5 Most Toxic Gaming Communities of 2022

It's a known fact that the online world doesn't exactly run on sunshine and rainbows. Needless to say, we've seen our fair share of toxic communities in online multiplayer games just as much as the next casual gamer. It's built into the blood of nearly every PvP game in existence, and it's an obstacle nobody can really avoid. It's a hostile playground, and toxicity, whether we like it or not, comes with the territory.

Just last year, a survey shed light on the most toxic video games of 2021. To our surprise, the titles we assumed were strewn with kind-hearted folk ended up being the weightiest anchors. Today, the standings remain motionless, meaning the developers have done little to abolish the harassment that plagues the lobbies. And if you're curious to know which games still bear the lead paperweights, then allow us to clue you in. Here are the most toxic gaming communities right now.

5. League of Legends

League of Legends may hold its own as one of the most successful battle arena games ever conceived, but that doesn't alter the fact that its online community is littered with power-hungry trolls. This has been the case ever since it first came about in 2009, and not a great deal has been done to fix it in, well, a decade. And that's a crying shame, as the game itself is booming with only the finest MOBA qualities.

Of course, any game with a global backing is sure to attract some level of unwanted attention. League, however, sports a lighthouse for a chassis, and it shows. The bottom line is, it's blinding toxicity is the reason for the rapid decline in new players. Riot Games, however, continue to let the ships plough into it, making weary tourists afraid to swim in its waters.

4. FIFA

FIFA has established itself as one of the most competitive video game series on the planet. But with great competition, however, comes an overwhelming amount of hot-headed players, many of whom use online matchmaking games to channel their anger. Because of this, the series has garnered a pretty poor reputation for being a stain on the sporting front.

For many, FIFA isn't just a game, but a portal to a whole other world. A world that, like most Esports games, revolves around leaderboards and statistics. It's a means to an end for some, which of course makes the pressure of winning a whole lot higher. Still, it doesn't excuse the questionable behaviour that many players sport. And the fact is, newcomers would much rather stay away from the big leagues than entertain them.

3. Call of Duty: Vanguard

Call of Duty is notorious for having one of the worst player bases in gaming, something that is exacerbated by the savage Esports events that are anything but friendly. Vanguard really is no different, which is a hard pill to swallow given the fact that fans of the series have been hounding its makers to banish the toxicity for a fair few years now.

The fact is, Vanguard retains the lion's share of the bitter critiques, with reports of harassment, threats, and cyber bullying forever making rounds all over the globe. For these reasons, a rough 42% of players either abandon the game altogether, or revert back to the game's offline campaign to get their kicks. But tell us one soul who buys Call of Duty for its campaign mode. It's predominantly online, as it always has been, which is why it's all the more frustrating that nothing is being done to squeeze the severs of all its toxicity.

2. Dota 2

If you're wanting to stream an engaging Esport, then you needn't look any further than Dota 2 to get your quality fix. As it's played by some of the industry's biggest pro gamers, its frequent tournaments often boast ludicrously high prize pools. Sure enough, that's why the vast majority tune in: to see which team conquers the monopoly and claims the lion's share of the score. But playing it for yourself, on the other hand, is a different story, and not a kind-hearted one, either.

Of course, it's no secret that Dota 2 is an incredibly demanding game. This harsh learning curve, though, has led to some players using competitors as virtual punching bags in the heat of the moment. And if there's one thing Dota 2 isn't short on—it's moments. It's a playground flooded with a lot of amped up players, and it isn't very often you'll be greeted with praise and polite conversation.

1. Valorant

Well, there you have it; Valorant, the most toxic video game community of 2022. Unfortunately, this isn't the first strike for Riot Games' free-to-play first-person shooter. In fact, surveys considered the game the most toxic of not only 2020, but 2021, too. For this, a hat trick has officially been scored, making it one of the most toxic communities to ever embrace the system.

So, what's Riot Games doing to prevent the rapid incline in toxicity? Well, a few bits and pieces, really. Though, going by a report made a little while back, Valorant muted 400,000 players, and served up 40,000 bans. And that was just the statistics from a single month alone. Today, the developer continues to battle the brutal community by implementing automatic detection systems in each session. And it works, for the most part, anyway. Nevertheless, it is still considered a worldwide issue among gamers, giving Riot Games and its moderators one heck of a headache.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.