Video game titles now form a completely independent branch of recreational activities and have become an integral part of pop culture. They offer not only strong narrative experiences, but many also provide competition against other players. This competitiveness has given rise to a new sector of sports: esports.
Esport games
Esports are experiencing a big boom. The biggest tournaments are played for millions of dollars (source: blog.acer.com)
Esports (also known as electronic sports or cybersports) have finally reached the spotlight after a long and thorny journey during which the public was reluctant to accept them due to prejudices against video games. The largest championships and tournaments achieve incredible viewership numbers and offer their winners million-dollar rewards. Cybersports have thus moved from small basements and rooms to sold-out stadiums, large halls, and, in some cases, even television screens (especially in Asia). But what are esports games really? What does the term “esports game” mean? How do they differ from regular video game titles?
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General information
The fundamental and most important feature of an esports game is the offered competitiveness – the game inherently offers the possibility to compete with other players in a PvP (Player vs Player) match. These matches are played either solo (1vs1) or in teams. The most played esports games provide a strong experience not only for their players but also for spectators. The course of the matches then depends on the specific game, because just like regular sports games (football, cricket, hockey…), there are many different esports. Therefore, the most suitable classification is based on video game genres, which have clearly defined basic features. The difference between Valorant and Counter-Strike is conceptually very similar to the difference between football and futsal, but League of Legends differs from Hearthstone like basketball from chess.
FPS games
Fast-paced and action-packed matches, where one well-aimed shot can decide the victory. These are first-person shooters (FPS). It is clear why they are so popular with spectators and players: the games are fast, action-packed, and in addition to excellent aiming and movement, they also require thorough strategic planning.
Counter-Strike 2
CS has one of the largest esports scenes in the world of pro gaming. The video game version of the children’s game of robbers and cops has gained the favor of the gaming community with its first titles (Counter-Strike 1.6, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive). The realism that the development studio Valve strives for is perfected in the game mechanics and graphic design in the latest version: Counter-Strike 2.
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Counter-Strike 2 |
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CS:GO |
Valorant
The company Riot Games is best known for its MOBA title League of Legends, but due to the growth of the small development studio into a giant video game company, it has also ventured into other game genres. The basic concept of Valorant is taken from CS (two teams, planting bombs, shooting realism), but it is taken to a new level with a touch of fantasy and sci-fi thanks to the ability to choose agents, each with their own specific abilities. At the same time, the graphic design is closer to an animated movie than reality.
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Valorant |
Overwatch
Speaking of touches of fantasy and sci-fi… the development studio Blizzard Entertainment has thoroughly soaked its FPS title Overwatch in these genres. The game offers several game modes in which two teams face off. These teams are made up of a variety of characters, each with their own unique abilities. The latest version, Overwatch 2, takes the animated environment and refined mechanisms to the next level.
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Overwatch 2 |
Rainbow Six Siege
The basic idea of a game with a team of defenders and a team of attackers was also adopted by Ubisoft. Its game, fully named Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege (abbreviated as R6), however, takes the entire CS concept of anti-terrorist reality a step further – in the game, it is possible to destroy the environment just like in the real world. R6 focuses on capturing and defending houses and buildings, with each player having to choose one of the characters, each with their own abilities.
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Rainbow Six |
Call of Duty series
Today, Call of Duty (CoD) is already a phenomenon in the entire gaming community. The depiction of war from all different perspectives and periods has made this series one of the most popular franchises. Numerous games have been released, which gradually began to focus more on the PvP aspect rather than the solo campaign. Realistic graphics and an emphasis on a certain arcade-like combat have helped CoD enter the esports world. Tournaments are usually held in the latest installment of the series (currently Modern Warfare III).
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Call of Duty |
Battle Royale titles
While the above-mentioned FPS team games are somewhat straightforward, the real chaos begins in true online battle arenas. The Battle Royale genre brings together several dozen players in its matches, competing against each other. However, they start with minimal equipment and must find valuable weapons and other resources on the map to help them survive. The huge open map gradually shrinks to a single point, making confrontation with the enemy inevitable.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG)
The game that popularized the entire Battle Royale genre is PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (abbreviated as PUBG), but we can see this concept earlier in the film Hunger Games, which inspired Battle Royale mods for Minecraft. However, PUBG took the whole concept from the right angle and brought a modern version of a survival game where the last one standing wins. The glory days are over, and today this game is primarily seen in its mobile version: PUBG MOBILE.
Call of Duty: Warzone
Where PUBG left off, Warzone continued. It took the popular game mechanics from its parent series Call of Duty and tossed them into the cauldron with the basic idea of survival in Battle Royale brawls. For the dying genre, it was a new hope. Today, Call of Duty: Warzone (or simply Warzone) stands as a standalone title that entertains with its action-packed gameplay.
Fortnite
Destruction of the environment, exaggerated colors, countless skins for your characters, fast action, and the struggle for survival. Fortnite is one of the most popular games today. It brought something fresh and original, taking the idea of the Battle Royale genre and adding the unique twist of building in the middle of combat. Millions of active players and the continuous care of the developers have made this game an icon of the current video game industry.
MOBA games
While Battle Royale combines the battle arena with shooting and survival, the MOBA genre focuses on the strategic aspect of the battle arena. Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) originated from a community mod for the strategy game Warcraft III. Players take control of one of the characters, each with their own abilities, and form two teams of five members each. The goal is to destroy the enemy base, and MOBA game matches offer plenty of space for bloody battles and strategic decisions that often determine the winner.
DOTA 2
The rightful successor to the community mod Defense of the Ancient (DOTA) is DOTA 2 by Valve (CS2). It was the first standalone MOBA genre title that tried to perfect the game mechanics. It succeeded partially, as DOTA 2 is quite challenging for newcomers and can often be confusing for some spectators. Nevertheless, it is still one of the biggest esports games ever.
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Dota 2 |
League of Legends
It’s almost as if Riot Games wanted to tell its main competitor Valve that it can do the same thing, just better. Valorant as an alternative to Counter-Strike, League of Legends as an alternative to DOTA 2. LoL is more newcomer-friendly, but this does not detract from its playability, and at the same time, it offers a clearer view for esports fans. Riot’s flagship today dominates the MOBA genre of esports games and doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
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League of Legends |
Heroes of the Storm
It seems that the development studio Blizzard Entertainment is trying to beat Riot Games or Valve in at least one area of pro gaming. However, Overwatch 2 will never reach the level of CS or Valorant, and similarly, their MOBA attempt Heroes of the Storm (HotS) was more or less a disappointment. However, Blizzard rules the field of strategic and card esports games and in the MMO segment of the gaming world.
RTS pro gaming games
The difference between MOBA games and real-time strategies (RTS) lies in what the player can control. While in the former case, they control only one hero, in RTS titles they take command of an entire army, base, or nation. Far more important than reaction speed (shooting, using abilities) is the ability to think tactically and make strategic decisions: what unit to create? How to allocate resources?
StarCraft II
If Blizzard Entertainment knows how to do something, it’s unique strategic games. An example of this is the RTS title StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, which is currently the only still top-played strategic game. The sci-fi environment is brilliantly managed, as is the balancing of units and options for players to choose their path. The game also received two expansions that stirred the waters of RTS pro gaming: Heart of the Swarm and Legacy of the Void.
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StarCraft II |
Warcraft III
Another proof of Blizzard’s knack for strategy games is the fantasy series Warcraft, which gave rise to an entire new franchise. The third and final installment, Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos along with its expansion The Frozen Throne, was for a long time the most popular fantasy esports title ever. Based on it, the MMO game World of Warcraft was created, as well as the MOBA game genre. However, the strategic battles of the Horde and the Alliance became tiresome over time, and even the re-release in the form of Warcraft III: Reforged couldn’t revive it, being a huge disappointment.
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Warcraft III |
Age of Empires series
While Warcraft III and StarCraft II focus on fantasy worlds, the strategy game series Age of Empires deals with our own history. Thanks to this, we can see Celtic warriors battling against Frankish cavalry. The latest addition, Age of Empires 4, initially looked like a suitable candidate to become the biggest strategic pro-gaming game, but after the initial excitement, it fell into mediocrity. On the other hand, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition (based on the original game from 1999) remains a solid strategy supported by a strong community and still has a relatively small but interesting esports scene today.
Sports simulators
The connection between esports and sports? Playing football without sore legs? Modern times offer many different conveniences, and video game sports titles are one of them.
FIFA, NHL, NBA2K, Madden NFL, F1
The division of Electronic Arts, EA Sports, has long dominated sports games. Their titles are the best you can play if you want to control entire teams in the biggest sports of today. Football FIFA, hockey NHL, basketball NBA2K, formula racing in F1, or American football in Madden NFL. Each of these games regularly receives new updates and versions, so you can be sure you are always playing the best that the video game industry has to offer.
Rocket League
Combining remote-controlled cars with football in a closed arena? That’s Rocket League! It’s an alternative sports title that takes the best of football, but instead of players, you control your car.
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Rocket League |
Card games
Not every player relies on quick reflexes, but that doesn’t make them any less of a professional player. You wouldn’t compare a chess player with a tennis player. Card games require a different kind of thinking compared to action genres, but they still require strategic planning. Matches are strongly influenced by luck, which, similar to Poker, can tip the victory to one player’s side.
Hearthstone
The only esports card game that is worth mentioning in terms of viewership numbers is undoubtedly Hearthstone. Blizzard drew inspiration from its own Warcraft world when creating it. It used to be a very strong pro-gaming title, but its glory has since faded.
Others
Several game studios have tried to stand up to Hearthstone’s dominance or revive the esports world of card games. Legends of Runeterra by Riot Games came the closest, but even it did not succeed. Gwent: The Witcher Card Game, based on a minigame from the RPG title The Witcher 3, is also worth mentioning. Even the biggest classic trading card games (TCG) have not resisted digitalization, such as Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh! (or the new Lorcana). You can play these today in a video game format, but it somewhat detracts from their charm, and meeting your opponent face to face is irreplaceable.
Other esports games
Here we get to games that have their own pro-gaming scene but could not be categorized into the above-mentioned genres.
World of Warcraft
Undoubtedly the best and so far unbeatable MMORPG (massive multiplayer online role-playing game) from Blizzard is World of Warcraft. Because players can choose their focus in the game, WoW esports is divided into two scenes. The PvP part deals with player-versus-player battles in arenas, while the PvE (Player vs Environment) part focuses on clearing raids and dungeons (special locations in the game) of monsters, with the fastest group winning (PvE tournaments are often seen after the release of a new expansion, where the competition is about who clears the new raid first).
Teamfight Tactics (TFT)
This creation by Riot Games is partly a strategy game (though not a real-time one). Genre-wise, Teamfight Tactics (TFT) falls into auto-battle games, as players only take care of buying and upgrading characters who participate in automated battles. The concept of the game is based on a game mode for DOTA 2: Dota Auto Chess. Valve also tried to make a mark in this genre with the game Underlords, but the only successful esports title in battle simulations is TFT, in which you can occasionally see pro-gaming matches.
Mobile games
When talking about esports, people usually think of computer or console games. The rapid development of mobile devices (tablets, mobile phones) has helped expand cybersports to them, and today it is a separate branch of pro-gaming. In the Czech Republic, the most popular mobile game was Clash of Clans, in which several tournaments were organized, but today, the most played mobile titles are Arena of Valor, PUBG MOBILE, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, League of Legends: Wild Rift, and Brawl Stars.
Fighting games
“I’ll smash your face and make money doing it!” is a quote from a character in the single-player game The Witcher, but it could also be perfectly used for the genre of fighting games. In these, the player takes control of one of the chosen characters and tries to reduce the opponent’s health to a minimum. At the professional level, today we can find one of these titles: The Street Fighter, Tekken, Mortal Kombat, Marvel vs. Capcom, Killer Instincts, and Super Smash Bros..
Olympic esports games
One would think that when esports make it to the Olympics, video game fans would be happy. That would be true, except the Olympic Esports Series leaves a very bitter taste. The Olympic Committee chose “e” versions of sports, not esports titles. The Olympics in esports was thus a fiasco for pro-gaming enthusiasts. Virtual traditional sports had their competition in the form of the Olympic Virtual Series, which is a much more fitting name. Dancing in Just Dance, cycling in Zwift, racing in Gran Turismo 7, chess on chess.com, or archery in Tic Tac Bow… These are full-fledged game replicas of sports, but they are not esports titles in the true sense of the word. At the same time, many of the selected games were unknown titles that resembled cheap imitations. If you want a real pro-gaming experience, choose a game from our list above.
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