Heat and Run

VS

AFK Journey

Heat and Run is an indie MOBA/platformer hybrid released in late 2022 by smaller developers. The MOBA genre retains some longevity but smaller indie MOBAs typically struggle to keep high player counts after launch. Given low mainstream presence, limited marketing, and current age (~2 years), a modest estimate would be around 300 daily players.

AFK Journey, developed by Farlight Games, is a recently released cross-platform fantasy idle RPG with gacha and adventure elements. The game has generated significant hype post-launch, especially among mobile and casual strategy communities, and leverages the popularity of its predecessor, AFK Arena. Recent mobile downloads and community activity suggest strong daily engagement, likely in the hundreds of thousands. Given its cross-platform support and gacha monetization, retention is high at launch. However, it does not qualify as an MMO despite some open-world and multiplayer features, as it lacks a persistent large-scale shared world.