Esports, with its colossal prize pools and impressive number of viewers, has proven to be one of the most captivating forms of entertainment globally. In 2025, the professional gaming scene is more diverse than ever before, with both long-standing games and rising stars on both PC and mobile platforms.
Therefore, below we present an overview of the top 10 most popular esports games in 2025, emphasizing the main factors such as viewership, competitive presence, and community engagement.
1. League of Legends
League of Legends maintains its number one position in 2025, which makes it the most-watched and widely played competitive game. It has not only been a constant trend, but it has also been growing over the past few years. The game's attractiveness is universal, with regional leagues, such as the LEC, LCK, and LPL, attracting large audiences, and the yearly World Championship being one of the most highly anticipated events in the world of esports.
Despite being censured or the player base being down 130 million monthly, the viewers of League of Legends have remained approximately at the 1.9 million peak level during major events, pointing to the game as one that will guide esports in the years to come.
2. Counter-Strike 2
The release of Counter-Strike 2 has been much welcomed, as it has revitalized the brand, allowing it to reclaim its place in the eSports hall of fame. By the year 2025, the game had become more than just a one-hit wonder and was now the staple of global esports—leading competitions such as the BLAST. The Paris Major and the PGL Copenhagen Major were among those that showcased the progress CS2 is making with graphics, which has led to smoother gameplay and a competitive circuit.
The Tradeit market is undoubtedly the most popular website for exchanging and purchasing CS2 skins. The platform has gained instant fame as the perfect spot for players to get new looks for their equipment. This, in fact, had led to the skin economy's following one flourishing year by another and supporting the massive game player base. About 1.3 million were at the top year's events to catch in the highest viewership of the game's events that year.
3. Valorant
Valorant has taken the esports arena by storm, making a strong mark in the field of tactical shooters. Riot Games has played a significant role in establishing a completely new type of pro scene, which is a valuable addition to the various events, including VCT Masters and the Valorant Champions Tour, that the company oversees. The game has proven to be a perfect blend of high-level precision gunplay and exclusive agent abilities, making it popular among strategists fond of the first-person shooter genre.
By 2025, Valorant had achieved its record success, with a peak viewership of 1.3 million, and had expanded into new and previously unexplored markets. It also participated in the Esports World Cup, where it affirmed its position as one of the big names in competitive gaming.
4. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
Watching a game on smartphones is already considered boring, and with Mobile Legends: Bang Bang taking the top spot, mobile esports have officially become a major business.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang has managed to attract a dedicated fanbase by creating professional leagues in Southeast Asia, South America, and the Middle East. In the 2025 season alone, the Mobile Legends Pro League (MPL) accumulated a billion watch hours, and the global championship reached an enthusing 4.13 million peak viewership.
The source of its popularity comes from the game's welcoming tone and polished gameplay, especially in mobile gaming-oriented regions.
5. Dota 2
Dota 2 is among the most competitive esports games, and the game has managed to remain at the top. Dota 2 is characterized by its intricate mechanics and tournaments with large prize pools; it still holds the top spot as the highest-tiered esports game.
Although The International has not been able to boast the record-breaking prize money it once did, the 2025 event rose up the ladder with $ 11.6 million in total prize money, a figure to rival that of most games.
Its vast number of supporters and extremely strategic gameplay are the reasons Dota 2 is still a name to reckon with in the esports landscape. There have been millions of viewers watching only to witness elite teams power their way to the crown.
6. Fortnite
Fortnite has somewhat fallen from its early esports hype, but that does not mean the game is over. The game is still in the process of making adjustments, and it has become a source of constant new content, like Fortnite and the pro players. Furthermore, 633,000 viewers were watching the Fortnite FNCS Pro-Am at its peak of popularity in 2025. This figure was a clear indication of the size of the esports industry.
Fortnite has definitely secured a spot in the latest developmental phase of esports as conveyed by the fact that Epic Games is giving a hefty amount of $7 million as the total prize money for this year's esports competitions.
7. Apex Legends
Apex Legends is a game that offers hero-based gameplay patterns mixed with the battle royale energy and in 2025, the game still manages to create the most exciting online environment by holding regular tournaments and having a very loyal player base. The Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) is still the highly competitive event in the battle royale genre and the 2020 edition marked its success by totaling a 5.7 million prize pool.
The game's complexity level and team player's dynamic organized systems make this game the center of attraction in the competition.
8. PUBG Mobile
The regular version of PUBG might not have been a hit in the esports world anymore, while PUBG Mobile is on the top and is especially thriving in two of the most powerful markets for mobile gaming - Asia and the Middle East. The game's 2025 big moment came when it was the highlight of the Esports World Cup - the elite of the elite who made it a great spectacle and gathered millions of the audience.
It is essential that the PUBG Mobile's competitive circle is well-kept, and its form on a mobile phone still allows it to be played by a large group of players. Furthermore, its mobile-friendly structure ensures a hurdle-free environment for the game's fans.
9. Honor of Kings
Honor of Kings is mainly known for its extensive supports among the Chinese community and now has spread its wings worldwide. The game, which is capital-backed by Tencent, features not only domestic leagues but also international events as well.
In the game, the quality and the depth of the tactics used are very high that it brings success in attracting the players, and the game is thus a global favorite in the world of competitive gaming in 2025. However, it is to be noted that the game is not free from some unexpected actions of the players.
10. Free Fire
To conclude, there is a game that refuses to leave the top lists of mobile esports - Free Fire. The Free Fire World Cup 2025 was a success, from the event's initial announcement to the grand finals, attracting millions of fans worldwide to watch the games and boasting a $1 million prize pool.
Garena is committed to the professional players' cause, so they maintain the game as the leader among the various daily degrees of esports tournaments that keep popping up here and there.