Until a decade ago, video games were only considered a form of entertainment and a way to kill time. Today, some of them represent multi-million electronic sports with many followers.
Thousands of fans from all continents are waiting for the duels of famous teams and individuals who know the games inside and out.
All this popularity has affected eSports in several ways, including their numbers. So, although this activity started with only a few titles, today, there are several dozen video games through which players test their skills and knowledge. However, a few headlines seem to be bouncing around. Our article will focus on the four most popular eSports today.
1. League of Legends (LoL)
Riot Games released League of Legends (LoL) in 2009. This MOBA (Multiplayer online battle arena) became pretty popular from the very beginning. The game had a standard concept – two teams of five players battle until the opposing teams’ Nexus is wholly destroyed. The battles occur in a fictional battleground known as the Summoner’s Rift.
League of Legends is one of the first MOBAs to enter the global eSports scene. Today, various professional leagues focus on this attractive game, including South Korea’s LCK, the European LEC, and the North American LCS leagues. Additionally, we have the World Championship and the Mid-Season Invitational international tournament.
Let’s not forget that Riot Games, the developer behind this title, invests much money in production. Fans get high-quality streams, fun commentary, and a memorable viewing experience, making this game even more engaging.
Beyond gameplay, LoL, as an eSport, has influenced the betting world. Nowadays, prominent wagering platforms, such as Bovada esports betting, offer odds for the LoL World Championship, ranking teams like Gen.G (+275), Bilibili Gaming (+275), and T1 (+650). From match winners to futures bets, League of Legends stands out as a competitive wagering choice among esports enthusiasts online.
2. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO)
Next on the list is Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO). This game was launched in 2012. Still, the title already had a massive fan base because it was the successor of another hit video game – Counter-Strike 1.6.
If you’re into first-person shooters, it’s unlikely that you have not encountered this game before. Like in LoL, you’ll find two teams trying to achieve different goals depending on the mode. This time, it’s a battle between terrorists and counter-terrorists. In some cases, you have to defuse or plant a bomb, while in others, you might have to rescue hostages.
CS:GO features several epic maps, including Mirage, Dust II, and Inferno. As expected, this title’s competitive nature makes it one of the most notable eSports options.
This game’s most viewed eSports tournaments are sponsored by its developer, Valve. These are known as Majors. Interestingly, the prize pools you can expect to find here are enormous.
Due to the significant number of participants, the organizers had to start a qualification process. This usually goes through regional minor championships, which allow the best teams and players to reach the Majors.
Some of the most famous CS:GO players include Oleksandr Kostyliev and Nikola Kovac.
3. Dota 2
We can’t discuss the most popular eSports without mentioning Dota 2. This is another video game developed by Valve Corporation, the same company that stands behind CS:GO. Dota 2 was launched in 2013 and was based on the DotA mode for Warcraft III.
Here, we have another multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) involving two teams of five players each. The players control powerful characters known as heroes. Unlike CS:GO, where your character doesn’t play a significant role (except for the weapons selection), in Dota 2, each character has unique abilities. In other words, they have specific strengths and weaknesses.
Let’s not forget to mention that matches can last between 20 minutes to over an hour. The objective is to defeat the opposing team by destroying their base’s central structure, Ancient.
Regarding eSports, Dota 2 is one of the most prestigious video games. The most important event related to this title is the International (TI). The prize pool associated with this event often reaches tens of millions. Group stages, double elimination brackets, best-of-five series, and the Grand Finals are the essential elements of this competition.
4. Overwatch
Last but not least, we have Overwatch, a Blizzard Entertainment product released in 2016. It’s a first-person shooter game with an excellent following across the globe.
Every player gets an opportunity to choose from a list of diverse heroes. They have specific abilities that contribute differently to completing specific battle objectives. These characters are divided into damage, tank, and support. This is also the only game on the list which involves robots in the story.
The most notable eSports competition for Overwatch fans is the Overwatch Champions Series, which replaced the Overwatch League, which ceased in January 2024.
Toronto Defiant, NRG Shock, Spacestation Gaming, and Twisted Minds are some of the most successful teams in this competition.
It’s worth noting that teams must pass multiple stages throughout the year to reach the Champions Series. They play in three geographical regions: North America, Asia, and Europe/Middle East/Africa.