Dropzone
Dropzone is a competitive 1v1 MOBA built around fast decision-making and constant juggling of tasks. Instead of controlling a single hero, you field a trio of mech pilots at once, splitting them across the map to pressure objectives, fight for control, and squeeze out points in compact 15 minute matches.
|
Developer: Sparkypants Studios Playerbase: Shut Down Type: MOBA Release Date: February 15, 2017 Pros: +Quick, high-intensity matches. +Excellent visual effects and readability. +Loadouts and rigs allow meaningful customization. Cons: -Limited map variety. -Small class lineup at launch. |
Dropzone Overview
Dropzone mixes familiar MOBA territory control with a light RTS flavor by asking you to manage three units simultaneously. Before the match starts, you assemble a roster by selecting pilots and assigning one of five rigs to each slot, then you enter a dedicated 1v1 arena where the clock is always ticking. With only 15 minutes to play, the pace pushes you toward efficient routing, smart skirmishing, and constant repositioning.
Scoring revolves around capturing objectives scattered around the map, and those objectives are not equal. Some are easier to take but worth fewer points, while higher value locations tend to draw direct conflict. That creates the central strategic tension: do you split your pilots to touch more points and keep the scoreboard moving, or do you stack multiple units on a premium objective to secure it and deny your opponent? The best matches come from balancing both, rotating quickly, and knowing when to commit to a fight versus when to disengage and win elsewhere.
Dropzone Key Features:
- Easy to Start, Hard to Master – controls and goals are straightforward, but superior multitasking and map awareness create a large skill gap.
- Striking Presentation – a clean UI paired with sharp effects makes combat readable while still looking impressive.
- Build Your Own Lineup – rig choices, pilots, and loadouts let you tailor a roster to your preferred tempo and tactics.
- Pure 1v1 Competition – every win and loss is on your decisions, with no team dynamics to dilute the outcome.
- Short Match Format – 15 minute rounds keep games snappy and make it easy to play in short sessions.
Dropzone Screenshots
Dropzone Featured Video
Dropzone Review
Dropzone is best understood as a MOBA designed for players who enjoy being mentally busy the entire match. Where most games in the genre focus on one character, a lane, and team coordination, Dropzone asks you to think like a commander. You are constantly swapping attention between three units, checking the minimap, weighing objective values, and deciding whether to fight, stall, or simply rotate to score elsewhere.
The core loop is built around tempo. Capturing points, contesting enemy attempts, and moving your pilots efficiently matters as much as mechanical execution. Even when fights break out, they are typically in service of map control rather than purely chasing eliminations. That emphasis makes the game feel more strategic than a typical brawler, but still immediate and action-heavy because contact happens frequently and the timer discourages slow play.
One of Dropzone’s strongest ideas is how it rewards smart splitting. Sending one pilot to quietly secure a smaller objective while two others pressure a high value area can create a steady point lead without taking unnecessary risks. At the same time, overextending gets punished, since isolated pilots are vulnerable and losing a skirmish at the wrong time can swing multiple objectives. Good players learn to read when their opponent is committed, then trade up by taking points elsewhere or arriving with the right unit at the right moment.
Customization is another highlight. Picking rigs and loadouts for each pilot helps your roster feel like a planned composition rather than three copies of the same tool. It also gives you room to express a play style, whether that means leaning into mobility for rapid rotations, building for durability to hold contested zones, or choosing options that let you win short, decisive engagements.
That said, the game’s limitations are easy to notice. With only one map, long-term variety depends heavily on player skill and matchup dynamics rather than changing environments, and the small class selection at launch restricts how many different compositions you can experiment with. The 1v1-only focus is also a double-edged sword: it is excellent for competitive purity, but it leaves little space for casual, social play that often sustains MOBAs over time.
Overall, Dropzone stands out for its distinctive multitasking premise and brisk match length. For players who like objective-driven play and the feeling of outmaneuvering an opponent across the map, it offers a clear, focused competitive experience, even if the content breadth is comparatively narrow.
Dropzone Requirements
Minimum Requirements:
Operating System: Windows 7 (SP1), Windows 8.x, Windows 10
CPU: Core i3-2115C 2.0GHz or Athlon II X3 455
Video Card: GeForce GT 720 v2 or Radeon R7 240 2GB
RAM:21GB RAM
Hard Disk Space: 15 GB
Recommended Requirements:
Operating System: Windows 7 (SP1), Windows 8.x, Windows 10
CPU: Core i5-750S 2.4GHz or Phenom II X4 965
Video Card: GeForce GT 740 v2 EVGA FTW 2GB Edit. or Radeon R7 250X
RAM: 6 GB RAM
Hard Disk Space: 15 GB
Dropzone Music & Soundtrack
Coming Soon!
Dropzone Additional Information
Developer(s): Sparkypants Studios
Publisher(s): Gameforge
Game Engine: Sparkle Engine
Producer: Andrew Auseon
Release Date: February 15, 2017
Free-to-play Release: April 12, 2017
Shut Down: 2019
Development History / Background:
Dropzone was a MOBA developed by Sparkypants Studios and published by Gameforge. The studio included many developers who previously worked at Big Huge Games, a team associated with strategy staples like Rise of Nations and Civilization II. Dropzone was initially targeted for a late 2016 launch, but it ultimately arrived as an Early Access buy-to-play release on February 15, 2017. On April 05, 2017, the game’s shift to free-to-play was announced for April 12, 2017, and it transitioned on that date. The game’s servers were later shut down in 2019.