There are over 200 million esports fans spread around the world. However, not all esports are equal. Some draw massive crowds and have million-dollar prize pools while others are very niche. In this article, we are going to look at the most popular esports in the world. You can stream and bet on all of the games on our list at https://ggbet/en-ca/esports!
1. League of Legends
League of Legends is the most popular esport in 2024. Over 150 million people play League of Legends and the yearly World Championship is watched by over 70 million people. A big reason for this esports massive popularity is its cult status in China. The Chinese government has even tried to control the game because they were concerned about how much time young people were spending playing the game.
League of Legends is a 5v5 multiplayer online battle arena game. In this game, you select a champion who has specific powers and then use your champion to battle the opposing team. The first team to destroy the enemy’s Nexus (their base) wins!
League of Legends features fast-paced action combined with a detailed strategy that keeps experiencing gamers coming back for more. It is also a great spectator esport. League of Legends has an extensive pro scene that features a yearly World Championship event with a prize pool of over $2 million. Other exciting tournaments include the LPL Summer which features the best teams from China and the LCS Summer which features the best teams from Europe.
2. CS:GO
CS:GO has over 20 million monthly active players. CS:GO is the most popular first-person esport on the planet. It is a 5v5 game where you play as the terrorists or counter-terrorists. The goal of the game is to eliminate the enemy and either plant the bomb if you are the terrorists or diffuse the bomb if you are the counter-terrorists.
A big reason for the game’s success is because CS:GO’s developer Valve has invested millions into sponsoring tournaments. Multiple times a year they sponsor tournaments called Majors. These are hosted in different cities around the world and feature over $1 million in prize pools. In 2024 Majors were held in Rio, Brazil, and Antwerp, Belgium. The winning teams walked away with $500,000 each!
CS:GO is a 100% free game. The game is easy for beginners to pick up right away but is still challenging for experienced players. CS:GO is famous for its lightning-quick action and thrilling gameplay.
3. Dota 2
Dota 2’s claim to fame is that it hosted the richest tournament in the history of esports. The International 2024 had a prize pool of $40 million and the winner, Team Spirit pocketed $18 million.
Dota 2 has over 7 million monthly active players and despite being released in 2012 is still one of the top esports on the planet. Dota 2 is a 5v5 multiplayer online battle arena game that is very similar to League of Legends. The goal of the game is to destroy the enemy’s base known as the Ancient.
Dota 2 is a little complicated to get started and has a steep learning curve. However, once you get the hang of the game it becomes addictive! Exciting Dota 2 tournaments that went down in 2024 include the Riyadh Masters 2024 which included a $4 million prize pool and the PGL Arlington Major 2024 which had a $500,000 prize pool.
4. Valorant
Valorant was dubbed the CS:GO killer when it was released in 2020 by Riot Games. Valorant is known as a hero shooter. It combined elements of MOBAs and first-person shooters. The game has over 10 million monthly active players and has a thriving pro scene.
In Valorant you select an agent and then use their powers to kill the enemy. And either plant the spike or prevent the opposing team from planting the spike, similar to CS:GO.
Riot Games sponsors the Valorant Champions Tour which is the pinnacle of Valorant esports. Teams from around the world are split into leagues and then the top teams from each league compete in a World Championship event which features a 7 figure prize pool.
5. Overwatch
Overwatch is another hero shooter similar to Valorant and was the game that started the genre. Overwatch was released in 2016 by Blizzard Entertainment and was immediately successful. Currently, the game has over 10 million monthly active players.
Overwatch has one of the best esports leagues in the world. The league was founded in 2017 and is similar to a traditional sports league. Currently, there are 20 teams in the OWL from around the world and each team represents a specific city. There are teams from France, South Korea, China, the USA, Canada, and the UK.
The Overwatch League features a regular season with numerous tournaments that culminates in a playoff series. The Dallas Fuel won the most recent OWL and won the massive $1 million prize pool.
If you are looking for a game that combines the best elements of MOBAs and first-person shooters then we recommend checking out Overwatch. Also, Riot Games has just released Overwatch 2!
Final Thoughts
The current most popular esport in 2024 is League of Legends. The legendary MOBA has over 100 million monthly active players and the World Championships features a $2 million + prize pool. Other esports worth checking out include CS:GO, Dota 2, Valorant, and Overwatch. Comment below what your favorite esport is in 2024.
