A new survey ranks gamers’ IQ by their favorite games. The results might surprise you, especially when it comes to the top spot!

black myth: wukong, elden ring, dark souls

Gamers have long debated which titles attract the most intellectually gifted players, but now we might have some hard data to settle the score. A recent survey has attempted to rank game communities by their average IQ, and the results are sure to ruffle some feathers.

A gameplay screenshot of Dark Souls featuring the player character bent over a bonfire.Soulsborne enthusiasts won’t be too pleased with these results. | Image Credit: FromSoftware

From the depths of Summoner’s Rift to the unforgiving lands of the Lands Between, the study covered a wide range of popular titles. But it’s the game sitting at the top of the heap that’s sure to get everyone talking!

League of Legends Players: The Unexpected Geniuses?

Key art of League of Legends, a MOBA game with the smartest playerbase according to a recent survey.League of Legends appears to have the “smartest” playerbase. | Image Credit: Riot Games

In a twist that’s sure to shock many, League of Legends players have claimed the top spot in WhichBingo‘s IQ survey. With an average IQ of 120.4, these MOBA maestros have outpaced even the most challenging single-player experiences. It seems that all those hours spent calculating cooldowns and predicting enemy movements might be paying off in unexpected ways.

Notably, Dota 2, often considered the more complex and strategically demanding MOBA compared to League of Legends, landed at #8 with an average IQ of 111.7. While still above average, it seems that LoL players have a slight edge in the brains department.

Close-up of the player character in Black Myth: Wukong.Black Myth: Wukong players with the silver medal. | Image Credit: Game Science

But before LoL players start patting themselves on the back too hard, it’s worth noting that Black Myth: Wukong players aren’t far behind. The recent hit from Game Science scored an impressive 119.8, proving that its challenging gameplay is attracting some sharp minds.

What’s particularly interesting is how these newer titles stack up against established brain-teasers like Dark Souls and Elden Ring. Despite their reputation for punishing difficulty, Hidetaka Miyazaki‘s creations came in at 114.2 and 114.6, respectively, falling short of both League, Wukong, Baldur’s Gate 3, and even Counter-Strike.

Black Myth: Wukong, while not strictly a Soulslike, incorporates similar challenging elements with its boss fights that require players to think critically about their approach. Players often find themselves engaged in combat that demands precise timing and adept maneuvering, sharpening both their reflexes and cognitive skills.

Female Gamers Take the Lead

In-game screenshot of Rellana, Twin Moon Knight, a challenging boss enemy in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.Think twice before igniting this debate again. | Image Credit: FromSoftware

While the game-specific results are intriguing, the survey also revealed some surprising gender differences. Contrary to outdated stereotypes, female gamers outperformed their male counterparts by more than two IQ points on average. It’s a gentle reminder that gaming skill and intelligence know no gender boundaries.

Of course, it’s important to take these results with a grain of salt. The survey only included 1,002 gamers aged 18 and up, which is hardly representative of the global gaming population. Still, it’s an interesting snapshot that’s sure to fuel plenty of friendly (and not-so-friendly) debates in gaming circles.

So, the next time someone tells you that gaming is rotting your brain, you might want to point them toward this study. Just don’t mention that FIFA (or rather, “EAFC“) players came in dead last, and Valorant players were nowhere to be found — we wouldn’t want to incite a virtual riot, would we?

What do you think about these results? Does your favorite game’s ranking match your expectations? Let us know in the comments below!