Top Esports Game Genres

eSports has had an impressive run over the past few years, with competitive gaming rising to the level of traditional sporting events. Video games have always been popular, but online gaming and apps like Twitch and YouTube have given professional gamers a platform that didn’t exist until a few years ago. The biggest eSports competitions attract hundreds of thousands of viewers online and in person, and the best gamers rake in millions of dollars a year whilst training like traditional athletes. In this article, we look at some of the most popular eSports game genres.

Card and Table Games

Although there’s some debate about whether poker and other card games qualify as eSports, there’s no doubt that, with the proliferation of online gaming, they arguably qualify under the broad definition. The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the world’s biggest card game tournament. The yearly event takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada, and draws viewers from around the world. This is where the world’s best poker players go head to head, battling it out through the competition in hopes of winning the huge cash prize and WSOP bracelet. For those who can’t attend the event in person, there’s also a WSOP circuit online, giving even more players a chance to participate in the action.

Card and table games are among the most popular games in the world for a good reason: they test your skill and are highly portable. Look no further than poker for one of the best examples of what attracts so many people to card and table games. If you want to be successful at poker, you’ll need to know the terminology and much more besides. The best poker players have a thorough understanding of psychology and are skilled strategists, allowing them to gain an advantage over their opponents. So, if you have your sights on making it to the WSOP’s online or in-person tournament, it’s time to start practicing those skills.

First Person Shooters (FPS)

FPS games have played a critical role in eSports from the beginning, with competitions which feature this genre among the most popular in the world. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Apex Legends, and Call of Duty: Warzone are just a few of the most well-known FPS games in eSports. The mechanics behind these games are easy to learn; you just aim, shoot, reload and kill as many enemies as possible, as quickly as possible.

Although it’s easy for casual gamers to learn to play FPS games, strategy is required to progress to the levels needed to play these games competitively at a professional level. Professional gamers play this game as either a team-based or individual eSport.

Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA)

As one of the fastest-growing eSport genres, MOBA games are experiencing unprecedented popularity. This genre includes some of the most popular titles in eSports, including League of Legends, Dota 2, Heroes of the Storm, and Arena of Valor. Many of these games have been around for over a decade and have some of the largest prize pools in eSports.

When you play a MOBA game, you only control one character, like in many RPGs and MMORPGs. However, you progress through games much faster than in RPGs because your progress resets after one game. Esports competitions featuring the MOBA genre are team-based combat. Before the game starts, each player is assigned a role before their team sets out to eliminate the enemy’s base.

Real-Time Strategy (RTS)

The RTS genre isn’t as popular as FPS and MOBA games; however, they continue to play an essential role in the eSports world, with many of the most famous gamers getting their start playing these games. Since few non-professional gamers play RTS games, game developers aren’t producing them as often as other genres. StarCraft 2 and Age of Empires are two exceptions with loyal and active online communities.

The rules of RTS games prohibit players from developing strategies or tactics before gameplay begins. Instead, they must make the right move at the right time if they hope to win the fight. Winning at RTS games requires reacting quickly to changing events, multitasking, strategic foresight, and tactical skills.

Image Source: BigStockPhoto.com (Licensed)