Turn your dream of becoming a professional gamer into reality by picking up your controller and diving into a tournament for big-name esports like Call of Duty: Warzone, Fortnite, Street Fighter 6, and other high-stakes titles. If someone close to you has ever dismissed your love for video games as a waste of time, they’re either a) missing the mark or b) failing to see the potential. While this might sound blunt, it holds a lot of truth. Esports — the competitive gaming scene within the video game industry — has exploded in popularity, with massive audiences, impressive prize pools, and sponsorships that help top players turn their passion into a profession. Platforms like cyber-sport.io are key resources for enthusiasts and professionals alike, offering valuable insights and opportunities within the competitive gaming world. After a break due to the pandemic, live esports events are back, drawing large crowds. Take Evo, for example, which continues to captivate fighting game fans from around the world.
What’s a Great Esports Game?
Esports offer a vast array of games across various genres, from blockbuster hits to lesser-known gems. Are you into shooters? Test your aim in Call of Duty and take down opponents. Looking for a high-stakes battle royale experience? PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is ready to deliver. Or maybe you’re a sports fan? Thanks to a collaboration between the NBA and Take-Two Interactive, publisher of the popular NBA 2K series, the NBA 2K eLeague brings the thrill of professional basketball into the esports arena. No matter your preference, there’s a competitive gaming scene for everyone.
With so many choices, however, it can feel overwhelming. The sheer number of multiplayer titles with esports potential can make diving in—whether as a player or spectator—feel daunting. That’s why this guide to the top esports games is here to point you in the right direction. Not every game chasing the esports spotlight is worth your time, and there are plenty of contenders out there.
How We Picked Our Favorite Esports Games
This guide showcases a selection of top-tier esports games that our team at PCMag has reviewed and enthusiastically recommends. Many of these titles also feature in our roundup of the best PC games, though we’re giving console players some love as well.
To qualify for this list, a game must have official tournament backing from its publisher. While we appreciate community-driven events—like the remarkable Tecmo Super Bowl leagues—we had to set a standard to ensure only games with dedicated tournament structures made the cut.
If you don’t see a popular esports game listed here, it likely means we either haven’t reviewed it yet or it didn’t meet our high bar. What you’ll find below are some of the finest esports titles engaging both amateurs and pros alike in 2024 and beyond. Dive in and, most importantly, enjoy the games!
Apex Legends
After crafting two fantastic yet underrated Titanfall games, Respawn finally gained the recognition it deserved with the breakout success of its battle royale shooter, Apex Legends.
Set in the Titanfall universe, Apex Legends shifts the focus to agile mercenaries instead of massive mechs. Each of these vibrant characters boasts unique abilities that add depth to gameplay. For instance, you can slip between dimensions as Wraith or create holograms to distract enemies as Mirage. Additionally, intuitive communication tools help teams stay seamlessly coordinated.
The game’s rapid rise shows no signs of slowing, thanks in part to its competitive scene through the Apex Legends Global Series. Check out the event schedule to see the impressive prize pools up for grabs!
Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0
The original Warzone showed that Call of Duty could still stand out in the bustling battle royale genre. Now, Warzone 2.0, a full-fledged sequel released alongside Modern Warfare II, brings exciting updates, including a fresh map (Building 21) and a new mode (DMZ).
The original Warzone remains active—there’s no way a franchise of this scale would leave its player base behind without notice. But for those looking to stay competitive and dive into high-level tournaments, Warzone 2.0 is the latest and greatest place to prove their skills.
Dota 2
“Easy to learn, hard to master.” While this phrase gets tossed around often, few games embody it as well as Defense of the Ancients 2 (Dota 2), one of the world’s most celebrated multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) titles.
In this free-to-play MOBA, players choose from over 100 distinct Heroes, each with unique skills, play styles, and abilities designed to help their team dominate the battlefield. Though the MOBA genre can seem impenetrable to newcomers, the stakes at The International, Dota 2’s annual championship, are sky-high, with prize pools exceeding $30 million. For those willing to dive in and grasp the complexities, Dota 2 is a thrilling esport to watch and play.
Dragon Ball FighterZ
Alongside classics like Fist of the North Star and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, few anime series are as naturally suited to a fighting game format as Dragon Ball. With its diverse roster of muscular warriors, aliens, androids, and human heroes battling in world-shaking showdowns, Akira Toriyama’s iconic franchise has been adapted into countless games.
The latest in the lineup, Dragon Ball FighterZ, swaps the 3D arena-brawling style of the Xenoverse games for intense 3 vs. 3 tag-team action on a 2D stage. This shift in gameplay has been a key factor in elevating FighterZ to esports stardom. Its stunning visuals, fast-paced combat, and easy-to-learn controls create an experience that’s as accessible as it is thrilling.
In addition to its presence at Evo, the game’s competitive scene is bolstered by Bandai Namco’s Dragon Ball FighterZ World Tour, making it a top contender in the fighting game esports world.
Fortnite
Fortnite has set the standard for battle royale games, and its popularity remains unrivaled. Epic Games revealed in early 2020 that an astounding 12.3 million players logged in simultaneously for an in-game Travis Scott concert, solidifying Fortnite’s cultural impact.
The game’s appeal is rooted in its accessible gameplay modes, vibrant visuals, and unique building mechanics. While the combat mechanics may not be perfect and microtransactions can detract from the experience, its free-to-play model makes it an easy recommendation for any battle royale enthusiast. Fortnite is available on almost every gaming platform, making it highly accessible.
The 2019 Fortnite World Cup showcased just how high the stakes can get, with 16-year-old Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf winning $3 million from a massive $30 million prize pool.
League of Legends
League of Legends, Riot Games’ free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), stands as the gold standard of the genre. Blending elements of role-playing, tower defense, and real-time strategy, it offers a unique experience that sets it apart from the numerous MOBAs in the market.
One of League of Legends’ biggest strengths is its accessibility, though it still boasts intricate gameplay. The seamless integration of skillshots, cooldowns, unique abilities, and equipment gives League of Legends a depth that continues to attract new players and keeps it ahead of other titles like Dota 2 and Heroes of the Storm.
As an esport, League of Legends thrives through Riot’s dedicated support of the League of Legends Championship Series, which offers a substantial prize pool exceeding $2 million, further cementing its place as a MOBA powerhouse.
Overwatch 2
Shooters don’t have to stick to dark, realistic tones—cartoonish fun has a solid place in PC gaming, too. For years, Team Fortress 2 held that spot with its colorful arenas, team-based modes, and unique characters. But now, Overwatch has taken up the mantle. Blizzard’s hit shooter blends Team Fortress 2’s core elements—vibrant maps, varied game modes, and an array of distinctive heroes—with strategic twists inspired by MOBA games.
Overwatch 2 has fully replaced the original title, but it keeps the charm and depth players loved, offering a fresh yet familiar first-person shooter experience. With its diverse heroes and unique abilities, the game provides endless tactical options. Unsurprisingly, Overwatch has a thriving esports scene, supported by Blizzard’s initiatives like the Overwatch World Cup, solidifying its status as a leading competitive shooter.
Rocket League
Emerging as an unexpected sensation in 2015, Rocket League is one of the rare sports games without ties to a real-life league that still commands massive attention in the esports world.
With its high-speed, car-based gameplay, explosive tackles, and electrifying goals, Rocket League delivers pure excitement—especially at the pro level. If you thought your last-second goal was impressive, just wait until you see an expert drive up the wall, flip mid-air, and score from midfield.
The Rocket League Championship Series showcases the elite talent in the game, where top players pull off jaw-dropping moves. In recent events, competitors battled for a share of a $1 million prize pool, solidifying Rocket League’s place in esports.