Competitiveness in video games is nothing new. Since the days of the Arcades, people have been putting their game skills to the test, and competing to see who the best on the block is. However, with digital technology vastly improved, and the rise of the internet, it is no longer about seeing who the best player in the neighborhood is. Rather, professional gamers are competing to find out who the best in the world is.
eSports has become such a huge hit, that even the sports industry has taken note of it. If one were to check out the litany of successful sports betting websites, they would discover that they are placing odds on popular video games. Modern bettors can check out an Esports.gg LTC betting report to see that there is an uptick in crypto-based betting as well. The growing popularity of eSports betting, and competitive gaming in general, has led us to ask the question; what genres do the best in the world of eSports?
At the top of the list is the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) genre. MOBAs, as they are better known, consist of two teams of (usually) five players competing to destroy each other’s base. The players get to pick from a list of characters, whose titles may change depending on the game. Usually, they are called heroes, but can also be called champions, legends, and more. Along the way, the players are assisted by NPC minions, or grunts, who do the leg work of destroying buildings, while players focus on each other.
To get an idea of what a MOBA feels like, we need look no further than the most popular game on the current market; League of Legends. Published by Riot Games, League of Legends is the classic MOBA game, which has been going strong for over a decade. What made it a success was the introduction of intricate lore, fascinating characters, and several map options, to spice up the game. So popular is this game, that it even spawned an incredibly successful animated series in Arcane, which recently concluded with its second season.
But, League of Legends is not the only successful game in the MOBA genre. Defense of the Ancients 2 is a sequel to the title that started it all. The release of Warcraft III: Frozen Throne, led to the fans creating unique and interesting mods for the game. One of them was simply called Defense of the Ancients, and it featured classic characters from the game, competing in a MOBA style. DOTA was the first MOBA game, and fans had been clamoring for a sequel. In 2013, a full decade later, they got what they wanted, and DOTA 2 is currently one of the top 10 most popular games in eSports, worldwide.
Shooter games have been a staple of the industry since its earliest inception. Even in the arcades, fans could play FPS games, with special, gun-shaped joysticks, and an interactive screen. Today, the genre is just as big as it always was, with the release of Call of Duty, Modern Warfare, and more. But, of course, the king of FPS-based eSports is non-other than Valve’s Counter Strike franchise. Though it began as a mod for Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike soon grew into its own unique series, with fans around the globe.
The game truly received an international audience with the release of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The multiplayer game added new maps, new weapons, new play styles, new skins, and so much more. Needless to say, fans ate it up, and CS: GO was at the top of the eSports industry for a long time. That is why many were shocked when Valve announced the release of Counter Strike 2. Some were excited, others disappointed. However, despite the shaky release, CS2 has once again risen to the top of the industry, becoming many people’s favorite game.
Aside from CS: GO and CS2, games like Call of Duty and Modern Warfare also have a pretty big multiplayer following, and are some of the top games in eSports. Fans enjoy watching professional players navigate maps, and create strategies that you wouldn’t expect them to pull out. But, first-person shooters are not the only shooters with a following. Fortnite is one of the most popular games in the competitive market right now, and it shifts the perspective to third person. Fortnite’s success is likely owed to the different playstyles, as well as the infinitely customizable characters, and guest stars from other franchises.
For the last entry we are putting the “sports” in eSports. Games licensed by sporting organizations are not frequently talked about in gaming communities. But they are some of the most sold and played games in the industry. It has come to a point that some believe the eSports versions of these games may overtake the sport proper.
The FIFA franchise stands on top of the sports gaming market, perfectly reflecting the world of sports. Football is the most popular sport in the world today which is why it shouldn’t surprise anyone to learn that it is also the most popular licensed video game.
FIFA video game tournaments are constantly among the most watched, and even most wagered on games in the world. But, they are not the only way for sports fans who also like games to get a kick out of the industry. Many fans of cricket are excited to play, watch, and wager on eCricket, a virtual cricket game, that has hundreds of thousands of fans. The eCricket Premier League is one of the most popular video game tournaments to bet on, particularly in England, India, Australia, and New Zealand.
Of course, the sports game fandom isn’t complete without a discussion of Rocket League. Quite a unique spin on the sports genre, Rocket League is a soccer-based video game, with a twist. That being, rather than playing as human players, the gamer takes control of rocket-powered vehicles, who have to navigate the stage to score a goal. Rocket League may not be at the top of the list of sports games, but it is one of the most beloved and unique games in eSports right now.
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