eSports is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, and it seems like every day, a new game is announced as having an eSports tournament. So, we decided to put together a comprehensive list of all the video games with eSports tournaments and talk a little bit more about them!
This list will include popular games like League of Legends and DOTA 2, as well as some lesser-known ones that you may not have heard of before. We'll also give a brief overview of each game so you can get an idea of what they're all about!
Let's get into it.
#1 - League of Legends
League of Legends (LoL) is an incredibly popular Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game. It's one of the most played games in the world, boasting over 117 million monthly players, 10-11 of these playing daily.
As such, it's not surprising that you can watch and even participate in many LoL tournaments. In addition to the major tournaments held by Riot Games, there are also third-party tournaments like the League of Legends World Championships and Mid-Season Invitationals, which offer huge prize pools.
Teams from all over the world compete in these tournaments for glory and the bragging rights to say they are one of the best in one of the most competitive sports in the world.
South Korea (known as the LCK region) tends to have some of the most successful teams, including the likes of T1, DRX, and DAMWON Gaming.
#2 - DOTA 2
DOTA 2 is another MOBA game, but unlike LoL, it's developed and published by Valve. It has a similar format to LoL, with players taking control of powerful heroes and battling against each other in team-based combat.
DOTA 2 is another incredibly popular game with several major tournaments, such as The International, which feature colossal prize pools for the winning teams.
There are also smaller tournaments like the ESL One and DreamLeague, which are open to amateur and professional players. DOTA 2 is one of the most exciting eSports games to watch, as matches can be incredibly close and intense.
#3 - Overwatch (2)
Overwatch (now Overwatch 2) is a team-based first-person shooter developed by Blizzard Entertainment. It has quickly gained a lot of popularity due to its colorful characters and fast-paced gameplay. Several major tournaments are held for Overwatch, such as the World Cup and Contenders Series, which offer large prize pools for the winning teams.
In addition to these tournaments, smaller ones like the Overwatch Open and Overwatch PIT are open to amateur players as well and offer smaller prize pools. Overwatch is an incredibly exciting game to watch, and there's always something new happening in the competitive scene.
#4 - Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) is a tactical first-person shooter developed by Valve. It's been around since 2012, but it has only recently gained popularity in eSports. CS:GO tournaments are incredibly popular, with major events like the Intel Extreme Masters offering huge prize pools for winning teams.
There are also smaller tournaments like ESL Pro League, ELeague, and DreamHack, which offer smaller prize pools but still feature some of the top teams in the world. CS:GO matches are always intense and exciting to watch, which is why it's become one of the most popular games in eSports.
#5 - StarCraft II
StarCraft II is the sequel to one of the most iconic real-time strategy games ever made. It's been around since 2010 and has been featured in several major tournaments, such as Intel Extreme Masters and DreamHack. Prize pools for these tournaments can be quite large, with some reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In addition to these tournaments, there are also smaller ones, such as WCS Korea and GSL, which feature some of the best players worldwide. StarCraft II is an incredibly exciting game to watch, as matches can be extremely fast-paced and intense.
#6 - Hearthstone
Hearthstone is a digital collectible card game developed by Blizzard Entertainment. It has quickly gained popularity due to its easy-to-learn mechanics and vibrant artwork. There are several tournaments that feature Hearthstone, with the biggest one being the World Championship which offers huge prize pools for winning teams.
#7 - Valorant
Valorant is a tactical shooter developed by Riot Games. It features characters with unique abilities and fast-paced team combat. Valorant tournaments are held worldwide, with major events such as the Challengers Series offering large prize pools for teams that make it to the top.
There are also smaller tournaments like Ignition Series, which offer prize money for the best players. Valorant is an incredibly exciting game to watch, as matches can be intense and full of unexpected twists.
#8 - Fortnite
Fortnite is an incredibly popular battle royale game developed by Epic Games. It has become one of the biggest games in eSports, and several tournaments are held for it each year. The most prestigious tournament for Fortnite is the Fortnite World Cup which offers a massive $30 million prize pool for winning teams.
Fortnite's 2019 World Cup also holds the title for the largest prize pool, which sits at $100 million.
#9 - Apex Legends
Apex Legends is another battle royale game developed by Respawn Entertainment. It has quickly gained popularity due to its unique characters and intense team-based gameplay. There are several tournaments held for Apex Legends, with the biggest one being the Apex Legends Global Series which offers huge prize pools for teams that make it to the top.
#10 - Super Smash Bros
Super Smash Bros. is a fighting game series developed by Nintendo. It has been around since 1999 and has become one of the most popular games in eSports. Several tournaments are held for Super Smash Bros., the biggest one being the EVO Championship, which offers huge prize pools for winning teams.
Other honorable mentions
The truth is, if there's a game out there, it can be made into an eSport, even if it's players fighting for the top speed in a speed run. However, if you're still looking for more games with a wider audience and global tournaments, here's a list of video games you'll want to check out.
- Street Fighter
- Marvel vs. Capcom
- Tekken
- Quake
- Doom
- Call of Duty
- Battlefield
- Rainbow Six: Siege
- Smite
- Heroes of the Storm
- Formula One
- Gran Turismo
- Warcraft III
- Fifa series
- Madden
- NBA 2K
- Rocket League
- Magic: The Gathering
- Pokemon
- War Thunder
- World of Tanks
- Clash Royale
- Clash of Clans