Top Esports Games of 2026 | Top Mobile Esports Games

This blog walks you through the top eSports games, most played and watched by the audience. Stay tuned to find out about the best eSports betting games available worldwide. 

It’s not physical sports or virtual sports into hype, but eSports – the fastest growing segment of the global gaming and betting industry.

Today, top eSports games/ tournaments now fill stadiums, attract millions of online viewers, and offer million –dollar prize pools. With so much popularity, eSports surpass traditional sports and media events. The recent growth has transformed eSports games into globally followed competitive titles with structured leagues, professional teams, and growing digital communities.

Whether you’re a player or operator, our blog lists top esports games that operators and players can consider from a betting and business perspective.

Before we jump to the top eSports betting games, look at a quick snapshot of industry data below: 💡

Global eSports Industry Data

• The global eSports industry is estimated to reach $25.4 billion by 2035, up from $1.97 billion in 2023.
• 640+ million people are expected to be a part of the global eSports audience in 2026, as per eSports Viewership Statistics 2026.

• The largest price pool in eSports history was recorded in 2024 with $60 million from the Inaugural eSports World Cup in Saudi Arabia.

List of Different Types of Top eSports Games at a Glance…

Top eSports Strategy (MOBA) Games

MOBA stands for Multiplayer Online Battel Arena games, which includes two teams (usually 5v5) competing on a fixed map with the purpose of destroying the opponent’s base. These are generally team-based competitive games where strategy, coordination, and skill measure success.

League of Legends (PC)

Developer: Riot Games
Fan Base: 180+ million monthly active players globally
Major Tournaments: Leagues of Legends World Championship, MSI
Prize Pool: $2-$3+ million

Known to be one of the biggest eSports games, Leagues of Legends (LoL) was created by Riot Games as a strategic MOBA game. The major competition in Leagues of Legends includes regular seasonal tournaments, large international events, and global leagues, leading to popular World Championship that are watched by millions of audiences worldwide.

Unavoidable Stat:

Leagues of Legends remains the most popular eSports games by peak viewership with 6.94 million viewers in the 2024 World Championship, making it the most watched PC eSports event, as per Statista.

Leagues of Legends handles its primary global tournaments via structured league competitions including LCS (North America) and LEC (Europe), LCK (Korea) and LPL (China). This ensures fair and professional gameplay throughout every season.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (Mobile)

Developer: Moonton
Fan Base: 100+ million monthly active players
Major Tournaments: M5 World Championship, MPL
Prize Pool: $1+ million

Considered to be the king of mobile gaming, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang particularly has a high presence in the Southeast Asia region and other mobile-first markets. Its shorter match duration spanning 10-15 minutes led to rapid growth in competitive participation. As mobile eSports adoption grows, Mobile Legends continues to stand out as a key title driving large-scale engagement.

In fact, it is ranked #1 mobile eSports by viewership volume, recording 5.68 million peak viewers in early 2026, as per ESports Chart Data.

It has been consistently driving high viewership, supporting structured competitive leagues, and continues to set mobile eSports records. This shows that mobile titles can rival traditional PC eSports among audiences.

Dota 2 (PC)

Developer: Valve Corporation
Fan Base: 10-12 million monthly active players
Major Tournaments: The International (TI), Dota Pro Circuit
Prize Pool: $10+ million

Dota 2 is known for its difficult gameplay and high-skill competitive environment. Meaning? All heroes in Dota 2 are free from the start, suggesting that success in competitive games is measured by pure skill, teamwork and decision-making rather than play-to-win mechanics.

Moreover, Dota 2 has earned the nickname “Prize Pool King” in eSports, with its annual world championship, The International, repeatedly offering the largest prize pools ever witnessed in competitive gaming. This includes a record of US$ 40 million at TI 10 in 2021.

With this, the title has built a loyal community and long-standing competitive legacy to ensure Dota 2 remains one of the most respected MOBA top esports games in 2026.

Best Tactical FPS Esports Games

Tactical FPS top eSports Games are competitive first-person shooter (FPS) titles that focus on strategy, precision, teamwork, and tactical decision-making rather than fast, arcade-style gunplay. These games are built for high-stakes competitions.

Counter-Strike 2 (PC)

Developer: Vale Corporation
Fan Base: 30+ monthly active players
Major Tournaments: BLAST Premier, ESL Pro League, PGL Majors
Prize Pool: $4+ Million annually

A latest release, Counter Strike 2, is one of the most influential competitive shooters in eSports history. Created on the legacy of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, CS2 has quickly made its position as the main tactical FPS eSports. Thanks to its blend of skill-based gameplay, strategic depth, and broad competitive infrastructure.

What makes this eSports title more appealing is its visual elements and enhanced gameplay response, which keeps players updated. Speaking of audience engagement, the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 became CS2’s most-watched tournament of the year, with nearly 1.79 million peak concurrent viewers and 76+ million total hours watched.

Valorant (PC)

Developer: Riot Games
Fan Base: 25+ million monthly active players
Major Tournaments: Valorant Champions Tour (VCT)
Prize Pool: $3-$4+ million annually

Valorant has established itself as a key title in competitive FPS eSports. Its agent-based abilities combined with tactical shooting have captured the attention of competitive players and viewers. According to eSports Charts, Valorant Bangkok 2025 event reached a peak concurrent audience of over 4.3 million viewers.

Presently, Valorant is bringing consistent tournament calendar, high engagement across regions, and major viewership milestones, Valorant continues to be among the most influential and compelling top eSports games in 2026.

Rainbow Six Siege (PC/Console)

Developer: Ubisoft
Fan Base: 80+ million registered players globally
Major Tournaments: Six Invitational, R6 Major Championships
Prize Pool: $2+ million

Rainbow Six Siege is a tactical FPS eSports where players are rewarded based on their understanding of strategy, environmental destruction, and team coordination. The eSport title is majorly organized via two key competitive ways, including R6 Esports Pro League and Major Championships. The diverse regional presence of the title in Europe, LATAM, and North America makes it a global competitive footprint in the eSports category.

Though not like Dota 2, but Rainbow Six Siege also offers prize pools within the FPS category. The Six Invitational 2024 featured a prize pool of $2 million, showcasing high investment in the title.

Best Hero Shooters & Battle Royale Esports Games

Hero shooters are FPS games where players can select from a roster of characters (heroes), each with unique abilities, roles ,and playstyles. These games are famous in eSports as they balance mechanical skills, strategy, and personality.

Marvel Rivals (PC/Console) – New for 2026

Developer: NetEase Games (in collaboration with Marvel Games)
Fan Base: Early stage title
Major Tournaments: Invitational and third-party events (2026 rollout phase)
Prize Pool: Not officially standardized

Marvel Rivals enters as a fresh contender in the eSports industry. Adding well-known characters (Iron MAN, Loki, Magneto) and team-based mechanics, it has quickly gained attention within the eSports community. It’s a 6v6 shooter game with distractible maps and iconic characters. Developed with competitive play in mind, the game positions itself as a fresh alternative to traditional hero shooters.

Why Marvel Rivals gained quick hype in 2026? Because it has gained attention from leading eSports organizations like Sentinels, with early team signing. Though the game is still in the developing phase, its publisher’s backing, recognizable characters, and eSports-friendly mechanics position it as a key contender in the hero shooter space.

Fortnite (Cross-Platform)

Developer: Epic Games
Fan Base: 250+ million
Major Tournaments: Fortnite World Cup, FNCS
Prize Pool: $5+ million

Fortnite is the most appealing eSports title in gaming history, ranked as the second-highest paying eSports of all time. It has awarded over $139 million in lifetime prize money across all competitive events. Unlike many competitive games which require a professional team, Fortnite allows solo players to compete in open tournaments. This makes it a true merit-based game where anyone can rise through performance alone.

The game got a lot of hype due to its ‘Zero Build Mode’, which attracts players who prefer pure gunplay and positioning without complex building mechanics. For its solo-friendly competition and multiple competitive formats, Fortnite remains among the top eSports betting games.

Apex Legends (PC/Console)

Developer: Respawn Entertainment (RE)
Fan Base: 100+ million registered players
Major Tournaments: ALGS Championship
Prize Pool: $2+ million

A battle royale eSports title, Apex Legends is popular for its unique movement mechanics, fast decision-making, and squad-based strategy. The game rewards players based on their thinking ability, aim, and reposition faster than their opponents. Further, the game’s competitive scene is led by the Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS).

ALGS Championship events constantly feature multi-million-dollar prize pools and thus attract top teams from North America, APAC, EMEA, and South America.

The 1v1 Arena (Best Fighting Games)

The 1v1 Arena is a competitive fighting eSports game where individual players compete head-to-head, mainly playing based on personal skills rather than team coordination. Here, execution, timing, and mental strength determine the winner.

Street Fighter 6 (Cross-Platform)

Developer: Capcom
Fan Base: 3+ million
Major Tournaments: Capcom Pro Tour, EVO
Prize Pool: $500K+

Street Fighter 6 is played as a one-on-one competitive game where two players fight in structured matches. Each match is skill-based, where the outcome entirely depends on the player’s ability. Anchored by Capcom Pro Tour (CPT), Street Fighter 6 features million-dollar prize pools, making this game the highest–earning title in fighting gaming history.

In fact, major tournaments bring elite players from across North America, LATAM, Asia, and Europe. With robust developer support and frequent updates, Street Fighter 6 continues to define what modern fighting eSports should look like.

Tekken 8 (PC/Console)

Developer: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Fan Base: Millions of active players
Major Tournaments: Tekken World Tour, ESports World Cup
Prize Pool: $500K+

Built on Unreal Engine 5, Tekken 8 delivers visually appealing character models, dynamic arenas, and attractive animation. Its signature competitive mechanics, Heat System rewards players for proactive aggression by giving them powerful advantage moments. The game has established itself as a contender in the fighting game eSports category with important prize pools, strong viewership, and global competition.

At the eSports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, Tekken 8 featured a $1,000,000 million prize pool, one of the highest prize pools in eSports gaming history. Tekken 8’s blend of aggressive mechanics, striking visuals, and high-stakes competition has created fighting game enthusiasm among players in 2025 and into 2026.

Rocket League (Cross-Platform)

Developer: Psyonix (Epic Games)
Fan Base: 90+ million registered players
Major Tournaments: Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS)
Prize Pool: $1+ million

A blend of soccer and automobile racing, Rocket League is a unique competitive gaming title. Often regarded as “soccer with cars,” the game replaces traditional characters with rocket-powered vehicles. This creates a skill-driven experience that is easy to understand for players. Every goal in the game is the direct result of mechanical skill, positioning, timing, and decision-making.

Moreover, the game is a spectator-friendly and ideal for live tournaments, making it among 100% non-violent top eSports games. The Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) keeps increasing the prize pool every year for players.

EA Sports FC (Console)

Developer: EA Sports
Fan Base: 150+ million global player base
Major Tournaments: FC Pro World Championship
Prize Pool:  $1.5+ million

A premier football simulation eSports title, EA Sports FC bridges the gap between traditional sports and competitive gaming. The game is best for players who want to compete on a virtual pitch using real teams, players, and tactics.

The competitive area of this game is built around the FC Pro World Championship, which directly connects real-world football clubs with eSports competition. Here, professional players represent iconic global clubs.

Future Trends of Top eSports Games

As the player or fan base for esports games is growing, the esports industry is witnessing a new hype. Without a doubt, the industry is entering a completely new phase with entertainment and betting markets.

Here are the key possible trends that can change the esports industry in the future:

Global Expansion

Esports is already a well-known industry worldwide. But strict regulations in some countries prohibit this game. Countries like the Middle East, South Asia, Africa and Latin America are becoming esports hubs, creating new opportunities for players and operators alike. Initiatives led by government, tournaments and regional qualifiers are growing audience base beyond Europe.

AI in Competitive Play

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the esports industry in performance tracking and betting markets. The AI-driven analytics in strategies and dynamic betting markets will be used extensively.

Bigger Prize Pool

Long-term team partnerships, franchise models (players pay a large entry fee to join the league), and multi-million-dollar prize pools are becoming the norm. This increases engagement, enthusiasm, and instability for players and operators.

Conclusion

From MOBA and tactical FPS titles to emerging battle royales and pure 1v1 fighting games, top eSports games have something for every type of player. For sportsbooks, these are not just games, but a high-engagement eSports ecosystem with a loyal fanbase and year-round competitive calendars.

As a sportsbook operator or startup, if you’re seeking to bring these top eSports games into your sportsbook platform, PieGaming can help. Our pre-integrated eSports –ready sportsbook solutions are built to support leading global titles, real-time markets, and sa calable eSports betting experience, helping operators meet players’ demand.

FAQs

• Which game has the highest viewership or esports audience in 2026?

  Leagues of Legends has the highest viewership in 2026, led by its World Championship, regional leagues, and big international fanbase. However, titles like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Counter Strike 2 also draw millions of concurrent viewers during major events.

• Are mobile esports games still popular?

  Yes, mobile eSports are highly popular particularly in Asia, Africa and other emerging markets. Games like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang continue to deliver massive viewership, frequent tournaments, and massive participation.

• Are new esports games emerging in 2026?

  Yes, new esports games like Marval Rivals are gaining popularity in 2026, led by freshy gameplay mechanics and strong publisher backing.

• What shooters are big in esports this year?

  Tactical shooters dominate eSports in 2026, along with Counter Strike 2 and Valorant leading the space.

• What makes a game a “top esports game”? 

  Skill-based game play, reliable server, and a structured tournament ecosystem make any esports game the best one. Strong developer support and sustained global viewership are also key factors.