‘League of Legends (LoL)’ remains the perpetual champion of the Gamemeca popularity charts. While it sits comfortably at the top, its sheer consistency often renders it invisible to the casual observer. However, this week feels different. Looking at the key metrics, PC bang usage has been climbing steadily from December through January, widening the gap between it and its competitors. It seems the already speeding train of LoL has just hit the nitrous.

The secret sauce? The first season of the year, which kicked off on the 8th. Specifically, the decision to extend the duration of the ‘ARAM: Clash’ mode—a fan-favourite that debuted last October—has provided a massive boost. Originally slated to end on January 6th, the extension has given the new season a much-needed shot in the arm. With a patch scheduled for early February bringing further updates, players can finally breathe and enjoy the mode without the looming threat of an expiry date.

Players have affectionately dubbed the mode ‘Augment-ARAM’. It takes the standard, chaotic fun of All Random All Mid and injects the ‘Augment’ system—a random power-up mechanic famously seen in the Arena mode. It’s not necessarily reinventing the wheel, but the marriage of random champions and unpredictable augments creates a fresh, rapid-fire experience where you can test out wildly different builds in no time at all.

For a game often accused of being in a bit of a rut, finding the ‘Augment-ARAM’ gold mine is a breath of fresh air. LoL remains the undisputed king in Korea, but it hasn't been immune to criticisms regarding long play times and the sheer cognitive load of its modern state. Patching core modes is fine, but offering distinct, bite-sized alternatives is a smarter play. The real question now is whether ‘Augment-ARAM’ has the legs to become a permanent fixture alongside Summoner's Rift and Howling Abyss.

The biggest mover this week is undoubtedly Genshin Impact, which jumped a staggering 13 places to land at 22nd. It’s the first time the game has breached the top 20s since 2024. The catalyst? The ‘A Traveler's Winter Night’ update, which dropped on the 14th. This update wrapped up the first act of the main ‘Archon Quest’, tying up long-standing plot threads with a level of polish that has earned it massive praise for its narrative payoff.

The arrival of the new playable character, Columbina, has also poured fuel on the fire. As a pivotal figure in this chapter, the hype was palpable, and her kit is robust enough to make her a ‘must-pull’ for the meta. She brings several highly effective synergies for the ‘Moonlight Reaction’, which is currently dominant in the Nordcrai region. For a subculture game, nailing both compelling storytelling and character desire is the holy grail, and Genshin Impact has proven it still has plenty of gas in the tank.

In the mid-tier, Diablo 4 has slipped for the second consecutive week, settling at 23rd. It seems the ‘Season 11’ hype—driven by early access to the new ‘Paladin’ class for expansion pre-purchasers—is beginning to wane. Players burned through the Paladin builds rather quickly, leading to a sense of content exhaustion. Still, given the generally warm reception to the current season, anticipation for the next major expansion in April remains high.

Down in the lower ranks, Arknights: Endfield has entered the fray at 49th, ahead of its scheduled release on the 22nd. Based on the popular Arknights IP, this collectible RPG blends open-world exploration with factory simulation mechanics that feel suspiciously like Factorio. As one of the most anticipated subculture titles of the year, its surge in search volume suggests players are already gearing up for its full launch.