Top Esports Games to Watch in 2025

Posted by: Yeans

Posted on: 01/04/2025

Currently, e-sports and popular games are continuously evolving in terms of graphics, global competitions, and increasing audience engagement. E-sports have become more than just entertainment; they have transformed into significant platforms for competition, showcasing skills, and generating income. Let's take a look at which e-sports games are worth watching this year.

What is an esports game?

E-sport games are games that are developed and used for professional-level competitions, where players must use expertise and skills, similar to traditional sports competitions. Esports competitions range from amateur levels to world championships, covering various genres such as MOBA, FPS, Battle Royale, and more. With millions of viewers worldwide, it has become an increasingly popular entertainment industry every year.

In 2025, what popular games will be used in esports competitions? Let's take a look.

List of esports tournaments in 2025

Whether it's an FPS Games, MOBA, or Battle Royale game, each title has taken a step further in terms of prize money, larger competition stages, and the involvement of fans from around the world. For those who have been following or have just started to take an interest in esports, let's take a look together at the esports competitions this year that you shouldn't miss.

League of Legends

The famous MOBA game known to many as LOL, developed by Riot Games, where players control champions with unique abilities to team up with 5 players and battle on the Summoner’s Rift map. The highlights of the game are the variety of characters, gameplay strategies, and continuous content updates, making League of Legends one of the eSports games with global competitions.

Game genre: MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena)
Tournament: League of Legends World Championship 2025
Prize money: 5 million US dollars or approximately 169 million baht
Start of competition: October - November 2025

Dota 2

Dota 2, a game every gamer should know, is a 5v5 strategy game (MOBA) that requires skill, communication, and strategy. Importantly, Dota 2 is the game with the highest prize money in the world, especially the tournament The International, which offers millions of dollars in prize money every year.

Game genre: MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena)
Tournament: The International (TI)
Prize money: No announcement yet, estimated to be around 2 million US dollars or approximately 67 million baht.
Competition starts: September 4 – 14, 2025

Counter-Strike

Counter-Strike, or simply CS as many call it, is a first-person shooter game that has been a staple in the gaming industry for a long time. It can be considered a legend of the FPS genre, with many people having grown up playing this game. Counter-Strike 1.6 The fun of CS lies in planning, precise shooting, and teamwork. There are two sides: terrorists and counter-terrorists. Each round, they must complete missions such as defusing or planting bombs.

Game genre: FPS (First-Person Shooter)
Tournament: Valve Major Championships
Prize money: 1.2 million USD or approximately 42 million THB
Competition starts: June 2 – 22, 2025

Fortnite

Fortnite is a globally famous Battle Royale game with vibrant graphics that are easy to play but hide a brutal survival aspect. In the game, 100 players are dropped onto the same map, where they must find weapons, build structures, and fight until only one person remains. The cool thing about Fortnite is the combination of shooting and building, which requires quick thinking to fight against other players.

Game genre: Battle Royale
Tournament: FNCS Global Championship
Prize money: 8 million US dollars or approximately 271 million baht
Competition starts: September 6 – 7, 2025

PUBG Mobile

PUBG Mobile is a Battle Royale game on mobile that has gained worldwide popularity, especially in Southeast Asia, including Thailand. Its highlights include the game's realism, such as gun sounds, map visuals, and gameplay that requires survival skills, planning, and precise shooting. In the game, 100 players are sent into the battlefield and must find a way to be the last one standing.

In terms of esports, PUBG Mobile has major tournaments like the PUBG Mobile Global Championship (PMGC) and the PUBG Mobile Super League (PMSL) with prize pools worth millions of dollars, and there are always Thai teams competing at the global level.

Game genre: Battle Royale
Tournament: PUBG Mobile Global Championship 2025
Prize money: 3 million US dollars or approximately 101 million baht
Start of the competition: December

Arena of Valor (RoV)

Arena of Valor (RoV) is a mobile MOBA game that is very popular in Thailand and several other countries in Asia. Players are divided into two teams of five, battling on the same map. The objective is to destroy the towers and the main base of the opposing team. RoV stands out for its quick matches that last 15–20 minutes, and it also offers a variety of heroes to choose from, including tanks, mages, carries, assassins, etc. There are constant updates with new heroes and skins, making it never boring.

Game genre: MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena)
Tournament: Arena of Valor International Championship (AIC)
Prize money: Estimated at 1 million US dollars or approximately 33 million baht
Competition start: No announcement yet

Valorant

Valorant is an FPS game that combines strategy and character skills (Agent-based Tactical Shooter), developed by Riot Games. Many players who have tried it see it as a mix between CS:GO and Overwatch, featuring precise shooting along with unique skills for each character (Agent) that can change the game. Players are divided into two teams of five, with one team planting bombs and the other team defending against the bomb planting from the opposing side. The goal is to win 13 rounds first. Due to its fast-paced gameplay and numerous maps, it has become a very popular game.

Game genre: FPS (First-Person Shooter)
Tournament: VCT (Valorant Champions Tour)
Prize money: 2.2 million USD or approximately 76 million THB
Competition starts: September 12 – October 5, 2025