Top 11 eSports Games You Should Play

If you’re in the gaming industry, you would’ve definitely heard about eSports. Today, we’ll explore some of the best eSports Games to try out.

Electronic Sports (eSports), is a rapidly growing industry in which professional gamers compete in organized video game tournaments. With the rise of technology and internet connectivity, esports has become a global phenomenon. It is now attracting millions of viewers, fans, and participants.

This article aims to provide an overview of some of the most popular esports games, along with how they have impacted the world of gaming and competition.

Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or a newcomer to the world of esports, this article will give you an insight into this exciting and dynamic industry.

What do you mean by eSports?

Esports, an abbreviation for “electronic sports,” refers to competitive video gaming. Here, individuals or teams engage in organized events and competitions. The emergence of the internet and technological advancements have made it possible for individuals from all over the globe.

Esports has also given rise to professional gamers, who make a livelihood via wages, sponsorships, and tournament victories. 

Esports games span from League of Legends, Fortnite, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive to Overwatch, FIFA, and NBA 2K. Each game has its own set of rules and goals, and tournaments may be single or team-based, among other forms. 

The establishment of specific esports organizations, leagues, and broadcast networks has resulted from the expansion of esports. It affects in making it a fully-fledged sector with its infrastructure and fanbase.

Esports has acquired recognition and approval as a genuine type of sport. Some nations even recognize esports players as athletes as their popularity has increased.

Difference between Esports and Gaming

Esports and gaming are two related but distinct concepts.

Gaming refers to the act of playing video games, either alone or with others, for entertainment or leisure. It encompasses a wide range of activities, including playing on consoles, computers, or mobile devices. It can also involve single-player or multiplayer games of various genres.

Esports, on the other hand, refers specifically to competitive video gaming. 

It involves individuals or teams competing against each other in organized events and tournaments to determine the best players or teams in a particular game.

Esports often involves a high level of skill, strategy, and teamwork and can have significant financial rewards for the winners.

In short, gaming is a general term for playing video games. On the contrary, esports is a subcategory of gaming that refers to competitive video gaming.

Growth Trends in the Esports Industry

The tremendous growth of the esports industry continues to persist and is projected to continue. Some of the notable growth trends in the esports sector are discussed below.

Rising Viewership

The viewership of esports events and competitions has been on the rise. There are a large number of individuals tuning in to watch online streams or live events. This has facilitated the growth of the industry and attracted greater investment.

Escalating Prize Pools

The prize pools for esports tournaments have been growing significantly, with some of the largest events offering multi-million dollar prizes. This has drawn more professional gamers to the industry and increased competition.

Expansion into Emerging Markets

Esports is expanding into new regions and countries, such as Asia, South America, and Africa. Ultimately, it’s expanding the global esports market and creating new growth opportunities too.

Investment from Traditional Sports Teams and Organizations

Traditional sports teams and organizations have been investing in esports, either by purchasing existing teams or starting their own. This has brought more resources and expertise to the industry and elevated its visibility and credibility.

Boost in Sponsorship and Advertising

Sponsorship and advertising have become crucial sources of revenue for the esports sector as companies aim to reach the lucrative and growing esports audience.

How can you start an Esports Business?

Starting an esports company may be a difficult and time-consuming endeavor. But if you move forward with proper preparation and execution, it can be a lucrative and fulfilling one. Here are the essential first steps:

1. Determine your niche: Identify the sort of esports company you want to create, such as tournament organization, team ownership, or gaming facility management.
2. Market Research: Investigate the size and development possibilities of the esports sector, as well as your niche’s competitors, as part of your market research.
3. Create a business strategy: Develop a thorough business plan that details your objectives, target market, marketing strategy, and financial predictions.
4. Assemble Funds: Determine the expenses of launching an esports company and raise sufficient finance via investments, loans, or other sources.
5. Assemble a team: Assemble a group of competent and experienced employees, including managers, marketers, and technical experts, to help create and operate your organization.
6. Collaborations: Create growth and income prospects through fostering collaborations with game publishers, tournament organizers, and other industry stakeholders.
7. Marketing Strategy: Develop and execute a marketing plan to promote your company and reach your target audience.

Starting an esports company needs strategic thought, hard work, and perseverance. Going with the correct strategy can be a lucrative and satisfying endeavor. Now, You will also find some top esports games to try out.

Dota 2

Dota 2 is a popular Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game that Valve Corporation created and distributed. It is one of the most successful and popular esports games in the world. It possesses a massive and devoted player base and a vibrant, competitive scene.

DOTA 2 is played by two teams of five players, each of whom controls a unique-abilities hero. The objective is to eliminate the opponent Ancient, which is placed in their base while protecting one’s own. The game’s complicated gameplay, high-skill ceiling, and difficulty have made it a popular option for competitive gaming.

Dota 2’s official competitive circuit, the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC), is the focal point of the game’s competitive scene. The DPC hosts several major and minor competitions throughout the year, with the best teams vying for a chance to qualify for ‘The International,’ the biggest Dota 2 tournament and one of the largest esports events.

PUBG Mobile

The famous battle royale game PUBG Mobile was created by PUBG Corporation in collaboration with Tencent Games.

The mobile version of the game has amassed a significant and devoted following, helping it to become one of the most popular mobile games in the world on both Android and iOS.

Up to 100 players are dropped down on a vast island simultaneously in PUBG Mobile. They must battle it out to be the last person or squad standing. Because of the game’s reputation for having gameplay that is both fast-paced and intense, it has become a popular option for use in competitive gaming.

The competitive PUBG Mobile esports scene is expanding at a quick rate, and there are now multiple big tournaments and leagues being hosted all over the globe. Two of them are the PUBG Mobile World League (PMWL) and the PUBG Mobile Club Open (PMCO).

As a result of these competitions’ enormous prize pools and their ability to draw elite teams and players from all over the globe, PUBG Mobile has become one of the most popular and profitable esports games in the whole world.

Fortnite

Fortnite, the popular battle royale game, was developed by Epic Games and was released in 2017. It has since become one of the most widely played and profitable games globally, with a large player base and excellent esports attention too.

In Fortnite, players are dropped onto a vast island and must compete to be the last individual or team standing out of 100 players. Through various in-game events and partnerships with popular franchises, Fortnite has remained fresh and engaging for players.

The esports scene in Fortnite revolves around the annual Fortnite World Cup, which boasts a substantial prize pool and attracts top-level players worldwide. Additionally, regional and online tournaments are held throughout the year, providing players with opportunities to compete and showcase their skills.

Arena of Valor

Arena of Valor was one of the earliest mobile phone-compatible MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) games. With the rising prevalence of smartphones, it has developed even more, notably in South-East Asian nations, and currently offers some of the most lucrative tournament prize pools. You can play this game on both iOS and Android. 

Here, two teams of five players engage on a virtual battlefield to destroy the base of the other team. The game contains a cast of distinct characters, each with their powers and playstyles. So, players must cooperate to outmaneuver and beat their opponents.

Multiple regional and international events occur yearly in the Arena of Valor esports community. Arena of Valor is one of the most popular and profitable esports titles in the mobile gaming sector.

Rocket League

Rocket League is a video game that was made by Psyonix and came out in 2015. In the game, players take control of special cars and play a kind soccer with them.

Like soccer, the game’s goal is to get your team of cars to move the ball down the field and score more goals than the other team. But the cars are powered by rockets, so they can go very fast (called “boosting”) and can also fly through the air.

In Rocket League, players participate in high-speed matches on a future soccer pitch to score goals and outmaneuver their opponents. The game’s many playing types and personalization choices make it accessible and fun for gamers of all skill levels.

Numerous professional leagues and significant tournaments are hosted throughout the year in Rocket League’s esports community.

League of Legends (LoL) is a 2009 video game created and distributed by Riot Games. Since its launch in October 2009, the game has been free-to-play. However, character customizations are available for purchase.

In League of Legends, players compete as part of a team against another team. Each team consists of five players while controlling “champion” role characters with distinct powers and playing styles. In Summoner’s Rift, the game’s primary mode, a team wins by penetrating the opponent base and destroying its “Nexus,” a massive building inside.

The New York Times previously referred to the game as one of the biggest esports in the world, while the Harvard Business Review said that League of Legends exemplified the genesis of the esports business.

As of April 2021, Riot Games controls 12 regional leagues globally, four of which have franchise systems in place: China, Europe, South Korea, and North America.

Valorant

Valorant is a free-to-play first-person shooter (FPS) developed and distributed for Microsoft Windows by Riot Games. The game was first advertised in October 2019 under the codename Project A, and a closed beta phase with restricted access started on April 7, 2020, followed by an official release on June 2, 2020.

Valorant is a futuristic team-based first-person shooter. In the primary game, players are allocated to a team of five, either attacking or defending, and can choose any of the 20 possible characters/agents. Each of these agents has distinct skills that need charges, as well as a unique ultimate ability that must be charged by kills, deaths, orbs, or through fulfilling tasks.

The VALORANT esports scene is still in its early stages, but it has already gained significant attention from the gaming and esports communities. Several professional leagues and tournaments have been established, featuring top teams and players worldwide.

Apex Legends is a battle royale video game created by Respawn Entertainment and released by Electronic Arts.

It was initially released in 2019 and has since become one of the most popular and widely played games in the world. Right now, the game is played by various esports communities and shows too.

In Apex Legends, up to sixty players descend onto a vast map and compete to be the last man or team standing. The game has a cast of unique characters, each with its abilities and playing styles.

The Apex Legends esports ecosystem is still in its early stages of development, but it has already garnered significant attention from the gaming and esports communities. There are certain events around the globe for Apex Legends.

Call of Duty: Warzone

Call of Duty: Warzone is a battle royale game created by Infinity Ward and sold by Activision. It was released in 2020 and is gaining extreme popularity in the gaming world after that.

Call of Duty: Warzone is a popular and fast-paced battle royale game. It has quickly become a hit among players and the esports community.

Warzone places up to 150 players on a large battlefield, competing to be the last man or team standing. Utilizing a variety of weapons and equipment, players must collaborate to destroy their foes.

The gaming and esports worlds have taken notice of the infant Warzone esports scene. Multiple leagues and tournaments involving the best teams and players in the globe have been formed.

Overwatch 2

Overwatch was released in 2016 by Blizzard Entertainment’s Blizzard. Due to its success, they launched Overwatch 2. Each of the 32 playable heroes has a distinct set of abilities and specializations.

Heroes may adopt one of three roles, such as Tank, Damage, or Support, and battle in six-person teams. Included among the game modes are practice range, computer play/practice, rapid play, arcade, competitive play, and custom games.

The objective of this mission is either to secure control points on a map or to transport commodities from one region to another within a certain period. Its prevalence in Asia is tremendous, though you can find it in many other parts of the world.

Tekken 8

As with previous main-line Tekken games, Tekken 8 is a narrative about fathers and sons striving to kill one another to rid the Mishima clan of the Devil Gene, a mystical DNA fragment that converts select individuals into hellspawn.

The game’s many combat techniques, 3D mobility (which provides new ways for striking and avoiding), and slow-motion effects that activate when both fighters’ health bars are low, and they complete simultaneous close-quarter melee assaults contribute to its success as an esport.

Tekken 8 has established itself as one of the most popular fighting games in the esports industry. Also, several professional leagues and tournaments involving the best players in the world have been formed.

Conclusion

Esports is becoming more popular, and as a result, there is a wider selection of games available for both participants and spectators to enjoy. There is a game that caters to every kind of player in the realm of esports.

From the fast-paced battle royale titles like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends to the more strategic and competitive titles like League of Legends and Dota 2. Why not immerse yourself in the fascinating world of esports and discover all that it has to offer?