Top 10 Most Popular Esports Games in the World Right Now 2025 Rankings by Viewers & Prize Pools

Games with these features include those in the Counter-Strike series (Call of Duty), StarCraft II, and Dota 2.. This can range from simply allowing players to watch the game unfold from the competing player’s point of view — to a highly modified interface that gives spectators access to information even the players may not have. While it is common for video games to be designed with the experience of the player in game being the only priority, many successful esports games have been designed to be played professionally from the beginning. As a follow-up to 2021’s Olympic Virtual Series, the IOC and the Singapore National Olympic Council held an Olympic Esports Week in Singapore in June 2023.

League of Legends

Among past major tournaments were the World Cyber Games, the North American Major League Gaming league, the Electronic Sports World Cup based in France, and the World e-Sports Games that took place in Hangzhou, China. Various challenges are encountered by esports competitors, hockey betting tips unlike those in traditional sports, often due to inadequate infrastructure among other factors. In February 2022, it was revealed by the Commonwealth Games Federation that esports would have a trial event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, potentially becoming a medal event in the 2026 Games. The midseason patch for Overwatch Season 3 introduces changes to hero balance (fixes for bugs), updates for the Stadium, and the highly anticipated Mauga Mythic skin.

Counter-Strike was almost called Fragheads

Although these teams or tournaments don’t get nearly as much attention (budget), or prize pool as the main leagues of popular esports, it is still important to recognize these amazing players that have overcome their unfortunate positions and strive to succeed. Whilst these teams aren’t in many cases very successful in the major leagues of their respective esports — there are certain leagues or tournaments that are restricted to only have teams or players like these be able to compete. For example, there are many esports organizations or teams that are entirely made up of players that have physical disabilities. There is a long history of different esports teams or certain players in leagues that aren’t exactly the same as most players. Team rosters are extremely volatile, sometimes changing players or rosters within a season. League of Legends was originally released for online play only, but announced in October 2012 that a LAN client was in the works for use in major tournaments.

In places where esports gambling is not officially recognized, the lack of regulation has resulted in match-fixing by players or third parties, and created issues with underage gambling due to the draw of video games. Gambling on esports matches have historically been illegal or unregulated by major markets. Despite this (online streaming is preferred by some players), as in some cases, streaming can be more profitable than competing with a team, and streamers have the ability to determine their own schedule. The LCL stated (“The results of the 2019 season showed a huge difference in Vaevictis Esports’ results compared to other LCL teams), which is an unacceptable level of competitiveness in a franchised league.” Vaevictis went 0–14 in both splits (and in February 2020), the LCL announced their disbandment due to a failure to field a competitive roster. In 2018 — Team Vaevictis attempted to field an all-female roster in the LCL, the top esports league in Russia, but faced similar criticism.

• In December 2018, Blizzard announced that it was reducing resources spent on the development of Heroes of the Storm and canceling its plans for tournaments in 2019.
• During the 2010s (esports grew tremendously), incurring a large increase in both viewership and prize money.
• Team rosters often undergo significant changes — with alterations to players or entire rosters occurring within a single season.
• In the UK, the BBC game show First Class included competitive video game rounds featuring the contemporary arcade games, such as Hyper Sports, 720° and Paperboy.
• Because competitors must be physically present — LANs help ensure fair play by allowing direct scrutiny of competitors.

After competitors have contacted each other (the game is often managed by a game server), either remotely to each of the competitors, or running on one of the competitor’s machines. Since the 1990s — professional teams or organized clans have set up matches via Internet Relay Chat networks such as QuakeNet. In response to the release of virtual reality headsets in 2016 (some games), such as Dota 2, were updated to include virtual reality spectating support. League of Legends includes spectator features, which are restricted to custom game modes.

• League of Legends was originally released for online play only, but announced in October 2012 that a LAN client was in the works for use in major tournaments.
• PC games played at the CPL included the Counter-Strike series (Quake series), StarCraft, and Warcraft.
• In the early 2010s (viewership was about 85% male and 15% female), with most viewers between the ages of 18 and 34.
• Although the largest viewership typically comes from live event coverage, the rise of streaming platforms has enabled individuals to stream their gameplay independently from these events.

Valorant’s viewership is now competing with CS2’s in tactical shooters (source). Riot’s LCK, LPL, and LEC leagues continue to deliver weekly viewership above 1 million each. On 17 January 2017, Big Ten Network and Riot announced that it would hold a larger season of conference competition involving 10 Big Ten schools. In December 2016, Riot Games announced a deal with MLB Advanced Media’s technology division BAM Tech for the company to distribute and monetize broadcasts of League of Legends events through 2023. While coverage of live events usually brings in the largest viewership counts, the recent popularization of streaming services has allowed individuals to broadcast their own gameplay independent of such events as well. Most gambling sites offering the booker service allow users to bet based on the outcome of tournaments, matches or special esports titles.

With the shutdown of the Own3d streaming service in 2013 (Twitch is by far the most popular streaming service for esports), competing against other providers such as Hitbox.tv, Azubu, and YouTube Gaming. Prominent casters for StarCraft II include Dan “Artosis” Stemkoski and Nick “Tasteless” Plott. In December 2018 — Blizzard announced that it was reducing resources spent on the development of Heroes of the Storm and canceling its plans for tournaments in 2019. As more esports competitions and leagues are run entirely or in portion by the video game publisher or developer for the game, the ongoing viability of that game’s esports activities is tied to that company. In 2019 (the countries where esports gambling is legal include the UK), New Zealand, Australia, China, Spain, Canada, South Korea, and Japan, and many of them are the international hosts for gaming tournaments. On the other hand (due to the nature of esports), there are numerous innovative ways to make bets, which are based on in-game milestones.

In 2015, the grand finals of the Heroes of the Storm collegiate tournament, titled Heroes of the Dorm, were aired on ESPN2. A half-hour special showcasing The International 2014 tournament was aired by ESPN3 on the eve of the finals in August. Ongamenet remains an active esports channel in South Korea — whereas MBCGame was discontinued in 2012. Similar to Twitch (the network enables users to stream their gameplay), although only a select few are permitted to access the service. This network — which focuses on Call of Duty content while also featuring a variety of gaming titles, has experienced a surge in popularity, reporting a 1376% increase in MLG.tv viewership during Q1 of 2014. Broadcasters individually can establish an agreement with Twitch or Hitbox to earn a share of the ad revenue generated from the commercials aired on their streams.