Almost everyone enjoys competitive sports, whether as a participant or viewer. And the sheer number of sports means that there is something for everyone.

While traditional sports like football, baseball, and basketball have dominated in popularity and viewership, a new sport is captivating the hearts of fans: eSports.

The number of occasional eSports viewers and die-hard enthusiasts totaled around 400 million in 2019. Alongside those high numbers came millions of dollars in prize money and instant celebrity status for players.

So, what is this new phenomenon in the gaming industry?

Best New Zealand Casinos invites you to delve into the world of eSports as we explore its origins, intricacies, and the top 5 best eSports games ever released. Let’s get started!

What is eSports?

To understand eSports, we must start with general video gaming. In the past, people played for fun or to pass the time with friends. However, everything changed when people started playing to compete for prizes in organised tournaments.

eSports, referring to electronic sports, is organised competitive gaming. It works like other traditional sports, where professional players or teams compete against each other for a price (usually monetary).

The main difference between eSports and traditional sports is that the former involves players competing in video gaming, and the latter involves players playing physically. However, the players must have skills and develop strategies to trump the opponents in both scenarios.

Apart from being a competitive sport, the huge viewership has turned it into a spectator sport. While it is unusual to think a person may want to watch another play video games, the experience is similar to enjoying watching the best players from traditional sports compete.

A Short History of eSports

The beginnings of esports can be traced back to the 1980s, the era of video gaming and arcade competitions. Its roots can be attributed to earlier competitions, such as Atari’s National Video Game Championships that happened in 1980 in Los Angeles. The tournament attracted 10,000 gamers and is known as the first official eSports event.

As technology advanced and people could now communicate through the internet, they exploded with competitors from anywhere in the world could compete online. With that came a lot more interest from people and thus the high viewership.

What are the Types of eSports Games? 

These are the types you’ll find in tournaments.

Sports

eSports incorporate traditional sports. These sports included football, baseball, and basketball. The players compete either in a simulation or arcade-like setup. The more famous in the category include FIFA and NBA2K.

Racing

This involves players competing in a video race with all types of vehicles. They come in arcade design, simulations, or a combination. Some well-known ones include Need for Speed.

Fighting

These types are classics in video gaming and involve players using punches, kicks, and other tools to fight in the game. Some popular names include Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter.

First Person Shooter (FPS)

FPS involves players controlling a character, aiming to shoot other players before getting shot. Characters can also use other weapons apart from guns. Some well-known FPS include Call of Duty and Counter-Strike.

Multiple Online Battle Arena (MOBA)

MOBA types involve a team of multiple characters with different abilities and skills working to destroy another team. The players can improve their abilities and powers to help them as the game progresses. Examples include League of Legends and Dota 2.

Real-time Strategy (RTS)

Real-time strategy types involve players controlling an army with the purpose of being the dominant army on the map. They’ll construct buildings and fortresses and develop the military and weaponry from the scarce resources that all players want.

In RTS, all players play simultaneously, unlike other types where the participants take turns building. Examples of popular RTS include Age of Empires and Total War.

The Top 5 Best eSports Games Ever Released

The popularity of eSports has given rise to many game releases annually. These promise to engage the players in entertainment and competition in various fields. However, some are classics and top the charts in numbers.

Here are the five best eSports releases of all time.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

The Counter-Strike series has entertained gamers since 1999, and their latest release, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO), is living up to the hype. The game hit the shelves in August 2012 and has remained a fan favourite ever since. The game receives around 35 million players monthly, with millions playing anytime.

CSGO fanatism comes from its straightforward concept that involves two teams in a kill-or-be-killed situation. Players in the teams take the roles of terrorists, and the other is a counter-terrorism unit. The terrorists kidnap civilians and strategically plant explosives, and it’s the other teams’ responsibility to diffuse the bombs and rescue hostages.

The creator, Valve, has hosted CSGO championships since 2013.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Call of Duty is one of the most well-known gaming franchises in the world, and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare stamped its presence in the eSports market.

COD 4 is based in wartorn Russia, where the president was recently assassinated. It is a multiplayer first-person shooter game with modern settings and rewards as you play.

The multiplayer feature allowed the game to feature in several professional leagues worldwide. The game comes in PC and console versions.

League of Legends (LOL)

League of Legends, or LoL, stamped its presence in the market immediately after being released in 2009. The MOBA-style eSport game involves two teams of 5 each. Each player chooses from a pool of characters or champions with different abilities. They then team up to subdue the enemies and claim everything.

LoL boosts around 115 million monthly players and is considered the most played eSports game. Riot Games developers have 12 professional sports international leagues and several other tier-two regional leagues worldwide, with winners taking home up to millions.

Their international event in 2021 attracted 75 million viewers.

Defense of Ancients 2 (DOTA 2)

DOTA 2 can’t miss from the list of the top 5 eSports of all time. The MOBA-style game was released in 2013 and immediately gained a loyal fanbase. The game has various predecessors from the early 2000s that helped push its popularity.

The game involves teams, usually of five players a team, who take hold of an area on a map and defend it as they attack others. Players must utilise various strategies to attack while leaving enough resources for defence back home.

The DOTA international tournament happens yearly, with the poll prize rising from 25 million dollars in 2011 to 40 million in 2020.

Valorant

Valorant entered the market in 2020, riding the success wave of League of Legends. The two share a developer, Riot Games, who capitalised on their popularity for tactical shooter types. Valorant quickly took a spot in the top 5 best eSports list.

The game involves teams of five fighting to eliminate each other. One common weapon in the game is spikes(bombs) that players plant; the others must diffuse or get killed.

Riot Games announced the yearly Valorant Championship tour, which peaked with a viewership of over a million in 2022. It is still gathering fans and is expected to move higher in rank.

Other notable eSports of all time include:

Fortnite

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang

Overwatch

StarCraft II

PlayerUnknowns’s Battleground (PUBG)

A Growing Industry

eSports games are continuously gaining fame, and the industry is expected to grow thanks to those who want to turn a hobby into a career and those who want to watch the best battle it out. Additionally, more developers are entering the field, with more tournaments and higher prize money up for grabs.

While the classics still rule the market, there is more for anyone who wants to join. Get your research going and find what best fits your skills and interests.