In search of your next esports game? This page has all the data you need to make an informed decision. You can see the top games in every genre, and view important info related to prize pool, viewership, tournaments, and more!
Contents
What Are Esports Games?
Esports games are video games played in organized, competitive tournaments by professional or amateur players. Players can compete individually or in teams depending on the type of video game.
The biggest esports games are associated with tournaments where players can win substantial prize money. Popular genres include Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas (MOBA), fighting, shooting, simulation, strategy, role-playing, and puzzle games.
List of Esports Games By Genre
Below, we’ve provided comprehensive lists of every available genre, along with the best options in each. Our entries range from popular esports games to lesser-known titles. Feel free to sort and filter the tables’ data however you like.
Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) Games
These are games where two teams, usually five players each, control unique heroes with special abilities to fight on a map, aiming to destroy the enemy’s base. The focus is on teamwork, character progression (leveling, items), and objective-based combat.
Popular MOBA games like League of Legends, Dota 2, Honor of Kings, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, dominate the esports industry in terms of viewership and price money. In fact, League of Legends World Championship and Dota 2’s The International are the most viewed esports tournaments in the world.
Best MOBA Esports Games
Compare the biggest MOBA esports titles by platform, prize pool, tournament activity, player base, peak viewership, and flagship event.
| Rank | Game | Platform | Prize Pool | Events | Monthly Players | Peak Viewers | Biggest Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | League of Legends | PC | $14.7M | 134 | 18.6M | 6.8M | LoL World Championship |
| 2 | Mobile Legends: Bang Bang | Mobile | $6.82M | 121 | 32.4M | 5.68M | M7 World Championship |
| 3 | Dota 2 | PC / Console | $22.4M | 116 | 18.4M | 1.8M | The International |
| 4 | Arena of Valor | Mobile | $2.4M | 24 | 11M | 1.04M | AOV International Championship |
| 5 | Honor of Kings | Mobile | $20.4M | 52 | 260M | 696K | HOK International Championship |
| 6 | Smite | PC / Console | $400K | 4 | 20K+ | 134K | Smite World Championship |
| 7 | Pokémon Unite | Mobile / Console | $2M | 52 | 7.6M | 92K | Pokémon UNITE Worlds |
| 8 | Eternal Return | PC | $30K | 14+ | 20K | 27.9K | Eternal Return Season Finals |
| 9 | League of Legends: Wild Rift | Mobile | $8K | 3 | 6M | 478 | Wild Rift League Asia |
Fighting Games
These video games feature two or more characters engaging in close-quarters combat, typically in the form of 1v1 matches. For any player, the goal is to deplete their opponent’s health bar using timed button presses and directional inputs to execute attacks, blocks, and special moves.
Unlike other types of esports games, the competitive scene of fighting games is typically offline. Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Tekken and other titles in the genre heavily feature in-person tournaments that last for days. The Evolution Championship Series (Evo), one of the largest annual esports events in the world, and focuses exclusively on fighting games.
Best Fighting Esports Games
Compare fighting games by platform, prize pool, tournament activity, monthly active players, peak viewers, and flagship event.
| Rank | Game | Platform | Prize Pool | Events | Monthly Players | Peak Viewers | Biggest Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Street Fighter 6 | PC / Console | $3.155M | 77 | 18,800 | 442K | Capcom Cup |
| 2 | Street Fighter IV | PC / Console | $315.5K | 77 | 19,257 | 354K | The Capcom Cup |
| 3 | Tekken 8 | PC / Console | $1.329M | 48 | 5,300 | 276K | Tekken World Tour |
| 4 | Guilty Gear | PC / Console | $177K | 9 | 1,375 | 131K | ARC World Tour |
| 5 | Super Smash Bros | Console | $258K | 52 | 1,500+ | 110K | Supernova |
| 6 | Mortal Kombat 1 | PC / Console / Mobile | $42K | 3 | 1,421 | 65.4K | Final Kombat |
| 7 | Marvel vs. Capcom 3 | PC / Console | $30K | 1 | 180+ | 63.5K | Evo |
| 8 | 2XKO | PC / Console | $98K | 7 | 2,087 | 40.7K | 2XKO Competitive Series |
| 9 | Granblue Fantasy Versus | PC / Console | $64.6K | 5 | 460 | 37.8K | ARC World Tour |
| 10 | Brawlhalla | Console / Mobile | $55.6K | 7 | 9,563 | 35K+ | Brawlhalla World Championship |
| 11 | The King of Fighters XV | PC / Console | $1.072M | 13 | 12,000 | 30K | SNK World Championship |
| 12 | Rivals of Aether | PC / Console | $20K | 1 | 498 | 30K | Rivals Championship Series |
| 13 | Under Night In-Birth | PC / Console | $36.7K | 3 | 200+ | 18.2K | ARC World Tour |
| 14 | Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage | PC / Console | $60.2K | 34 | 398 | 15K+ | VIRTUA FIGHTER Open Championship |
| 15 | Dragon Ball FighterZ | PC / Console | $9K | 3 | 1,200 | 13K | DBFZ World Tour |
| 16 | Samurai Shodown | Console | $512.35K | 3 | 3,000 | 10.6K | SNK World Championship |
| 17 | Killer Instinct | PC / Console | $3K | 5 | 300+ | 6.6K | KI Ultra Tour |
| 18 | Skullgirls | Console / Mobile | $20K | 3 | 500+ | 3.6K | Skullgirls World Championship |
| 19 | Dead or Alive 6 | Console | $5K | 2 | 300+ | 1.8K | TNS Dead or Alive 6 Tournament |
| 20 | BlazBlue: Central Fiction | PC / Console / Mobile | $3.4K | 5 | 270 | 1.5K | ARC World Tour |
Shooting Game
A shooting game, or shooter, is a type of action game where the main gameplay focuses on aiming and firing weapons to defeat enemies or targets. Players rely on reflexes, accuracy, positioning, and sometimes strategy. There are two main subgenres of shooting games in esports:
- First-person shooter (FPS): The player’s view is from the character’s eyes. Examples are Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), Call of Duty, and Halo.
- Third-person shooter: The player’s view is from behind the character. Examples are Fortnite, Garena Free Fire, and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG).
Competitive shooting games are extremely popular. And offer some of the highest paying esports tournaments.
Best Shooting Esports Games
Compare shooting esports titles by subgenre, platform, prize pool, tournament activity, monthly active players, peak viewers, and flagship event.
| Rank | Game | Type | Platform | Prize Pool | Events | Monthly Players | Peak Viewers | Biggest Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Counter-Strike | FPS | PC | $31.017M | 538 | 1.09M | 1.789M | Counter-Strike Major Championships |
| 2 | Valorant | FPS | PC | $10.442M | 251 | 28.51M | 1.474M | Valorant Champions |
| 3 | PUBG Mobile | TPS | Mobile | $12.866M | 178 | 69.6M | 1.389M | PUBG Mobile Global Championship |
| 4 | Fortnite | TPS | Console | $10.998M | 191 | 1M+ | 947.7K | Fortnite Championship Series |
| 5 | PUBG: Battlegrounds | TPS | PC / Console | $7.922M | 116 | 337,770 | 817.8K | PUBG Global Championship |
| 6 | Free Fire | TPS | Mobile | $4.884M | 149 | 99.6M | 775.1K | Free Fire World Series |
| 7 | Apex Legends | FPS | PC / Console | $6.121M | 28 | 112,822 | 540.4K | Apex Legends Global Series Championship |
| 8 | Rainbow Six Siege | FPS | PC / Console | $9.045M | 132 | 75,210 | 379.4K | The Six Invitational |
| 9 | Call of Duty | FPS | PC / Console | $5.968M | 30 | 31,909 | 353.5K | Call of Duty League Championship |
| 10 | Call of Duty: Warzone | FPS | PC / Console | $3.32M | 56 | 31,909 | 333.1K | World Series of Warzone |
| 11 | Overwatch | FPS | PC / Console | $2.852M | 46 | 14.78M | 177K | Overwatch Champions Series |
| 12 | Marvel Rivals | TPS | PC / Console | $4.471M | 39 | 65,664 | 175.96K | Ignite Grand Finals |
| 13 | Halo | FPS | PC / Console / Mobile | $2.019M | 13 | 1,558 | 118.5K | Halo Championship Series |
| 14 | CrossFire | FPS | PC | $6.264M | 24 | 1,542 | 29.8K | CrossFire Stars |
| 15 | Call of Duty: Mobile | FPS | Mobile | $1.655M | 19 | 6.3M | 26.6K | Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship |
| 16 | Splatoon 3 | TPS | Console | $3K+ | 5 | 1M+ | 20K+ | Splatoon 3 North American League |
| 17 | Point Blank | FPS | PC / Mobile | $100K | 3 | 150K+ | 17.3K | Point Blank International Championship |
| 18 | Team Fortress 2 | FPS | PC / Console | $5K | 1 | 49,369 | 600 | Physgun Fireside Denver |
| 19 | Quake Champions | FPS | PC | $3K | 4 | 205 | 350 | 250FPS Quake Live League |
Simulation Games
These titles let players mimic real-life activities or fantastical scenarios. They focus on realistic or exaggerated systems, allowing for learning and creative expression through interactive gameplay. Activities performed range from driving to building. Although there are several subgenres of simulation games, these are the most common ones in the competitive space:
- Sports: You get to play as real or fictional athletes. E.g., EA FC, NBA, and Rocket League.
- Racing: You compete in races by controlling a vehicle. E.g., Formula 1 and Gran Turismo Sport.
Best Simulation Esports Games
Compare simulation esports titles by subgenre, platform, prize pool, tournament activity, monthly active players, peak viewers, and flagship event.
| Rank | Game | Type | Platform | Prize Pool | Events | Monthly Players | Peak Viewers | Biggest Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rocket League | Sports | PC | $8.244M | 103 | 21,084 | 624.31K | Rocket League Championship Series |
| 2 | EA Sports FC | Sports | PC / Console | $2.883M | 24 | 41,143+ | 273.65K | FC Pro World Championship |
| 3 | eFootball | Sports | PC / Console / Mobile | $300K | 7 | 5.5M | 251.5K | eFootball Championship |
| 4 | F1 (Formula 1) | Racing | PC / Console | $750K | 2 | 6,226 | 194.05K | F1 Sim Racing World Championship |
| 5 | rFactor 2 | Racing | PC | $386K | 11 | 700+ | 147K+ | Le Mans Virtual Series |
| 6 | EA Sports FC Online | Sports | PC | $849.6K | 2 | 114K+ | 114.05K | FC Pro Champions Cup |
| 7 | Assetto Corsa Competizione | Racing | PC / Console | $1.36K | 4 | 2,235 | 60K+ | Ferrari HP Esports Series |
| 8 | Trackmania | Racing | PC / Console | $95.1K | 8 | 1,544 | 59.29K | Esports World Cup |
| 9 | Madden NFL | Sports | PC / Console | $1.9M | 6 | 8,157 | 49.45K | Ultimate Madden Bowl |
| 10 | MotoGP | Racing | PC / Console | $0 | 1 | 352+ | 44.38K | MotoGP eSport Championship |
| 11 | MLB The Show | Sports | Console | $228K | 9 | 200K+ | 33.82K | MLBTS Championship Series |
| 12 | NBA 2K | Sports | PC / Console | $1.205M | 7 | 20,118 | 28.33K | NBA 2K League |
| 13 | NHL 26 | Sports | PC / Console | $103K | 6 | 15,272+ | 20.4K | eHockey World Cup |
| 14 | iRacing | Racing | PC | $816.5K | 4 | 15K+ | 17.5K | eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series |
| 15 | RaceRoom Racing Experience | Racing | PC | $24K | 6 | 1,723+ | 1.75K | DTM Esports Championship |
Strategy Games
With these games the focus is on planning, decision-making, and tactical thinking rather than reflexes or action speed. Success depends on how well players manage resources, anticipate opponents, and adapt their plans. They are not the most exciting games to watch, but they have developed a loyal fanbase. Examples of strategy games are Warcraft, StarCraft, Among Us, and Age of Empire. Card games (e.g Hearthstone, Magic: The Gathering, and Shadowverse) can be considered a subgenre, especially when they involve deck-building. Many people consider MOBAs to be a subgenre of strategy games.
Best Strategy Esports Games
Compare strategy esports titles by type, platform, prize pool, tournament activity, monthly active players, peak viewers, and flagship event.
| Rank | Game | Type | Platform | Prize Pool | Events | Monthly Players | Peak Viewers | Biggest Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clash Royale | Mobile Strategy | Mobile | $814.37K | 10 | 12M+ | 698.43K | Clash Royale League World Finals |
| 2 | Teamfight Tactics | Auto Battler | PC / Console / Mobile | $4.203M | 64 | 15M+ | 227.04K | TFT Vegas Open |
| 3 | StarCraft: Brood War | RTS | PC | $3.211M | 531 | 220K+ | 150K | AfreecaTV StarCraft League |
| 4 | Warcraft | RTS | PC | $362.15K | 168 | 100K+ | 84.77K | Blizzard Classic Cup |
| 5 | StarCraft II | RTS | PC | $1.103M | 331 | 150K+ | 80K | Blizzard Classic Cup |
| 6 | Clash of Clans | Mobile Strategy | Mobile | $932.5K | 9 | 60M+ | 74.31K | Clash of Clans World Championship |
| 7 | Age of Empires | RTS | PC / Console / Mobile | $387.41K | 47 | 150K+ | 52.49K | Red Bull Wololo: Londinium |
| 8 | Hearthstone Battlegrounds | Auto Battler | PC / Mobile | $656K | 4 | 2.8M+ | 37.63K | Hearthstone World Championship |
| 9 | Heroes of Might and Magic III | Turn-Based | PC / Mobile | $15K+ | 20 | 2,481+ | 20.21K | Grandpa Tournament |
| 10 | StarCraft | RTS | PC | $37.64K | 8 | 20K+ | 5.78K | Blizzard Classic Cup |
| 11 | Command & Conquer | RTS | PC / Console / Mobile | $25K+ | 2+ | 1.5K+ | 5K+ | World Series 2026 |
| 12 | Beyond All Reason | RTS | PC | $1K+ | 4 | 2K+ | 4K+ | The Dream Cup |
| 13 | SpellForce 3 | RTS / RPG | PC / Console | $5.75K | 18 | 500+ | 2.8K+ | Rising Star League |
| 14 | Total War: Warhammer III | Strategy | PC | $15K | 6 | 32K+ | 2K+ | Total Tavern Grand Championship |
| 15 | Supreme Commander | RTS | PC / Console | $6K+ | 10+ | 13.5K+ | 1.8K+ | Legend of the Stars |
| 16 | Company of Heroes | RTS | PC / Console / Mobile | $2K+ | 4 | 4K+ | 1K+ | MetaPlays Company of Heroes |
| 17 | Wargroove | Turn-Based | PC / Console | $1K | 4+ | 200+ | 400+ | Groove of War |
Role-Playing Games (RPG)
An RPG is a game where players take on the role of a character and progress through a story by completing quests, making choices, and developing abilities. Most RPGs rely on story-driven gameplay and world exploration, which hardly translates to competitive gaming. However, multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) sometimes have turn-based or real-time combat systems that are perfect for esports. Examples are Final Fantasy XIV and World of Warcraft.
Best RPG Esports Games
Compare role-playing esports titles by type, platform, prize pool, tournament activity, monthly active players, peak viewers, and flagship event.
| Rank | Game | Type | Platform | Prize Pool | Events | Monthly Players | Peak Viewers | Biggest Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Path of Exile | Action RPG | PC / Console | $0 | 4 | 76K | 448.92K | ExileCon Race Finals |
| 2 | World of Warcraft | MMORPG | PC | $700K | 12 | 6.8M | 157.37K | BlizzCon Esports Finals |
| 3 | MapleStory | MMORPG | PC | $200K+ | 8 | 65,176 | 80.95K | Maple Mayhem |
| 4 | Albion Online | MMORPG | PC / Console / Mobile | $0 | 3 | 7,441 | 78K+ | Crucible II |
| 5 | Black Desert Online | MMORPG | PC / Console / Mobile | $0 | 6+ | 21,597 | 54K | NA vs EU Showdown |
| 6 | Ragnarok Online | MMORPG | PC | $4K | 12+ | 2K+ | 15.8K | Ragnarok Stars |
| 7 | Genshin Impact | Action RPG | PC / Console / Mobile | $40K | 5 | 17.15M | 11K+ | Astra Carnival: The Prince Cup |
| 8 | Dofus | Tactical RPG | PC | $13K+ | 8+ | 1K+ | 8K+ | Dofus World Cup |
| 9 | Eternal Return | RPG Hybrid | PC | $22.8K+ | 6 | 7,935 | 5K+ | Eternal Return Masters |
Puzzle Games
These titles challenge players to solve problems using logic, pattern recognition, and critical thinking rather than fast reflexes. Some of the games in this genre have been existing for decades. Tetris is a perfect example. Although its latest release was in 2024, the game has been around since 1988.
Best Puzzle Esports Games
Compare puzzle esports titles by type, platform, prize pool, tournament activity, monthly active players, peak viewers, and flagship event.
| Rank | Game | Type | Platform | Prize Pool | Events | Monthly Players | Peak Viewers | Biggest Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tetris | Falling Block | PC / Console / Mobile / Arcade | $109K | 233 | 2M+ | 76K | Classic Tetris World Championship |
| 2 | Puyo Puyo Champions | Matching Puzzle | PC / Console | $6.36K+ | 3+ | 200+ | 22.67K | Puyo Puyo Grand Prix Final |
| 3 | Tetris Effect | Falling Block | PC / Console / Mobile | $902 | 4 | 300+ | 14K+ | WPL Championship |
| 4 | Tetris 99 | Falling Block | Console | $0 | 4+ | 400K | 4K+ | The Maximus Cup |
| 5 | Minesweeper Championships | Logic Puzzle | PC | $5K | 9 | 80K+ | 3K+ | World Championship (IMESA) |
| 6 | Sokoban Variants | Logic Puzzle | PC / Console / Mobile | $0 | 5+ | 1K+ | 200+ | MF8 Sokoban Competition |
Frequently Asked Questions About Esports Games
Here are quick answers to common questions about the biggest esports games, genres, tournaments, and what makes a game successful competitively.
What are the biggest esports games right now?
The biggest esports games usually include titles such as League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Valorant, Dota 2, PUBG Mobile, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Fortnite, and Rocket League. The top games can vary depending on whether you measure by prize pool, player base, tournament activity, or peak viewership.
What makes a game an esport?
A game becomes an esport when it has organized competitive play, skilled players or teams, official tournaments, viewers, and a clear ruleset. Strong esports titles are usually easy to understand as a spectator but deep enough to reward high-level strategy, mechanics, and teamwork.
Which esports genre is the most popular?
MOBA and shooting games are usually among the most popular esports genres because they attract large player bases, major tournaments, and huge live audiences. Fighting games, sports simulations, strategy games, RPGs, and puzzle games also have dedicated competitive communities.
Are mobile esports games as popular as PC esports games?
Yes. Mobile esports games are especially popular in regions where mobile gaming is the main way people play competitively. Games such as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, Honor of Kings, and Clash Royale have built massive esports audiences.
Which esports games have the biggest prize pools?
Prize pools change from year to year, but games such as Dota 2, Counter-Strike, Fortnite, PUBG Mobile, Honor of Kings, League of Legends, and Valorant are often associated with large competitive prize pools. Some games may have fewer tournaments but much larger individual events.
What is the best esport to watch for beginners?
Rocket League, fighting games, and some shooting games are often easier for beginners to watch because the main objective is clear. MOBAs and strategy games can be harder to understand at first, but they become more rewarding once you learn the basic roles, maps, and win conditions.
What is the difference between peak viewers and monthly active players?
Peak viewers measure the highest number of people watching a tournament or broadcast at one time. Monthly active players estimate how many people play the game during a month. A game can have a huge player base but smaller esports viewership, or a smaller player base with a very passionate competitive audience.
Do older esports games still matter?
Yes. Older games can remain important when they have loyal communities, strong tournament history, and deep competitive mechanics. Games like StarCraft, Counter-Strike, Street Fighter, Tetris, and Super Smash Bros. show that long-running titles can stay relevant for years.
Which esport should I start playing competitively?
The best esport to start with depends on what you enjoy. Choose a MOBA if you like teamwork and strategy, a shooter if you like aim and positioning, a fighting game if you like one-on-one skill expression, or a sports/racing simulation if you prefer familiar real-world competition formats.
How often do esports rankings change?
Esports rankings can change quickly because prize pools, player counts, tournaments, and viewership numbers shift every season. New patches, new games, major tournaments, and regional growth can all change which games are leading a genre.
