In the rapidly evolving world of digital technologies, esports is occupying an increasingly prominent place, transforming from a niche passion into a mass phenomenon.
Professional teams, millions of fans, betting on Mostbet and other bookmakers on esports tournaments, substantial prize pools – all of this testifies that esports has long outgrown its status as a mere hobby. But which games set the tone in this dynamic scene?
Which genres and franchises have gained the most popularity among gamers and viewers? Let’s dive into the exciting world of esports disciplines and find out which projects are today’s main trendsetters.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive – The Undisputed Leader
The undisputed leader in this category is the cult Counter-Strike series, or more precisely, its latest iteration to date – Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO). This game, released in 2012, continues to win the hearts of gamers with its classic gameplay based on the confrontation between teams of terrorists and counter-terrorists.
What makes CS:GO so popular among professional players? First, it has an extremely high level of difficulty and demands on player skills.
Tactical positions on maps, a variety of grenades, and weapons with different shooting spread characteristics – all of this creates a very steep learning curve, making the shooter incredibly engaging and challenging even for seasoned esports athletes.
Second, the game’s long history and its esports community. Counter-Strike became a cult discipline as early as the early 2000s and over the past decades has grown an impressive infrastructure of tournaments, leagues, and professional teams.
As of 2024, over 10,000 professional players are involved in CS:GO, and the total prize pool has exceeded $27.8 million, making this game the undisputed leader among first-person esports shooters.
Strategic MOBA Battles: Unparalleled Legends
It’s impossible to imagine the modern esports scene without disciplines from the MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) genre – real-time strategic team battles. Two games in this genre have firmly established themselves in the top five most popular esports disciplines and show no signs of relinquishing their positions.
League of Legends – A Strategic Classic
In League of Legends, two teams of five players battle on a classic map, controlling selected champions – characters with unique abilities and roles. The goal is to destroy the enemy base, but this requires flawless teamwork, strategic thinking, and mastery of one’s hero.
Thanks to the enormous variety of champions (over 150 to choose from), balanced gameplay, and developer support, League of Legends remains the benchmark for the entire MOBA genre. As of 2024, over 7,100 professional players are involved in this game, and the total prize pool has exceeded $20.8 million.
Dota 2 – Strategic Depth and Epic Battles
Not lagging behind its main competitor is the legendary Dota 2 from Valve Corporation. This game, released in 2013, is also a classic MOBA with two teams of five players facing off on a single map.
However, Dota 2 differs from League of Legends in its more tactical and strategic focus, requiring players not only to have honed mechanical skills but also a deep understanding of all the nuances of the gameplay.
Attractive graphics, more than 110 unique heroes, and five different gameplay roles make Dota 2 one of the most diverse and multifaceted disciplines in the world of esports.
It’s no surprise that in recent years, Dota 2 has become one of the most popular games among top esports athletes. As of 2024, its prize pool has exceeded an impressive $40 million, making it the absolute leader in this metric.
Fortnite – A Bright Phenomenon of Modern Pop Culture
The undisputed leader in this genre is Fortnite from Epic Games. Released in 2017, this game has managed not only to capture the hearts of millions of gamers around the world but also to become a true phenomenon of modern pop culture.
In Fortnite, up to 100 players land on a massive island and engage in fierce combat, using a variety of weapons and building fortifications from collected resources. The last remaining player on the map wins.
On the professional esports scene, Fortnite also holds one of the leading positions. As of 2024, over 4,000 professional players are involved in the Fortnite discipline, and the total prize pool has exceeded $17.5 million.
Major Fortnite tournaments and leagues regularly attract millions of viewers from around the world who watch the high-stakes battles between top esports athletes. Epic battles on massive maps combined with unpredictable and dynamic gameplay make Fortnite one of the most spectacular esports disciplines of today.
Broadcasts of tournaments for this game draw multi-million audiences not only among the gaming community but also on mainstream social networks and video platforms. The Fortnite brand has become cult, and its recognizable characters and visual style elements are actively used in the entertainment, fashion, and marketing industries.
Thus, Fortnite is not just a popular game but a cultural phenomenon of our time, becoming an integral part of the esports mainstream and pop culture as a whole. Its success testifies that esports is capable of conquering a mass audience and achieving the status of a truly global phenomenon.
