The eSports industry has grown exponentially in the last few years, and there are no signs of that pace slowing down. Not only have participation numbers grown, but so have the number of people viewing esports on a regular basis.
And with how the industry is booming, this is set to be another excellent year for esports. So if you’re wondering which esports games to play in 2022, here are our top ten picks!
Fortnite
Who doesn’t know Fortnite? Even those who aren’t really interested in esports know of the existence of the games, primarily because of in-game concerts held by big names like Marshmello and Travis Scott.
And the makers keep the game interesting by introducing new weapons and characters as well as superhero skins, and the story is pretty decent too. Plus, the eccentric characters and the colorful landscape just pull everyone in.
The game has grown so much that in 2019, the prize pool for the Fortnite World Cup was $30 million! And as the game’s popularity increases, this pool is only expected to grow.
CS: Global Offensive
Everyone knows CS: GO; it has been popular since 2012, and its user base (and the money pool for tournaments) only continues to grow. It is not only one of the best esports games, but the community is also a very active one, and tournaments are frequent.
Of course, given that it’s been around for so many years, the visuals aren’t that good, especially if you compare them to today’s games, but it’s a good choice for those who love pure gunplay without any drama.
League of Legends
Apart from being one of the most famous esports games, League of Legends is also a well-known RPG-MOBA game. Gamers love it for its role play and strategic tower defense. Like most other games on the list, it also has a large user base, including both fans and players, across the globe.
The LoL Championship Series is held each year and is sponsored by Riot Games. It also has a massive prize pool of more than $2 million. The game is also hugely popular among viewers; the 2021 World Championship had over 73 million watching the action.
This game is expected to have another record-breaking year so make sure you keep an eye on it!
Dota 2
Dota 2 is also a MOBA game released in 2013, but it still has many loyal fans and players. Each year, the game has an unbelievably large prize pool, which is just one of the reasons why it’s a must to look out for. The prize pool for the international tournament in 2021 was $40 million, which is the biggest prize pot in esports to date, and the numbers are only expected to increase this year.
Of course, Dota 2 is a challenging game to play, but it’s truly a great title if you love MOBA games.
Rocket League
Rocket League is a unique take on football and inculcates competitiveness in players. It’s a fun game to play (and even watch), especially with all the fancy and shiny sports cars slamming large balls across the arena.
Both players and viewers come together at the Rocket League Championship Series, with the pool fund being as much as $1 million. Even this year, the game is expected to grow exponentially. If you love football and cars, this just might be the game that can get you hooked on esports.
Overwatch
Coming from the gaming giant Blizzard, Overwatch is a tactical shooter game with a colorful theme, impressive gunplay, and excellent characters. And given how much people love the game, Blizzard hosts numerous tournaments, including Overwatch World Cup and OWL Playoffs.
Of course, there have been some issues with Overwatch, especially because the sequel keeps getting delayed. Plus, viewership has also gone down in recent years. With that said, tournaments scheduled for 2022 will determine whether Overwatch will stay a fan favorite or not.
Valorant
Valorant was quick to gain popularity right after it was released. And because of its fame and the strong & broad player base, the game quickly made its place on the list of the best esports games.
The title faces a lot of competition from other great esports like CS: GO and Call of Duty. But it is still ready for another year of competitive play this year, and the viewership will help determine if it will be able to maintain its popularity.
Valorant is the game you should be looking into if you want to go pro. This is because the player base is still relatively small, and with enough practice, you can become one of the best in a very short time.
Hearthstone
Hearthstone is Blizzard’s fantasy-themed card trading game. It has been around for a few years now, but it still has quite a following today. Like other card trading games, it is a 1v1 turn-based strategy game where players try to beat the other person’s deck.
The game has made some changes to not lose its place in the list of the best esports. For instance, there’s no Grandmaster anymore, and they’ve widened the World Championship scope to take in more players. We’ve yet to see how the fans feel about that.
Rainbow Six Siege
Tom Clancy’s famous Rainbow Six Siege is another tactical shooter game that’s quite famous in the esports scene. However, it faces a lot of competition from many titles, including Fortnite, CS: GO, Call of Duty, and Valorant.
Rainbow Six tournaments have already been lined up for the year and are expected to boost both viewership and player base. However, it’s still unclear whether Rainbow Six will be able to hold its own in front of competitors.
Apex Legends
The last game on the list is Respawn’s Apex Legends, a battle royal game with a slight twist. The game is set in the infamous Titanfall universe and has many characters with cool weapons, unique capabilities, and smart outfits.
Other shooter games like PUBG give Apex Legends a tough competition, but the game is expected to grow, primarily because of the numerous tournaments lined up.