Which games inspired Deadlock? Heroes, gameplay, and more

Deadlock has been making waves since it was released to the public in early access in the summer of 2024. The game has features that clearly draw from some of the best games and esports out there and has proved to be a game that will likely have substantial staying power, both for casuals and, potentially, those looking to play professionally. However, where do its biggest inspirations come from?

From within the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) genre, there are two games that stand above the rest and clearly inspired Deadlock — League of Legends and Dota 2. Both of these games are played from a top-down perspective, making them a bit different at their core from Deadlock, but still have the same lane structure with objectives and player-versus-player (PvP) blended together.

However, SMITE is a MOBA game that is also played from a third-person perspective and might be our closest comparison to Deadlock's core gameplay. If you are looking at a game of SMITE, it almost looks like an older iteration of Deadlock, in some ways.

All of these games get to the core level of Deadlock: scaling a character, fighting enemies, and pushing toward the opponent's base over time. So, if you enjoy Deadlock, consider giving SMITE, League of Legends, or Dota 2 a try!

In much the same way that other games have inspired the core gameplay of Deadlock, there are also some common threads pertaining to hero design and abilities. Below are some quick comparisons we have seen between some other popular titles and Deadlock.

This list could go on since there are others from the games mentioned above. However, it proves that Deadlock was designed with some intentionality and understanding of previous game successes within the genre.

So, in your next Deadlock game, be sure to be on the lookout for other inspiration you can find and see how many you can spot! In the meantime, stay tuned to esports.gg for more news and updates!