As a former League of Legends player craving strategy and progression, I gave Teamfight Tactics a try in 2023 and quickly became addicted.
Teamfight Tactics (TFT) is an auto-chess battle royale between eight players created by Riot Games, the makers of League of Legends. However, you do not have to play League in order to understand and enjoy TFT.
One of the most frustrating parts of League of Legends and other team-based video games is toxic players. Entering the competitive gaming scene can especially be intimidating for a woman. In TFT, you’re on your own team, so you don’t have to depend on others or worry about them getting angry with you. The players rarely communicate with each other, and it’s very easy to mute someone if they’re sending annoying messages in the public chat. Other players can sabotage you, but it’s more aggravating for a teammate to sabotage you than an opponent.
Teamfight Tactics is a game based on creating a strong team of fighters. I can’t explain all the aspects of the game in this review because, admittedly, it gets complicated, but I’d say the game is 60% strategy and 40% luck. In my opinion, this is just the right amount to keep the game interesting over time without it becoming frustrating.
In addition, TFT offers fun cosmetics-like characters called Tacticians, arena skins, and explosion animations. The game is free to play, but once you get hooked, it’s almost inevitable to buy something extra. If you’re going to play the game frequently, the Battle Pass is a decent investment. In TFT, you can earn points by playing games and completing missions where you’re able to gain rewards like emotes and new Tacticians as a result.
The cherry on top is that the game developers really care about this game. MortDog, the game’s lead designer, regularly live streams the game and listens to feedback from the community. TFT also receives a patch update every two weeks, sometimes even more often. If the game ever feels unbalanced, the developers are quick to fix it. Along with that, a new set of characters are released every six months, with small additions every three months. The game stays fresh and fun, with people being motivated to play often.
Overall, I’d rate Teamfight Tactics a 9/10 and encourage anyone seeking a laid-back yet competitive and strategic game to give it a try!