Abstract

League of Legends is a popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game developed and published by Riot Games in 2009 with over 117 million monthly active players as of 2021 (ActionPlayer, 2022). Its game modes allow players to engage in forms of playful virtual violence against non-playable characters (NPCs) and real-life players. I explored how playful virtual violence in League of Legends is enjoyable by conducting a series of qualitative research methods which included 6 individual interviews on Zoom and Discord (3.5 hours), 5 hours of solo gameplay, 1.5 hours of gameplay with participants, and 1 hour of observations. 

Drawing inspiration from emotional practices described by Bareither (2020), I coded my data into the following themes – “Aesthetics”, “Cooperation and Domination”, “Gameplay”, “Playfulness”, and “Seriousness”. Based on these themes, I found that cooperation and community (or sense of belonging) were most prominent in participants’ responses with 57 out of 173 references alluding to feelings of belonging and the importance of socializing in League of Legends. This paper argues that a sense of belonging is essential in the enjoyment of playful virtual violence in League of Legends. By examining the role of emotional communities and spiritual homelands as catalysts for this sense of belonging, I hope to shed light on the importance of social interaction and connection in creating a positive gaming experience.

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