11 esports games for 2026 Asian Games

Posted by: Yeans

Posted on: 12/03/2025

Video game competitions, or esports, have evolved from entertainment to professional competitions and are increasingly recognized on the global stage. One of the key turning points was when esports were officially included as a medal sport in the 2026 Asian Games, which demonstrates the growth of the gaming industry in international sports competitions.

Esports competition in the Asian Games

In the esports competition as the first official medal sport, it took place at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, which was postponed to 2023 due to the COVID-19 situation at that time. This was the first time esports were included as an official medal sport. There were a total of 7 games: Arena of Valor, Dota 2 Dream, Three Kingdoms 2, EA Sports FC Online (FIFA Online 4), League of Legends, PUBG Mobile, and Street Fighter V.

Previously, at the 2018 Asian Games hosted by Indonesia, esports were organized as a demonstration sport without official medal competitions. This was a significant step that led to the recognition of esports on the international sports competition stage.

11 esports games to be competed in the 2026 Asian Games

Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has announced the list of 11 esports games that will be contested for medals at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, as follows

Street Fighter

Street Fighter is a fighting game, a 1v1 combat game that allows players to choose fighters with various fighting styles. Developed and published by Capcom, it was released in 2023 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. There is a Drive Gauge system that helps players manage energy to use defensive and offensive techniques. The game features a World Tour mode that allows players to create characters and adventure in an Open-World. It supports both online and offline play, as well as global esports competitions.

Pokemon UNITE

Pokémon UNITE is a 5v5 competitive MOBA game where players must cooperate to catch Pokémon and score more points than the opposing team. The game features an easy-to-understand format without items or in-game currency like other MOBAs, focusing on skill and teamwork.

Honor of Kings

Honor of Kings (HoK) is a MOBA game developed by TiMi Studio Group and published by Tencent Games. It was first launched in China in 2015 and has become one of the most popular mobile MOBA games in China. Honor of Kings was used in the 2022 Asian Games under the name Arena of Valor (AoV), with a format similar to other MOBA games like League of Legends and Dota 2.

League of Legends

League of Legends (LoL) is a MOBA game developed and published by Riot Games. It was first released on October 27, 2009, and has become one of the most popular games in the world. There are professional leagues in several regions, such as LCK (Korea), LPL (China), LEC (Europe), LCS (North America), and global tournaments. League of Legends World Championship (LoL Worlds) has been selected as one of the official competitive games in the 2022 and 2026 Asian Games.

PUBG Mobile

PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds) is an online FPS Battle Royale game developed by PUBG Studios, featuring up to 100 players per match. Players must parachute onto the map, find weapons and equipment, and fight to survive. The game uses a Safe Zone system that gradually shrinks the area, forcing players to confront each other.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) is a MOBA game developed and published by Moonton. It is played in a 5v5 format, with the goal of destroying the opposing team's base (Nexus). The main map is called the Land of Dawn, and there are over 120 heroes to choose from, divided into six main roles: Tank, Fighter, Assassin, Mage, Marksman, and Support. It is one of the most popular esports games, especially in Southeast Asia, with global tournaments such as the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang World Championship (M World) and the Mobile Legends Professional League (MPL). It has also been selected as one of the games for the 2026 Asian Games.

Identity V

Identity V is an Asymmetrical Horror Survival game developed by NetEase Games, first released in 2018. The gameplay style is similar to Dead by Daylight, featuring a 4v1 format where 4 players are Survivors and 1 player is the Hunter. The goal of the Survivors is to solve puzzles to open the escape door from the map, while the Hunter must catch all the Survivors before they can escape. There are international competitions such as Identity V Call of the Abyss (COA) and Identity V Championship (IVC), and the game is also very popular in China and Japan.

Naraka: Bladepoint

Naraka: Bladepoint A Battle Royale game for 60 players, featuring melee combat as its highlight. It uses a Grappling Hook system for quick movement and climbing across the map. There are hero characters with unique skills, and players can choose from various weapons such as swords, spears, and bows. There are game modes for Solo, Duo, and 3-person Squad. There are international tournaments. Naraka: Bladepoint World Championship is a Battle Royale game that is unique compared to PUBG and Fortnite in that Naraka: Bladepoint focuses more on close combat rather than using firearms.

Gran Turismo 7

Gran Turismo 7 is a Racing Simulation game. You might recognize this name from movies as well. It is a racing game that offers a realistic experience, including car physics, racetracks, and weather systems. There are over 400 cars to choose from, featuring famous brands from around the world. It has been selected as an esports competition game for the 2026 Asian Games and hosts global tournaments like the Gran Turismo World Series, supported by the FIA. It is one of the most recognized racing games in the international esports community.

eFootball

eFootball is a football simulation game developed by Konami, originally named Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) before being renamed eFootball in 2021. It was selected as an esports competition game for the 2022 and 2026 Asian Games and features global leagues such as the eFootball Championship Pro and eFootball Open. It is one of the competitors to FIFA (EA Sports FC) in the football gaming industry.

Puyo Puyo Champions

Puyo Puyo Champions is a puzzle game developed by Sega and released in 2018. It has been selected as an esports competition game for the 2026 Asian Games and is one of the puzzle games with global competitive leagues, such as the Puyo Puyo Japan Championship. Players must align Puyos (colored balls) in groups of four or more to destroy them and create combos. There is a 1v1 competition system and it supports online multiplayer. There is a Tournament Mode designed for esports competitions.