Esports games are defined as video game competitions that fans can watch and place bets on. The industry has exploded in popularity in recent years, with a growing number of video game players turning a passionate hobby into a moneymaking venture. Today’s esports tournaments are some of the most high profile in entertainment. Tournaments are held for each of the most popular games among players.

Top Esports Games

LOL

One of the industry’s highest profile games, by far, is League of Legends (LOL). As a Massive Online Battle Arena (MOBA,) it sets the bar for every other esports game played. Thousands of LOL competitions have been held in the game’s 11 year history. Though the game is popular all over the world, its biggest claim to fame is found in South Korea. Of the top 10 LOL players, eight of them reside there.

Dota 2

Dota 2 is LOL’s biggest rival in the world of esports, and is popular in many more countries than LOL is. The core of Dota 2 players ranked the best reside in Asian countries. The game is also super hot in nations like Romania, China, the U.S. and France. The top Dota 2 players in the world come from these regions.

When it comes to cash prizes awarded to tournament winners, Dota 2 far exceeds LOL. Its annual International event is funded in ways that make Dota 2 the most profitable game in the industry. A large part of the prize money comes from the sale of in-game content and challenges. With a quarter of the profits being used to fund tournament prizes, the top payout is $34.3 million.

Interestingly enough, despite the massive prize money, Dota 2 still has fewer players than LOL.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Another of the heavy hitters in the world of esports is Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. One reason for its popularity is because the game is updated so frequently. The purchase of knives and weapons in the game has made a significant amount of money for CS:GO.

Tournament play nets the game even more, and draws in spectators from all over the world. There are no lack of CS:GO tournaments to choose from either. It is the highlight of leagues including ESL Pro, and BLAST Premier. These leagues host some of the game’s largest tournaments every year.

In 2019, the IEM Katowice tournament, one of the biggest in the industry, drew a record number of viewers at 1.2 million. The prize pool for the tournament was set at $1 million.

Fortnite

Not to be overlooked is Fortnite. This is one of the newest games in the industry, having only been released in 2017. Since then, it has made its mark on esports. By mid 2019, there were 250 million players from all over the world, competing for the spotlight. It is among the games that even those not interested in esports have at least heard of.

Its popularity is partly due to the amount of prize money tournament winners are awarded. The only two games that pay tournament winners more than Fortnite does are Dota 2 and CS:GO

Call of Duty

Though just as popular, Call of Duty (COD,) works differently than most other esports games do. It is one of the only console games in the industry. The main reason for its popularity is that a new version of it is released every year.

Due to the unique setup of COD, its leagues are based on franchises, of which there are currently 12. The leagues are spread out among parts of Europe and North America. Some of the better known COD leagues are the Toronto Ultras, London Royal Ravens, and Los Angeles Guerillas. These days league events are generally held every other week. Prize pools for these leagues come in at $6, with all 12 leagues participating.

Overwatch

COD isn’t the only esports game that supports frequent league play. Though Overwatch and Overwatch 2 both have a place in the industry, the original version of the game is played more frequently. With 20 teams competing, events are held 26 weeks a year.

More than any other country, players in the U.S. and South Korea dominate Overwatch. Of the top 25 ranked players (based on amount of money won,) only one of them is located outside of South Korea and the U.S. The most watched event is the Overwatch World Cup. Players that hope to break into esports are invited to try their luck in the Overwatch Open Division.

Racing Games In Esports

In an announcement that shocked many in the industry, Lamborghini is delving into the esports industry. The luxury car brand has teamed up with Assetto Corsa Competizione to turn the world of competitive gaming upside down. This video game is being used by Lamborghini to launch a brand new esports series they have dubbed The Real Race.

For the summer of 2020 anyone can compete in one of five qualifying events for the series, which are being held on consecutive weekends. The drivers that rank at the top after the qualifying events will receive complementary airfare, courtesy of Lamborghini, to Italy to compete in the event finale, set to be held in September 2020.

Fans of racing games also have Nissan to thank. In 2018, the car maker struck a deal with Gran Turismo and became the hosts of the Nissan GT Sport Cup. Other race car series, called iRacing in the world of esports, have been created by both Porsche and BMW. Even Ferrari is preparing to enter the industry with its own iRacing series.

It is a safe bet that more and more car manufacturers will be launching their own series of games. This is just one example of how the industry is constantly growing and attracting people that previously weren’t interested in it. The rise of esports games is something that is expected to continue for many years.