It wasn’t all that long ago that video games were viewed as, at worst, a distraction and, at best, merely a hobby. Here in 2023, however, the sheer global popularity of video games has spawned a thriving industry in which competitive gaming is now worth over $1.79 billion per year (according to Newzoo). Not only that but Esports supports an entire ecosystem of players, gaming leagues and businesses while elite tournaments sell out massive arenas worldwide.
Whether your big ambition is to become a professional video game player or you’re simply a keen gamer wanting to take a more active role in supporting an Esports team, it makes sense to familiarize yourself with the most popular Esports titles. In this article, we’ll dive into the greatest Esports games of all time.
What Makes An Esports Title An Esports Title?
In the digital age, all manner of competitive and technologically advanced gaming experiences are widely available to global players. Whether it’s multiplayer mobile gaming apps like Mario Kart Tour, cutting-edge iGaming verticals such as crypto pokies or even digital collectable trading card games, the gaming industry is filled with ways that players can test their skills against each other.
So, what makes an Esports game one that can be classified as such? Well, several elements go into classifying Esports titles, but typically they feature both competitive and skill-based elements in their gameplay. Players actively need to develop elevated levels of skill, precision and strategic thinking in order to advance throughout the game, all the while beating their opponents.
Of course, the popularity of competitive gaming means that numerous games have been released in recent years that are now embraced by gaming communities. The sector comprises many titles from various gaming genres, including first-person shooters, role-playing games, battle royales and sports simulators.
The Greatest Esports Games
With Esports being such a popular segment of the gaming industry, there have naturally been more titles than we can count springing up over the years. For the true Esports experience, whether as a player or a fan, here are the definitive games that you need to know about.
Apex Legends
Developed by Respawn, which had previously attempted to be awarded the Esports sector with its two Titanfall games, Apex Legends launched in 2019 and has awarded over $18 million in prize money to date.
Taking place in the same universe established in the Titanfall series, Apex Legends injects some battle royale melees into the mix, as well as straight-up shooter action. This title is especially popular with Esports communities since it allows gamers to control several highly engaging mercenaries, all of whom have their own unique abilities.
While Apex Legends is played from grassroots level to pro, undoubtedly, it’s the Apex Legends Global Series tournaments that draw in the biggest crowds.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Hailing from the Valve stable — the same company behind the groundbreaking Steam platform — Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) is a vintage game with mass appeal. Debuting in 2012, this PC game set the template for FPS titles in Esports.
While CS:GO may not be able to compete on the visuals front with some of the other titles on this list, it continues to have mass appeal. Many Esports pros appreciate the game’s “no-frills” gameplay experience. It’s even risen in popularity to the point where over $96 million in prize money has been awarded via CS: GO tourneys like World Electronic Sports Games.
Dota 2
Few Esports titles exemplify the discipline more than Defense of the Ancients 2 (Dota 2). Easily one of the most popular multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBA) games on the planet, Dota 2 has set world records in terms of prize money and engagement. If there’s one Esports tournament that even the most casual gamer has heard of, it will likely be the annual Dota2 event, The International.
Dota 2 is a free-to-play game, but it’s widely known for being “easy to learn yet hard to master”. Players can choose from inhabiting one of over 100 Heroes on the battlefield while teaming up to destroy their opponents’ territories.
Fortnite
When it comes to Esports titles with mainstream appeal, there are few out there that can compare to Fortnite. The monster Epic Games release has been a hit with various global gaming communities, from casual players to the Esports elite. Not only is it free to play on most gaming platforms (including mobile and desktop), but it also features engaging gameplay modes and innovative visuals and audio.
Behind its mass-market success lies a competitive battle royale gaming experience that still delivers on the pro gaming front. In fact, the Fortnite World Cup is so popular that it was the first Esports tournament to set a brand-new world record for a prize pool. What’s more, the game is also helping to break new ground in the Web3 space, having hosted a series of virtual concerts with superstar artists like Travis Scott.
