Dota 2 is free to play with no exceptions. The only items you can purchase are purely cosmetic. This makes it so everyone can have an equal experience with the entire game without paying one dime. If you want, however, you can purchase things such as outfits, environmental effects, announcer packs, HUD skins, loadings screens and couriers (an animal in Dota 2 that will bring you your items after purchasing them). You can purchase a battlepoint booster, which will increase the rate at which you level up for a certain amount of time. However, your level has no effect on the game. Dota 2 isn't stingy with these either, as it gives you a random cosmetic item every time you level up.

Another strategy game I played on my list is SteamWorld Heist and it’s a winner for me. Understanding the gameplay is simple and the story jumped right into the action. Exploring randomly generated ships and shooting it out with robots makes every stop along the way a true challenge. The old west aesthetic and steam-powered environment in SteamWorld Heist is pulled off much better than Wild Wild West. It’s almost the complete opposite of SteamWorld Dig but you could say SteamWorld Heist is a more grown-up version in the series. It’s a game to both kill time and robots with.

Blizzard Entertainment has had a pretty successful 2016, starting with Overwatch releasing to stellar reviews on its way to becoming the next big thing in eSports. Hearthstone has again seen multiple popular updates this year, ranging from the dark Old Gods expansion to the more fun-filled Karazhan adventure . Even the old flagship World of Warcraft is experiencing a bit of a return to glory, with the nostalgia-filled Legion expansion breathing new life into the game after the disaster on Draen

I admit that Dota 2 has the benefit of an established fan base unmatched by almost any free-to-play game (League of Legends excluded). Not many games have fans who are willing to pay for something that doesn't benefit them in any way. Taking that into account, though, there still is no good excuse for free-to-play micro-transactions that benefit the company more than the player. Honestly, the solution is just to make your game cost money. Remember that? When games cost a flat fee for the entire thing? This was a largely successful model, and the only reason I can see for the shift is pure greed, especially by a company like EA that already has boatloads of money to roll in.

With the year drawing to a close and the holiday shopping season quickly approaching, Game Rant has rounded up a fun collection of Blizzard-themed gear and knick-knacks, including board games, plushies and plenty of epic toys. If you're looking for a cool stocking stuffer for your favorite gamer this December, take a look at these 12 gifts that any Blizzard fan would love to

Funko Pop! has made collectible action figures for just about everything in pop culture, and now the company has brought the heroes from Overwatch to life. This Tracer action figure features her classic skin, complete with orange and white sunglasses. The vinyl collectible stands 3.75" tall and will fit comfortably next to your computer monitor or gaming console. Once you click through to Amazon, scroll down to see the other Overwatch heroes that Funko Pop! has created figures for. "Cute" probably isn't the first word you'd think of when Reaper or Widowmaker come to mind, and yet, somehow, they pull it

In addition to its lore significance, the trailer is also incredibly intense and well done. It manages to pack story, action, and flash all into one package. Just like all the best Blizzard products

Regardless of what the most hardcore fans thought, the Mists of Pandaria trailer became an incredibly popular TV spot in the month's leading up to the game's release. It featured exciting action with its three way battle, but more importantly, showcased Blizzard's sense of humor. The trailer isn't full of jokes at all, but a few well-placed visual gags make it impossible not to love the cinematic introduction of the universe's new r

Arthas and Nova should never really end up in a battle together as far as Blizzard lore is concerned, but Heroes of the Storm allows players to live out that "who would win in a fight?" fantasy over and over in an addicting MOBA game champions format. This trailer does a stellar job of showing just how fun things can get when you relax and don't think too m

Doomhammer is one of the most feared weapons in WoW history, but now everyone can wield one of their own with the World of Warcraft Doomhammer Toy . Designed for ages six and up, this collectible is great for play or display. While it may be just a toy, it features a Blizzard-approved design that captures all the little intricacies of the Doomhammer from the game (and the mov

The CW's Crisis on Earth-X crossover event – featuring Arrow ** , Supergirl ** , The Flash ** and Legends of Tomorrow ** – was a better team-up than Warner Bros. and DC Films' **Justice League ** . Ever since The CW expanded its comic book TV universe to include The Flash , a spinoff from the network's flagship DC series Arrow , they've aired annual crossover events. While the first year only featured a team-up between the Green Arrow and the Flash, these events have grown exponentially to include heroes from Supergirl and Legends of Tomorrow . This year's crossover event, Crisis on Earth-X, was the biggest yet to air on The CW with the heroes facing off against Nazi versions of themselves from an alternate unive