Dota 2 has an extensive history dating back to the RTS Warcraft 3. It originated as a user modified game mode and blew up in fame immediately. Today, it holds the record for highest single pay-out video game tournament in the world (actually the top four). With this much incentive to play, you know the competition will be fierce.

I choose to recommend this game for people to try. It's free, has a fun tutorial, and plays well single player or with friends. There's even an expansive selection of well-produced custom game modes that make a fun arcade experience. However, getting into multiplayer is a whole different game.

The community is made up of players who have seemingly committed their lives to Dota. Each game means a great deal to most players and you will be berated if you do not perform to their expectations. This is true at all skill levels: there is no escaping it. Do not commit to this game if you crumble under pressure. Pro-tip: mute all players for a much better experience.

Bottom-line: play this game after you've given Heroes of the Storm or League of Legends a try (these games have much simpler mechanics). Stick to single player focusing on 3-4 heroes that you understand well and move on to playing online against bots with these few heroes. If you decide to play versus human opponents, don't say I didn't warn you.