For many new-generationFor many MOBA players, Heroes Evolved is likely a rather unfamiliar name.
As a domestic title born ten years ago,MOBA game. When Heroes Evolved first entered open beta in 2015, it leveraged the unique advantage of cross-platform play between web and client versions. By integrating and innovating upon map mechanics from popular MOBAs like DOTA and League of Legends, it briefly became another highly popular and distinctive domestic MOBA title in China, following Dream of the Three Kingdoms and Qifan's Three Kingdoms Hegemony.
However, for a long time afterward, due to League of Legends andDOTA 2's rising popularity, most domestic MOBA titles failed to withstand the pressure from these two giants and eventually became relics of the past. However, Heroes Evolved surprisingly survived until today. Although its popularity did decline significantly during the process, in recent years, after changing planners and actively listening to player feedback to improve the gaming experience, this veteran domestic MOBA seems to be making a comeback. Even its esports events are gaining more popularity. Last weekend, I was invited to Hangzhou to watch the Heroes Evolved 2025 Summer Split Finals offline. Honestly, if you hadn't told me this was a ten-year-old MOBA, based on the onsite atmosphere, I might have mistaken it for a new contender in the 2025 MOBA scene striving to challenge the dominance of established titles—after all, the audience was seated throughout, cheering from start to finish. Such a grand spectacle is something I've usually only seen at top-tier esports events.
Upon arriving in Yuhang District, Hangzhou,Before the LGD Esports Center (Guang Theater), my imagined scene for the competition was somewhat 'dated'—for instance, I expected to meet older players and competitors, perhaps slightly overweight, some bringing their families. The venue setup wouldn't be luxurious, likely just a stage and seating area. Actual attendance might only fill half the seats, and very few spectators would stay until the end. However,
But from the moment I arrived at the venue, these preconceived notions were constantly being shattered. Although I arrived about half an hour before the scheduled entry time for spectators, there were already more than ten players gathered at the entrance. Some were office workers who had graduated just a few years ago, similar in age to me, while others were still students. I chatted with three of them for a while and learned that they had traveled from cities near Hangzhou to watch the match. Although they didn't know each other beforehand, they quickly became familiar once they started talking about game-related topics. They also spoke openly with me about the game's past shortcomings and its current achievements.
Standing on the left side of the image are the three players I met at the event
During our chat, I learned that, like many veteran Heroes Evolved players, they initially chose the game because their home devices couldn't handle several popularMOBA games, which led them to choose Heroes Evolved for its cross-platform accessibility. Since MOBA games require long-term dedication, they have stuck with Heroes Evolved until today. During this long period, the game's operations did face issues such as cheating, pay-to-win mechanics, and esports events becoming arenas for individual players 'playing for love.' Fortunately, the officials later brought in planner 'Zhiqiang,' who is now widely supported by the community. Under his leadership and continuous improvements, the game's popularity and player base have rebounded in recent years. Last year, the official 10th-anniversary offline event in Shanghai was very successful and well-received by players. So this year, they continued to bring the Summer Split offline, securing a larger venue and better event procedures. As a result, tickets sold out rapidly after release, and even temporarily added seats were quickly snapped up, demonstrating the event's热度. After the finals officially began, I looked back at the fully packed audience and listened to the constant cheering. This sense of passion and excitement is perhaps the fundamental reason why many choose to attend offline events.
Besides watching the matches, the Heroes Evolved officials also prepared rich interactive content and prizes for players on-site. Players couldtake photos with cosplayers, or participate in activities like puzzles and wheel spins to win grand prizes prepared by the officials. On top of that, the competition stage setup within the venue was no less impressive than any major esports event I had attended before—featuring professional commentator booths, huge spectator screens, and equipment sponsored by hardware giants like ASUS and ROG, ensuring both experience and prestige were maxed out. Whether players or competitors, there was no sense of hierarchy among those present. The team members in Heroes Evolved tournaments are entirely composed of ordinary players. Here, there are no toxic esports fandom behaviors, no arrogant players, only a group of gamers who truly love the game, and the Heroes Evolved official team striving to ensure the competition leaves no regrets for the players.
Speaking of which, we have to mention the fan-favorite segment left by the officials before the official start of the competition,'Roasting the Planner' segment. In the pre-match 'Beach Happy Run' competition, planner Zhiqiang personally participated, interacting enthusiastically with players. During the match, other teams' streamers and viewers even chased him around the field for fun, ignoring the score, creating hilarious scenes. The atmosphere was instantly ignited, with players in the stands cheering for the exciting moments, setting a great viewing ambiance for the subsequent Heroes Evolved Summer Split Finals.
When it came to the official finals stage, the two competing sides,Both Team WDG and Team TOP were considered favorites to win the championship in the eyes of Heroes Evolved players. Although they may not have undergone the strict and professional training typical of traditional esports pro teams, as players, they demonstrated considerable skill and a spirit of unity, perseverance, and refusal to give up on the battlefield.
Taking the first game as an example, shortly after the match began,Team WDG demonstrated overwhelming strength and tacit cooperation among members, successfully catching out solo opponents from Team TOP's side lanes several times, leading to a one-sided situation in terms of kills and economy.
But the pace of Heroes Evolved matches, compared to our familiarMOBA evergreen League of Legends, is actually quite different. Leveraging buyback mechanics similar to DOTA 2 and reasonable lane management, even after an unfavorable start, Team TOP did not fall into a passive situation. Instead, as the match progressed, they successfully contained Team WDG's offensive in several team fights. By constantly swapping lanes and split-pushing, they gradually closed the gap in minion waves, leading the match into a prolonged stalemate.
But this hardly affected the overall viewing experience. The back-and-forth clashes between both sides, several fierce battles around the Baron pit, and the cheers and shouts from the audience during highlight moments made the nearly hour-long match full of exciting peaks. Finally, thanks to coordinated teamwork in a team fight and an overwhelming advantage in pushing towers,WDG successfully took the first game. Similar tense and exciting matches filled the entire BO5 series that night, truly satisfying the players on site.
Of course, beyond the tense and exciting matches, this Summer Split Finals also revealed that Heroes Evolved, as a game operated for ten years,MOBA game, hoping to carry more possibilities in game culture beyond the competition. On one hand, regarding the game's content itself, Heroes Evolved's character designs are rooted in traditional Eastern culture. Whether it's character models, skill designs, or in-game music, they all contain strong Chinese style elements, making them popular among young players today. On the other hand, at this competition site, players could see Heroes Evolved actively exploring the expression of 'National Style Esports.' From stage design, visual packaging, event segments, to music usage, strong Chinese style elements were integrated, giving the esports event a unique cultural temperament and making 'National Style Esports' a shining card for Heroes Evolved's event culture. Furthermore, Hangzhou, supported by its civilizational heritage and geographical location, became a key part of this 'National Style Esports' expression. The rich 'Chinese style' city culture and the 1-hour carnival circle across cities (relying on the Yangtze River Delta high-speed rail network, 45 minutes from Shanghai, 1.5 hours from Nanjing, etc., allowing audiences from 8 cities to reach the site quickly, achieving nationwide coverage of the 'High-Speed Rail Esports Circle') attracted many players to experience the charm of national-style esports.
Finally, besides congratulatingTeam WDG successfully claimed the Heroes Evolved 2025 Summer Split Championship trophy with their coordinated teamwork and strong performance. Both the players and spectators on site understand that for Heroes Evolved, which has accompanied them for ten years, this is not the end but a new beginning. From online final ticket scrambles to offline event carnivals, from pure competitive confrontation to rich cultural expression, and from single-point event operations to building a sustainable ecosystem loop, the elevation of Heroes Evolved's national-style esports ecosystem proves that successful esports events are not just stages for top athletes but comprehensive platforms connecting thousands of players' emotions, incubating unique cultures, transmitting positive values, and achieving commercial win-wins. With player support, official efforts, and players' hard work, the future esports path of Heroes Evolved is bound to go wider and further.
So, let's continue to wait and see.