Are you a fan of online casino games or sports betting? Then you might have heard of esportsโ short for electronic sports โ which is organized, competitive video gaming. The world of esports is booming and growing in popularity as technology advances and awareness of this thrilling form of entertainment reaches all corners of the world.
If you’re new to tuning into esports or if you’re interested in becoming an esports pro in the future, you might be wondering which games are set to be the next big thing. Wonder no more โ here are our top picks for video games that have the potential to step up as breakout esport titles.
What Are Esports and What Transforms a Video Game Into an Esport?
Esports are multiplayer video games where people compete against one another to win prizes or titles. Professional esporters are in many ways similar to traditional sportsmen and women: they are contracted by different organizations and spend a lot of time practicing and playing the game or games they specialize in. Depending on how good they become and how many followers they accumulate, it’s also possible for esporters to gain celebrity status.
So, itโs possible to gain notoriety playing esport games professionally. But how do esport games themselves find their way into the spotlight? Some titles were specifically designed to be a part of the esporting realm, while others become esport titles when they climb the ranks in popularity among regular gamers. Ultimately, competitive esport titles must fulfill two separate criteria.
First, they must be entertaining. The game must be both enjoyable to play and watch. It needs to grab gamers and spectators due to an exciting theme or some unique features. Solid graphics and an immersive storyline are also always beneficial.
Secondly, they must have balance. The game needs to provide balanced gameplay where it’s possible to have multiple possible outcomes. For example, in combat games, there shouldnโt be one single weapon that completely outranks every other weapon. It can’t be too predictable, and there can’t only be one way to โwin.โ Just like traditional sports, every game needs to be completely unique and full of suspense.
Games to Watch Out For
Now that you have a better idea of what esports actually are and how video games become popular esports titles, here are a few video games to watch out for as up-and-coming names in the esports arena.
Quake Champions
This is a first-person arena-style shooting game drawing on 90s video game nostalgia. What sets it apart is its broad selection of colorful and creative characters, abilities, and weapons and a fast pace, making it an attractive gaming choice for gamers of all ages. Id Software develops it and has racked up numerous impressive accolades since its release in 2018, including nominations for “Best Action Game” at the Titanium Awards and “Fan Favorite Shooter Game” at the Gamers’ Choice Awards.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Anyone who has ever had anything to do with online casino games or competitive gaming will have played โ or at least heard of โ the Call of Duty franchise. Unfortunately, its most recent releases have been slightly less successful than usual, but that’s all set to change with the release of Modern Warfare 2, which is expected to become an esports staple quickly. It helps that it’s the sequel to Modern Warfare, the best-selling game within the franchise, and, according to the COD website, the ultimate weapon is the team! It’s a multiplayer combat and narrative-driven Special Ops game with fresh innovations and advanced AI. Watch this space: we expect this one to be huge!
FIFA 23
This game has been a hugely popular title among esporters and it’s expected that FIFA 23 will make a massive splash in the industry now that itโs been announced that it will be the final EA-branded FIFA game. In FIFA 23, gamers and esports fans can look forward to HyperMotion2 Technology, the ability to play as women’s club teams for the very first time, cross-play features (where you can play against opponents on different platforms of the same generation), and much more.
Diabotical
First-person shooter (FPS) gamers will go crazy for Diabolical. Developed by GD Studio, it’s a title that was crafted to ensure a good fit for esporters, transporting them into an enthralling robot world. It’s reminiscent of other FPS games, making it a nostalgic pick for many experienced gamers. The game will feature plenty of variety in the form of weapons and modes.
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