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Certain games tend to capture people’s attention in a way that others don’t. There are some esports that have proven to be the most popular among spectators.
People who loved gaming in the 90s and before will potentially find it a bit unusual that games are considered a spectator sport now. This is definitely the case now, though. There are some games that people flock to and watch in their thousands or even millions.
The Current State of Esports
What started as small local tournaments or LAN parties is now a massive industry with international competitions and even sponsorships from huge companies. The rise of platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming has played a big role in this and given fans a space to stream gameplay and watch live tournaments.
Parallels are there to be drawn with traditional games, and esports has become increasingly similar to traditional sports. There are leagues and even major sponsorships. Esports events are broadcast globally and may receive millions of viewers who tune in to watch top players compete for large prizes (and the glory of being the best). The rise of esports betting has also made the scene even more comparable to traditional sports because betting markets have become common for major competitions.
Betting markets are a way for people to track and wager on upcoming games and tournaments. They’re actually pretty advanced – there are ways that potential bettors can combine a lot of different markets. Some like to analyze the stats and use a betting odds calculator to work out what return they could potentially get from combining certain markets or backing certain teams. People can study the form or just go based on their gut feelings when they are making predictions. It is a way that players can add another layer of depth to watching the games.
This massive growth has led to some games seeing a rise in popularity, with team-based games. Strategy and collaboration are key. Some of the top games now have full-time professional players and huge followings on social media. Esports is no longer just for hardcore gamers, and it is an industry that attracts casual fans.
Popular Esports Games
Several games have emerged as the leaders in the industry. These games are played by millions worldwide and have massive fan bases that support professional players and teams.
League of Legends (LoL)
Love lore and interesting characters? LoL is packed with them and has proven to be one of the most popular and longest-standing games in the esports world. This multiplayer online battle arena game has been around since 2009. It has consistently remained at the top of esports competitions. Players control a champion – each has its own unique abilities. They’re a bit like the characters from Middle-earth or other fantasy universes – loads of people enjoy exploring the limitless possibilities.
The League of Legends World Championship, known as “Worlds,” is one of the largest esports events globally, with millions of viewers every year. People love to play along with the games and have a go for themselves – this has led to a world of quirky usernames and interesting online gameplay.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
CS:GO (now replaced by its sequel) is one of the most iconic competitive shooters in esports. The original was released in 2012, and CS:GO has grown into a major player in the esports industry. It has now been superseded by CS2. This is built in the same style – a first-person shooter where two teams of five players compete to either plant a bomb or prevent it from being planted, depending on which side they’re on.
The Major Championships are some of the most watched and anticipated events in esports, attracting millions of fans and viewers.
Dota 2
Another example of lore and an impressive story behind every single character – Dota 2 is another popular MOBA game that has carved out a massive space in the world of competitive gaming. Dota is made by Valve (the same company behind CS:GO). Dota 2 boasts an incredibly loyal fanbase. It’s also seen some of the biggest prize pools in esports history. The game features two teams of five players and a whole lot of mystique.
Fortnite
Unless you’ve been in hiding for the last eight years, you’ll have heard of this game. Fortnite is one of the biggest and best battle royale games. The game could be said to have revolutionized the gaming industry when it was released. There was certainly plenty of viral success and quickly esports tournaments for people to get involved in.
While it’s not a traditional esports game like the others mentioned, Fortnite has quickly become a massive force in competitive gaming and has millions of players as well as viewers. Players drop onto an island and fight to be the last one standing.
