Esports is not one game but dozens of disciplines. Some resemble football, others chess in real time, and others shooting competitions. Below are eight of the best known, which you have probably heard of. All data on developers, release years and formats is taken from Wikipedia pages checked on October 14, 2026; information about a game being free is given as of October 2026.
First, it’s worth recalling what exactly you are watching. In team games people usually play five against five: in shooters, teams complete objectives on a map, while in MOBAs they destroy the opponent’s base. There are also individual disciplines (fighting games, one-on-one duels in strategy games). We explained how all of this works in our article “What Is Esports and How Does It Work”.
Counter-Strike 2
Developer and publisher: Valve. The game was released on September 27, 2023, for Windows and Linux. It is an updated version of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (2012), moved to the Source 2 engine. As of October 2026 the game is free. In the standard mode, teams of five compete: terrorists try to plant a bomb at one of two sites, while counter-terrorists try to stop them by defusing the bomb or eliminating the opponents. A match ends when one team wins thirteen rounds.
What to watch: Counter-Strike majors; for example, Natus Vincere won PGL Stockholm 2021.
Dota 2
A game by Valve, created with the participation of developer IceFrog. Released on July 9, 2013. Two teams of five players defend their base and try to destroy the “Ancient,” a large, sturdy structure in the center of the opponent’s base. As of October 2026 the game is free: you don’t need to buy any heroes or gameplay items.
What to watch: The International, Valve’s main annual tournament, whose prize pool, according to Wikipedia, reached more than 40 million dollars.
League of Legends
Developer and publisher: Riot Games. The game was released on October 27, 2009, for Windows. Two teams of five players compete to be the first to destroy the opponent’s “Nexus,” which is guarded by enemy champions and towers. The game has been free from the start and earns money from character customization.
What to watch: the annual League of Legends World Championship, which closes the international season.
Valorant
A free tactical shooter from Riot Games, released on June 2, 2020. Two teams of five players: attackers try to deliver and activate the “Spike” at one of the sites, while defenders try to defuse it. Each player picks an “Agent” with unique abilities and an ultimate ability.
What to watch: the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT), Riot’s annual series with three tiers: Challengers (regional qualifiers), Masters (international tournaments in the middle of the season) and Champions (the world championship).
StarCraft II
The first part, Wings of Liberty, was released on July 27, 2010. It is science fiction with three races: Terrans, Zerg and Protoss. Professional matches are usually played one-on-one: you have to build an economy and an army and destroy your opponent. According to Wikipedia, professional play has historically been concentrated in South Korea.
What to watch: two-player tournaments, where you can see how a strategy takes shape from scratch.
Rocket League
Cars with rocket engines hit a ball into the opponent’s goal: that is “soccer with cars.” The game was released on July 7, 2015, for PlayStation 4 and Windows; matches range from 1-on-1 to 4-on-4. As of October 2026 the game is free (since September 23, 2020, on all platforms).
What to watch: the Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS), run by Psyonix. The rules are so simple that you can watch a broadcast without any preparation.
EA Sports FC
The former FIFA series from EA Sports. According to Wikipedia, EA Sports FC 24, released on September 29, 2023, is the first installment of the series that succeeded FIFA. EA’s partnership with FIFA ended with FIFA 23, and EA kept the licenses for players, teams, stadiums and leagues. There is also an esports segment for football simulators: Wikipedia mentions eMLS, a league of EA Sports and MLS launched in 2018.
What to watch: football tournaments, if you love real football and know the rules well.
Street Fighter 6
A fighting game from Capcom, released on June 2, 2023, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S. Two players fight each other. The main venue for fighting game competitions is the Evolution Championship Series (EVO). According to Wikipedia, it is an annual event devoted entirely to fighting games: tournaments are open to everyone and run on a double-elimination system. The first event took place in 1996 under the name “Battle by the Bay” in Sunnyvale, California, and it has held its current name since 2002.
What to watch: EVO. Among the recent events, Wikipedia names Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8 and Guilty Gear Strive.
How to choose where to start watching
| What you like | What to try |
|---|---|
| Tactics and team play | Counter-Strike 2, Valorant |
| Complex strategy with many heroes | Dota 2, League of Legends |
| Fast, easy-to-follow matches | Rocket League |
| Football | EA Sports FC |
| One-on-one duels | Street Fighter 6, StarCraft II |
Tip. A newcomer will find it easier to start with a game whose match goal is clear. In Counter-Strike 2 it is simple: win thirteen rounds. In Rocket League, it is enough to see the ball and the goals. For Dota 2 or League of Legends, you will need to work out a bit of what is happening on the map.
For how to find the match schedule, understand the tournament format and watch a broadcast, see our practical guide.
Frequently asked questions
Which esports discipline is the most popular?
We don’t give a single answer, because we did not find reliable comparative data on official pages. It’s better to judge popularity by the viewership data published by the organizers of specific tournaments.
Are all these games free?
As of October 2026, according to Wikipedia, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, League of Legends and Valorant are free. Rocket League has been free since September 2020. We don’t list prices for Street Fighter 6, EA Sports FC and StarCraft II, since they depend on the store and the region.
How is a MOBA different from a shooter?
In a MOBA, two teams defend their base and destroy the opponent’s base, controlling heroes with unique abilities. In a tactical shooter, teams complete objectives on a map from a first-person view: planting a bomb or stopping one.
How many players are on a team?
Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, League of Legends and Valorant feature teams of five players. In Rocket League, teams range from one to four players.
Sources
- Counter-Strike 2 (Wikipedia)
- Dota 2 (Wikipedia)
- League of Legends (Wikipedia)
- Valorant (Wikipedia)
- Evolution Championship Series (Wikipedia)
Data was checked against live official pages and Wikipedia on October 14, 2026.
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