The 2024 League of Legends World Championship is well underway and with it one of the most exciting Worlds songs ever as Riot Games unveiled their surprising partnership with the returning legendary rock band, Linkin Park.
It’s impressive that 10 years after the first Worlds theme when Riot shocked everyone by collaborating with Imagine Dragons, they are still managing to up the game and draw in even bigger names.
Every year it’s so exciting when the new Worlds song and video are released so I’ve decided to go back through them all and create my personal ranking which is no small feat because the quality and consistency of Riot’s music team is outrageously good.
#11 Zed – Ignite (2016)
Oh what could have been. This song has so much promise but unfortunately fell flat.
And I say that despite having a personal connection to this song, I spent a lot of my student loans to fly to LA for the Worlds 2016 final. I have great memories from that time and so badly wanted to love this song but the false drops kill all momentum and left all the fans wanting more.
However, the animated video is incredible. I’d actually say it has the most unique video out of all the Worlds themes but the song just didn’t hold up to that same standard.
#10 Lil Nas X – Star Walkin’ (2022)
There are some huge names on this list and Lil Nas X is one of the biggest in another huge coup for Riot Games.
The beat for this song is really good but, as many LoL fans complained, it just doesn’t quite work as a Worlds song.
And I don’t think that’s because of the genre. There could easily be a fantastic Worlds song with rap and hip-hop influence. However, this song simply isn’t exciting enough, it feels like a constant build-up without a satisfying payoff just like Ignite — and just like the usual Worlds performances of North America which is where both songs’ tournaments were held.
The animation is spectacular though, turning LoL into a mech anime was a genius choice. But ultimately the song, while very catchy, doesn’t do enough to give me the emotions I want from a Worlds tune.
#9 Nicky Taylor – Worlds Collide (2015)
I feel for this song. Following up the year after Warriors was hard enough but not even having its own video is so harsh. Originally I wanted to rate these songs and their music videos out of 10 for a combined score of 20 but with Worlds Collide that didn’t really work.
It’s a great song, Nicky Taylor does a wonderful job but the lack of animation undoubtedly hurts it. Worlds Collide was the perfect song to be weaved into the broadcast in-between games as you can see from the video above which recaps the tournament. It really captures the prestige and importance of Worlds.
But as a theme song that gets everyone pumped for the tournament, I think there are a fair few better but honestly I feel bad ranking this so low.
#8 Jerry McKinnon, Max and Henry – Take Over (2020)
This one is underrated I think.
It’s a good song, it’s pretty catchy and was definitely influenced by the heavier vibes of Rise, but it doesn’t quite reach those same highs.
The vocals on the chorus by Jerry McKinnon, the lead singer of A Day to Remember, are excellent. His voice is perfect for the song and bringing the hype for Worlds.
It’s also funny to go back and read comments talking about how the video shows Faker’s legacy as he’s passing on the torch to the next generation. Fast forward a few years to the present day and Faker has won another Worlds title since and still isn’t slowing down.
#7 Chrissy Costanza and Cailin Russo – Phoenix (2019)
A favourite of the psychics, this song hilariously (and painfully for my fellow EU fans) predicted Fun Plus Phoenix’s Worlds 2019 victory.
It’s a great song, I think it grew on a lot of people as the tournament went on and I can tell you that it was also amazing live. But it just doesn’t quite count as a top song for me and I really can’t put my finger on why. I guess Riot just really set a high standard if I see this as a B+.
I also respect what they tried with the video, having the pros appear on camera, but it just isn’t as exciting or as gripping as transporting them into an animation.
#6 PVRIS – Burn It All Down (2021)
I do love some rock music and PVRIS are a band I regularly listen to.
While this song brings more electronic vibes from them, I still think this song is a banger. The chorus just feels like a big deal, it brings the energy and gets me headbanging.
I don’t think it has quite as impactful a story as some of the others on this list but the animation is fantastic as is always the case with Riot.
#5 NewJeans – Gods (2023)
Riot heard complaints that Star Walkin wasn’t hype enough and came back the next year with a bang.
K-pop band NewJeans brought the drama and all the feels with the music video showcasing Deft’s heartwarming triumph with DRX the year prior.
I love when songs have a scale to them, they feel epic. That’s why I’m a big fan of songs having orchestral elements, a bit like Worlds Collide. The choir chorus of Gods does exactly that for me, it feels like a big deal while also creating a catchy song that will stay in my head for hours.
#4 Against The Current – Legends Never Die (2017)
This song still gives me chills.
It’s beautiful, Chrissy Constanza absolutely nails the chorus. From the song title, many worried it was too close to the iconic “Heroes never die” line from Mercy in rival game Overwatch but this song was so good it was able to shed that association with ease.
And I think it tells a brilliant story. Every year, there can only be one winner but there are so many incredible LoL players around the world. I adore how this song captures the feeling of the couple of weeks while fans waiting for the tournament to begin. We would all be looking at the qualified teams over and over again wondering who was going to step up and make history this time.
#3 Linkin Park – Heavy Is The Crown (2024)
Now I’m a massive Linkin Park fan. They’re my all-time favourite band so that obviously sways my opinion but I’m trying to stay objective and I’ll even admit it isn’t the Worlds song but it’s still up there for me.
So many of us grew up watching anime music videos (AMVs) with fan edits to the tune of Linkin Park. This song and video give me the exact same feeling. Linkin Park has such a unique sound and never fails to get the adrenaline pumping.
I can’t get enough of the heavy drop with the insane scream from the band’s new lead singer, seeing a proper metal breakdown in a Worlds song is so cool to me and doesn’t feel out of place at all.
I understand some people don’t like the band appearing in the video but personally, it doesn’t take anything away for me. It’s an incredible tune and Riot getting to use a new Linkin Park song after their seven-year break is an absurdly cool opportunity, creating more of a music video to keep the record label happy is a small price to pay.
This could be my favourite song on my list that I will listen to most but that could also admittedly be recency bias. However, I do think these last two songs work better strictly for the purpose of Worlds…
#2 Imagine Dragons – Warriors (2014)
Iconic.
This was the song that started it all and actually, it was made for the first Worlds I ever watched. Imagine Dragons have always divided opinion but I think everyone agreed that it was a huge deal for Riot to secure such a popular act for their esports event.
And the song is an absolute banger. It’s not as energetic or hype as some others on this list but the song really summed up the feeling of LoL esports at that time. The story of young kids competing from their bedrooms to then playing in sold-out stadiums as the game’s popularity really took off is real.
Warriors was not only a song but a moment, it is a crucial part to the esport’s history.
#1 Glitch Mob, Mako, and the Word Alive – Rise (2018)
Yes, even above Warriors.
Rise is just the ideal Worlds song. It’s a masterpiece.
Did it work instrumentally for the filler segments in between games? Yep. Does it capture the story and feeling of Worlds? Perfectly, it takes the usual underdog story but really makes it gritty and feel like these pros are truly fighting with everything they can muster. Did it get me excited for the tournament to get started? Absolutely, I still get pumped every time I listen to it.
The music video is incredible too. It was the first time pro players became the stars rather than champions, as they should be, and it might still be the most effective example of LoL pros blended with characters. The Faker Azir moment in Heavy is the Crown is spectacular but I think Faker as Ryze in this 2018 video might be ever so slightly better.
There’s only one bad thing I can say about this song and that’s that the live performance at the final wasn’t the best and it was unfortunately overshadowed by K/DA. And as a side note, while I think K/DA were amazing I think GIANTS by True Damage is absolutely the best LoL-created song.
But still I truly believe Rise is the best of this list and it may never be topped honestly.
