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The Most Popular Esports Games In 2023 To Watch And Play

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Electronic sports, or esports, is one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the world. It is also regarded as a type of new sport, in which participants compete against one another using video games or online computer games, which include both old and modern online game titles.

Since the 2010s, an increasing number of esports competitions have been hosted throughout the world, with victors receiving a reward in several of them. Esports have become more prominent in the gamingbusiness.

While there are hundreds of video games that may be classified as competitive esports, there are a few that stand out in terms of popularity, including player counts, broadcasters, and spectators.

The most popular esports gameshave millions of players online at any given moment, and there are numerous events, tournaments, and leagues organized around them.

Below are some of the most popular esports games among amateurs and pros in 2023.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO)

CS:GO was launched in 2012 as the latest in the popular long-running FPS multiplayer series of games by developer Valve, the co-sponsoring and organizing 'Majors' events, dominating the sports world, with several third-party sport organizers such as the Electronic Sports League hosting regionally-based, smaller events.

Since 2013, the large international tournament Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major Championships (Majors) has been organized, sponsored by the American game company Valve.

It's without a doubt one of the most important games to improve popular sports.

Call Of Duty

The long-running FPS brand is well renowned for its very competitive gaming community, with professional esports competitions organized by series producer Activision in collaboration with several sponsors and entities, including Electronic Sports League, Major League Gaming, and PlayStation.

The Call of Duty World League, which takes place every year in Australia, North America, Latin America, and the United Kingdom, is the organization's most important tournament.

League Of Legends

League of Legends (abbreviated as LoL) is an esports MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) game created by Riot Games in 2009.

Players control role characters known as "champions" and fight as part of a team against another team (each team comprises 5 players). The team's goal is to defeat the opposing base.

The competitive esports sector for League of Legends is thriving, with professional competitions in Europe and North America in particular.

This esport game offers all levels of tournament play, and Riot Games' regular updates keep League of Legends fresh and interesting.

Dota 2

Dota 2 is a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game that has become one of the most popular esports games in the world since its release in 2013.

It began as a standalone sequel to a WarCraft 3 mod called Defense of the Ancients and has now grown to over 10 million monthly concurrent players.

With 32.2 million esports hours viewed by fans, it was also the top live streamed esport on Twitch in April 2017, one of the few games to momentarily dethrone League of Legends.

The International, the primary tournament, is organized and sponsored by Valve, the game developer and publisher, who usually pay prize pools of up to $1.6 million in the annual tournament, making it the world's largest competitive gaming event.

Whether you want to play competitively or not, Dota 2 is a lot of fun and something you shouldn't miss out on.

Fortnite

In 2017, Epic Games' Fortnite became one of the most popular survival and battle royale third-person shooter esports games. Save the World, Battle Royale, and Creative are the three types of games available in Fortnite. Fortnite Battle Royale is a free player-versus-player game in which you can compete against up to 100 other people. Players can not only fight with guns and other weapons, but also use various materials to construct walls, stairs, and other defenses.

Its structure is quite similar to PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, which came out the same year and was the first game to introduce the 'Battle Royale' sub-genre to a mainstream and competitive gaming audience. With over $20 million USD in prize money, Fortnite is one of the most popular esports games in 2019.

Overwatch

Overwatch, which was released in 2016, is the most anticipated esports title in the United States and the most played competitive multiplayer first-person shooter in the world, with 14.4 million monthly users on PC and console just a year after its release.

Thanks to the game's multiple characters and classes, Overwatch is a tremendously fun first-person shooter with a lot of mechanical variety. It has, as one might imagine, created a thriving esports scene. With various esports efforts, including the Overwatch World Cup, Blizzard promotes the competitive Overwatch scene.

The production team actively encourages the competitive scene, as it does with many Blizzard games, and the potential winnings are significant to say the least. This is a game you won't want to miss if you like classic comic-book heroes and fast-paced competitive combat.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG)

In 2017, the South Korean video game company's subsidiary PUBG Corporation released PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, also known as PUBG.

It allows players to choose between first-person and third-person battle royale games. Players compete until only one person remains. Game variants for two-player teams and four-player squads are also available. Every year, a large number of tournaments are held in a variety of countries.

The fundamental purpose of PUBG, like many other open-world survival or first-person shooter games, is to be the last player standing. PUBG, however, defies genre conventions. It mixes the greatest parts of open world games with the mechanics of a solid first-person shooter, and it caters to an MMO-style user base. A decent balance of gameplay aspects is also present.

For example, you get to choose where you want to parachute down on the battlefield, no one has a weapon at first, and there's a lethal and massive shimmering blue dome that periodically reduces the playing region. It's tense, but it's also a lot of fun.

The 2019 PUBG Global Championship featured 32 teams and 128 individuals competing for a total prize pool of $6 million. The Invitational in 2021 is expected to draw an even larger crowd, along with all the usual hype.

Hearthstone

Hearthstone, which was released in 2014, is credited with popularizing the digital collectable card game (CCG) genre and propelling it into competitive esports shortly after its release. Blizzard hosts high-level events, including the official World Championship, which provides prize pools of up to $1 million, which is unprecedented for any other video game in this niche esports category.

What distinguishes it from others? It's a card game played online. Players build decks and use them to face other players from all around the world in this game modeled after conventional tabletop CCGs like Magic the Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh. There are a variety of game modes to choose from, including ranked matches, team battles, and casual single-player missions.

What is the common thread? Blizzard's Warcraft mythos inspired this mysterious fantasy land. You'll also find a variety of minions, monsters, weapons, and heroes to help you defeat the competition.

Since its inception in 2014, the total prize pool has surpassed $20 million. Hearthstone is the way to go if you're looking for a mobile eSports game or something a little more casual.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege is a tactical first-person shooter esports game released in 2015 by Ubisoft Montreal, a Canadian video game company. In Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege, two teams of five players compete in matches, one for attackers and the other for defenders.

Maintain a high level of alertness by using your communications to communicate enemy movement, meticulously prepare your game plan, and use your communications to communicate opponent movement. As the saying goes, teamwork makes the dream come true.

Despite the fact that it was released five years ago, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege has grown in popularity, attracting new players while keeping existing ones entertained. It's the best eSports game on the list for players who appreciate teaming up with friends and cooperating, and we strongly advise you to give it a try.

Super Smash Bros.

Smash Bros. is a game that every Nintendo fan knows about. Even casual players are familiar with and admire the prestigious series. What makes it so well-liked? Smash Bros. brings together characters from your favorite video game titles in a deathmatch.

Choose from more than 75 characters and prepare for epic battles such as Mario vs. Zelda, Pikachu vs. Pacman, and Sonic vs. Joker. Each fight is unique due to the numerous attacks, save flicks, and finishers available, and it's always a thrilling ride to discover which player and character emerges victorious.

However, not all Smash Bros. games are created equal, particularly in terms of competitive play. Melee and Ultimate are two versions that stand out among the rest.

The GameCube version of the game, Smash Melee, still has a devoted fan base due to its intense features. Smash Ultimate is the most recent Switch version, and it's great for tournaments because of its frequent upgrades and DLCs.

While Nintendo prefers to keep the competitive scene at arm's length, it does fund Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournaments on a regular basis. Even if that backing fades, the grassroots community will keep this culture going for years. So, come along with them.

StarCraft II

SC2, a third-person real-time strategy game released in 2010 and recently re-released as a free-to-play title, is part of the most successful RTS computer gaming franchise ever in South Korea, where the game thrives in the competitive esports scene.

While official sanctioned pro SC2 events have lower prize pools (around US $150,000) and its popularity has waned since the introduction of the MOBA sub-genre and the resounding success of Dota 2 and League of Legends, StarCraft II's intensely competitive one-versus-one format is irreplaceable in spectacle and isn't going away anytime soon.

ESL Pro Tour StarCraft II and DreamHack SC2 Masters will replace Blizzard's long-running World Championship Series in 2020.

Splatoon 2

Splatoon 2, one of the most popular third-person shooter games made by the renowned Japanese gaming firm Nintendo, was published in 2017 while the Nintendo Switch itself went on sale. It's the sequel to Splatoon, which was published in 2015 for the Wii U. Players control Inkling, a human-squid hybrid character that fights other players by shooting, splattering ink on the ground, and swimming in it.

There are five combat types in which players compete as a four-person team against another four-person team. Over 100 weapons and 40 fighting arenas are available in Splatoon 2. The Splatoon2 worldwide finals were contested in 2018 and 2019 at the biggest gaming exhibition, ES. The next title is expected to be published shortly, according to many enthusiasts.

Apex Legends

Apex is a popular online first-person shooter game released in 2019 by Respawn Entertainment, an American video game company. Apex is based in the sci-fi setting of Respawn Entertainment's Titanfall video game franchise.

Up to 60 people, divided into 20 squad teams of three players, compete in a multiplayer battle royale mode to see who will be the last team remaining.

Set in the Titanfall world, the game allows you to control agile mercenaries rather than huge robots. Fortunately, these vibrant characters have a variety of distinct talents. Wraith, for example, can fly between dimensions or cloak himself and produce holograms, while Mirage can conceal himself and produce holograms. Furthermore, innovative communication technologies keep teams in sync.

As esports, a current FPS game is gaining a lot of traction throughout the globe. After fall 2020, it will be available on Steam and Nintendo Switch.

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About The Authors

Cody Parker

Cody Parker- Cody Parker is a passionate gamer and esports enthusiast with over a decade of experience in the gaming industry. He began his career as a competitive player, competing in a variety of games including first-person shooters, MOBAs, and strategy games. With a deep knowledge of gaming strategy, mechanics, and trends, Cody transitioned to the world of esports journalism, where he has established himself as a trusted and respected voice in the industry. As a writer and analyst, Cody has covered some of the biggest esports events in the world, providing expert analysis and insights into the latest trends, strategies, and players in the scene. His work has been featured in some of the biggest esports publications, and he has appeared as a guest commentator on numerous esports broadcasts. Cody is committed to providing his readers with the most informative and entertaining esports content possible, and is always on the lookout for new trends, developments, and strategies in the industry. Whether you're a casual gamer or a dedicated esports fan, you can count on Cody to bring you the latest and greatest insights from the world of competitive gaming.

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