Top 6 Esports Games with the Highest Viewership in 2023

Some of the best esports games in the industry are Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Valorant, League of Legends, Fortnite, and Overwatch. They’re the best because of certain features, which include:

• Battle Royale Mode: The battle royale mode is technically an all-you-can-eat-buffet. Picture 100 players divided into teams of three to six players, competing against each other. So, the last team standing wins the battle royale.
• Dope Art Styles and Visuals: The better the art styles and visuals are, the more memorable the game becomes among players. 
• Fun Maps: The maps should strike a nice balance between simple and intricate for players to get hooked. Luckily, all five games on our list have maps that are fun to explore.

Also Read: 5 Best Nintendo Switch Shooter Games

Top 6 Esports Games with the Most Views

These are the top 6 esports games with the most views in 2023. Players love them because of their art style, music, high fidelity, and cultural representation (among others). 

#1: League of Legends 

League of Legends has two popular versions, which are:

• League of Legends: Wild Rift
• League of Legends

Combined, both of these games have raked in more than 3.5 million views in 2023 alone. The biggest reason why League of Legends is such an hot cake in esports is because of its accessibility. It’s one of the first games to feature a free-to-play model, meaning you don’t have to purchase the video game before you can start playing it. Instead, the studio behind the game earns its money by selling in-game merch which are skins with no added special effect or perk.

#2: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has amassed more than 1.5 million views in 2023 alone. CS:GO has been around since 2012 and has aged well like fine wine. The biggest reason why it still boasts a sizable player pool is because of its simplicity. But the reason why the replayability is high is because of the engaging maps. 

No matter the number of times you’ve played it, you can still come back to it, and the experience will feel fresh. This is partly due to the regular updates which introduce new guns and weapon attributes to mix up the gameplay. Let’s not forget the plethora of game modes available besides battle royale.

#3: Valorant

Valorant is hot on the heels of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive with a little below 1.5 million fans worldwide. But the biggest reason why it’s such a popular video game among esports fans is because of the exquisite online multiplayer modes. For one, Valorant is stable with literally no lags and low loading times. Well, it doesn’t suffer from the server issues that plague other games on our list.

So, besides the variety of characters that players can choose from, its reliability is its main highlight. That, and the timely updates which keep the graphics sharp and the guns responsive and detailed. Lastly, Valorant has one of the most beautiful maps out there and that’s because of the many blind spots and choke points which players can take advantage of. Also, maps have distinctive features which encourage players to think of new strategies on the fly. 

#4: PUBG Mobile

PUBG Mobile is extremely popular among esports fans because it boasts all the features of the PC version. So, players can expect all the weapons, vehicles, maps, armors, and gears they found in the first desktop version of PUBG: BATTLEGROUND. But the reason why it’s popular is because it’s free, unlike the console and PC versions.

Also, the graphics are top-notch, considering this is still a mobile version of PUBG. But the highlight of PUBG is its realistic approach to gunfights when compared to its competitors. So far, the video game has racked up more than 850,000 viewers. The figure is going to grow but already, it’s nearing the 1 million mark. 

#5: Apex Legends

The biggest reason why our experts at Player.me don’t rank Apex Legends higher on our list is because it doesn’t have a mobile version. This FPS is only available on PCs and consoles, so it’s not a free-to-play title like League of Legends. The video game is much more fast-paced than its rivals, and it features many unique characters with special powers.

The maps also stand out for their ability to encourage skirmishes between players. So far, Apex Legends has raked in more than half a million viewers in 2023, and that figure will only grow because there are ongoing tournaments for the game. It’s a high-octane experience with a high pace that forces players to master their characters’ abilities if they want to gain an edge. 

#6: Dota 2

Dota 2 currently has more than 500,000 viewers with no ongoing tournament. The video game is only available on PCs and consoles, which affects the numbers of fans it can get. The game is more than two decades strong, and it’s ticking strong with over 120 playable characters. There are also more than 200 in-game items so players are encouraged to come up with fun strategies to beat the different challenges in the game.

The game is a competitive 10-player title with great graphics, music, and a supportive community. We ranked Dota 2 lower on our list not only because of the views but because of the steep learning curve. You have to experiment with different strategies to learn their strengths and weaknesses before you can start dominating the competition. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What Is the Most Popular Esports Game in 2023?

The most popular esports game is League of Legends because both the mobile and desktop versions of the game have blown up. It has been the reigning champion for years now. 

Will Esports Be the Future?

Esports currently boasts more than 810 million fans worldwide, so Esports may very well be the future. It is the 21st century so the rules are completely different because entertainment is king now. It just turns out that developers are getting too good at their crafts. So good that fans are treating their games like sports.

Do Esports Players Keep the Prize Money?

Yes, the norm is that players will keep the prize money. The common ratio is 80-20, with players keeping the bulk of the prize money. Some teams won’t even keep the 20%, opting to instead give their winning team all the loot.