering to distinct audiences while complementing each other.
They’re both great games that have shaken the gaming scene and continue to have a lasting influence on whichever platform they appear.
While Wild Rift is friendlier to newer players with its intuitive controls and simplified mechanics, that doesn’t mean League is hostile to newcomers. It’s a lot more challenging to get into, but what you get in return is an incredible game that tops the gaming summit year after year.
It is still our beloved League at the end of the day, so embrace the best of both games and let the Rift be your playground!
