Online gaming tournaments offer the chance for gamers to win digital and real-world prizes from regularly organized contests. These events allow players of all ages and skill levels to compete against each other in popular games.
The Tekken World Tour is an international tournament series for the fighting game franchise Tekken. The competition has a prize pool of over US$1 million.
1. League of Legends
League of Legends is one of the most popular online gaming tournaments available today. This MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) video game features addictive gameplay and a large community of fans. It also boasts a range of features that make it a great choice for beginners who want to improve their skills.
The eSports tournament scene is massive, with professional teams competing in local and global events. These competitions can attract a large audience, and some even receive the attention of mainstream sports media.
Although the popularity of eSports has grown in recent years, online gaming tournaments have been around for as long as there have been video games. Unlike traditional sports, which require expensive hardware and professional teams, online gaming tournaments are affordable for casual players.
2. Call of Duty
Originally launched in 2003, Call of Duty brought new advances to the first-person shooter genre. Its World War II setting allowed players to see the conflict from American, British, and Soviet perspectives in its single-player campaign, while its multiplayer engine breathed new life into a genre spawned by unblocked games such as Doom and Quake.
When CoD Ghosts debuted in 2014, many fans questioned the future of the franchise. But after a reboot in 2016 with WWII, Activision listened and gave gamers what they wanted in the next installment. While Blackout dipped a toe in the battle royale pool, Warzone swan dived right into it and proved that CoD still has the best gunplay around.
PlayStation Tournaments is an online platform that allows gamers to compete in popular games and earn digital and real-world prizes. The site’s regular organized tournaments make it a great entry point to competitive gaming.
3. Overwatch
Overwatch is a team-based first-person shooter game published and developed by Blizzard Entertainment. It focuses on two teams of six players fighting against each other in different kinds of matches such as control, assault, and escort maps. It has a bright and cartoon-like style that makes it stand out from other shooter games.
Overwatch’s story takes place in the future where robotics and cybernetics are commonplace. But when the omnics rise up and begin to wage war against humanity, Overwatch is established as an international task force that’s meant to resolve the conflict. The game is a hit with millions of players worldwide and has even garnered an esports league called the Overwatch League which made its debut in 2018.
4. Dota 2
A free-to-play game on Steam, Dota 2 is the most-played online game in the world. Valve’s update of the genre-creating Defense of the Ancients transplanted its house-of-cards design into a new engine, attached a cheery free-to-play business model, and gave it all a fresh coat of polish.
It’s a deeply involved and emotionally dangerous game, one that can demand late-night Skype conversations with friends, and ruin a whole day at work if you lose. But if you can master its intricacies, there’s an experience of tense, precise positioning that’s hard to match in any other online multiplayer game.
Like all big games, it’s not without its issues. But Dota’s mysterious figure, IceFrog, constantly adjusts the qwirkle game based on feedback from an active and vocal community. He’s also stepped up efforts to make Dota more accessible, with a revamped New Player Experience and a relaxing of its signature purism on ranked matches that lets players queue for their preferred roles.
5. Fortnite
Fortnite is a free-to-play game that has garnered tremendous popularity worldwide. Its esports scene features substantial prize pools that have attracted top-level players and aspiring professional gamers.
The game’s fast-paced gameplay and unique building mechanics have made it a hit with gamers of all ages. Its accessibility has also contributed to its booming popularity, with the game being played on PCs, smartphones, PlayStations, and Xboxes. Parents should be aware that the game is rated 12+ and features some scenes of mild violence. Its unmoderated chat function also means children can be exposed to inappropriate language and bullying.
The sociable aspect of the game is great, as it encourages kids to meet up with friends online and play together in squad or duo modes. However, it can lead to kids being glued to their screens for long periods of time.