DIGITAL DOMINANCE: THE LEADING VIDEO GAMES AMONG GAMERS

Gamers are having a great decade. Not only has gaming become lucrative as a career, but its popularity has also paved the way for more titles. Game developers are always releasing new games and features to align with this community’s growth, allowing gamers to try different options and see what fits. Moreover, anyone who can’t play can still get a taste of the games by watching live-streamed competitions and betting on outcomes using sites like Bet365. Of course, punters get more bang for their buck if they focus on popular games, as they have more tournaments and competition. Let’s consider the top video games to help you decide what to play or invest in, depending on where you fall:

Top Video Games

No one game rules overall, as games differ in their plots and features. For example, people who enjoy shooter games may have more luck with Call of Duty. Similarly, people who enjoy sports may lean more towards FIFA video games. Even with this variation, some games top their categories. We look at these games and what has made them so popular:

1. DOTA 2

This game has been around for over a decade and attracts fans and players worldwide. By the start of 2024, its tournaments had paid out more than $300 million in cash prizes. But besides the money, this game has an interesting plot. Players group themselves in teams of five. The premise is to work together and defend their area on the map while figuring out how to destroy the other team’s base. It thus takes a lot of strategizing, and teams that master their features and skills often rise to the top, making it to international tournaments. 

2. League of Legends

Like DOTA 2, this is a multiplayer game where two teams clash for the ultimate win. However, unlike DOTA 2, where teams comprise 5 players, teams in this game can have 3 or 5 players. The game’s goal is for one team to destroy the other’s base by attacking the “Nexus.” As winning depends on strategy, only players who invest a lot of time perfecting their attack end up at the top. And money-wise, this game pays out quite well. By the start of 2024, players had received more than $100 million in cash prizes!

3. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

CS: GO is one of the most popular video games. Much of this popularity hinges on its premise, which casts one team as terrorists and the other as counter-terrorists. The terrorists take hostages and plant a bomb, after which the counter-terrorists have to figure out a way to defuse the bomb and save the hostages in time. This dynamic environment appeals to fans who love watching the show go down. And for players, the adrenaline from the game gets compounded by the amazing prizes. By 2024, the game had paid over $150 million in cash prizes!

4. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG)

The games above rely on team effort. But what if you want to test your strength as a player? PUBG is a great option. It involves 100 players who battle it out until only one person is left standing. You can also play it in teams. The game has been around since 2017 and has garnered many players, which has resulted in multiple tournaments that have paid out more than $50 million! 

5. Fortnite

This multiplayer game has become quite a hit despite its recent release. After all, it boasts three game modes in one game! The first option, save the world, requires you to fight zombies and defend yourself and others from getting hurt. The second option follows a PUBG-like setting where players fight until only one is left. Like with PUBG, you can play this mode as a team. The last option is the sandbox mode, which gives you creative control over the game’s features. This variety has made the game so appealing that it now ranks as one of the top 3 video games in the gaming world. The money does not hurt either – by 2024, tournaments had paid out more than $170 million to players!

Other notable games include:

• StarCraft II,
• Overwatch,
• Heroes of the Storm,
• Hearthstone, and
• Arena of Valor.

They excel in their captivating game plots and high tournament payouts.

How to Choose a Video Game

Choosing the right video game comes down to considering the factors below:

• Genre: Do you enjoy action games, or would you rather play a sports game? Do you excel in puzzles? Consider all the genres and pick the one that best fits your preferences and abilities.
• Payouts: The bigger the game community, the bigger the payouts in the tournaments. It also means that you will face a lot of competition. If you’re gunning for a video gaming career, ensure you choose games with sizeable and sustainable communities to rest assured of a payout as you move up the ladder.
• Skills: Where do you excel? Some people are good at strategizing, others are great at following instructions, etc. You need to conduct a mini SWOT analysis to determine which game would be a great fit for you and what you can improve to be an asset to the team.

Also, aim for newer games, as they will have more opportunities for new entrants compared to older games, which usually have their leaderboards set in stone.