Who would have thought that in 2021 we will be sitting in front of our TVs watching other people play games on their computers? Finally, gaming can become your professional job and not a waste of time (like it was according to everyone’s parents). Right now, the most popular players can earn millions of dollars on tournaments and bets from platforms like E-Sports Betting Malaysia. In fact, research firm Newzoo has estimated that esports will generate $1.79 billion per year by 2022. In this article, you will find the most popular e-sports gaming titles in the world, along with tournaments you can watch them, including Fortnite, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, and many more. Read on!
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO)
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is one of the most popular first-person shooters in the world. It has over 24 million monthly active players, and their number increases every year. CS:GO is played at a professional level by many different teams across the globe. The most recent tournament with a prize pool of more than $1 million was StarLadder Major: Berlin 2019.
League of Legends (LoL)
League of Legends is another very popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game, which means that it’s a strategy game involving two teams of five players who fight for control over a battlefield. The game has over 115 million active players worldwide. It also has professional leagues, teams, and tournaments, such as the League of Legends World Championship (World Finals) or the LoL European Championship (EU LCS).
Fortnite
Fortnite is a battle royale game, meaning it’s a survival game where you have to be the last person standing after everyone else dies. It was released on July 25th, 2017, and it has since become extremely popular among streamers and gamers all over the world. As of 2021, it has 350 million registered players. Considering that Fortnite is a relatively new game, it speaks volumes about its popularity.
Dota 2
Dota 2 is considered to be one of the most popular MOBAs in the world. It was developed by Valve Corporation and was released in 2013. The game has a huge fan base, and its e-sports scene is one of the most followed ones in the world. The International Dota 2 Championship is one of the biggest events in terms of prize pool and viewership. Over $34 million were given out as prize money during the last competition.
Hearthstone
Hearthstone is one of the most popular digital collectible card games in the world. It was developed by Blizzard Entertainment (maker of World of Warcraft), and it was released in 2014. The game has more than 23 million players, and it was even included in the Guinness World Records book, as the longest videogame marathon playing Hearthstone lasted 38 hours and 22 minutes. In 2019, Hearthstone World Championships ended up with a prize pool of over $200,000.
Overwatch
Overwatch is a popular team-based first-person shooter game that was developed by Blizzard Entertainment. The game was released in May 2016 and has since become extremely popular, especially in North America. It was the third most-watched title during 2018, with more than 1.3 million average peak concurrent viewers. The Overwatch League is a professional esports league for this game, which runs from January to September of each year. In 2019, the League had a total prize pool of over $9 million.
PlayerUnknown’s Battleground (PUBG)
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is a battle royale game developed by PUBG Corporation and KRAFTON, and it’s currently available for PC only. The game is played in third-person perspective, and its gameplay involves fighting other people on an island until there is only one player left alive. It was released in 2017, and it has since become extremely popular among streamers and gamers all over the world. It was the second most-watched e-sports title in 2018, with more than 1.2 million average peak concurrent viewers.
Rocket League
Rocket League is another popular multiplayer vehicular soccer game. It was released in 2015, and it quickly became very popular thanks to its unique gameplay. The game has more than 50 million players. The 2020 Rocket League Championship Series had announced a prize pool of $1 million.
StarCraft II
StarCraft II is a science fiction real-time strategy game developed by Blizzard Entertainment. It was released in 2010, and it has been played all over the world ever since. The game has three different races to choose from. A lot of tournaments have been held for StarCraft II, including World Championship Series, WCS America, WCS Europe, WCS Global Finals, and many more.
To Sum Up
As you can see, there are plenty of video games worthy of your attention. And the best thing about it is that such a wide variety of games available to play or watch ensures that you will find something to appease your taste. Battle royale games, first-person shooters, MOBAs, and even digital card games – pick one that excites you the most and enjoy the tournament!
