Thriving world of esports: Trending games, top countries and prize money

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The global audience is projected to exceed 640 million by 2025.

Leading games include Dota 2, Fortnite, CS, League of Legends, and Arena of Valor. China tops earnings with $289.1m, followed by the US with $268.3m and South Korea with $141.4m.

Soulbound.gg used Esports Earnings, Statista, and Speedrun.com data up to 2024. The analysis included top esports rankings by prize money, earnings per player, and a weighted average method (total earnings 25%, earnings per player 45%, top speedruns 20%, gamer territory share 10%). Rankings were based on game prize money and a weighted average for countries, with scores scaled from 10 to 95 for uniform comparison.

Key findings

1. Global distribution: In 2024, the top 100 esports games awarded $1.72bn to 131,543 players across 52,451 tournaments, showcasing extensive opportunities.
   
2. Top 5 games dominate: Dota 2, Fortnite, CS:GO, League of Legends, and Arena of Valor contributed $896.8m (52%) of the total prize money, highlighting their dominance.
   
3. Top esports countries: China leads with $289.1m, driven by Dota 2. The US follows with $268.3m, largely from Fortnite. South Korea ranks third with $141.4m, mainly from League of Legends.
   
4. Dota 2's impact: Dota 2 alone awarded $349.7m, over 20% of the global prize money, emphasizing its immense popularity.
   
5. High player participation: CS:GO has the highest number of players (16,441), followed by Fortnite (9,334), indicating their wide reach.
   
6. Mobile esports growth: PubG Mobile awarded $83.6m in 331 tournaments, reflecting its growing popularity. Combined with PubG, the total prize money is $145.4m.
   
7. Arena of Valor's remarkable earnings: Arena of Valor awarded $92.8m in just 175 tournaments, indicating significant prize pools.
   
8. New titles rising: Valorant and Apex Legends are rapidly gaining ground with $27.1m and $22.9m in prize money, respectively.
   

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1. Dota 2:

As of 2024, Dota 2 has awarded $349.7m in prize money through 1,903 tournaments, engaging 4,896 players. China is the top earner, securing over $84.8m. The game’s premier event, The International, is renowned for its massive prize pools.

2. Fortnite:

Fortnite has distributed $182.1m in prize money across 2,210 tournaments, involving 9,334 players. The United States leads in earnings with $47.7m. A key highlight is the Fortnite World Cup, a major event in the esports calendar.

3. Counter-Strike:

Global Offensive: CS:GO has awarded $162.4m through 6,984 tournaments, featuring 16,441 players. It has a strong presence in Russia and Denmark. Major tournaments include the ESL Pro League and Intel Extreme Masters.

4. League of Legends:

League of Legends has given out $109.9m in prize money from 2,959 tournaments, attracting 9,477 players. South Korea is the top earner with $36.6m. The annual World Championship is a significant event in the game’s competitive scene.

5. Arena of Valor:

Arena of Valor has awarded $92.8m across 175 tournaments, with 2,180 players participating. It is particularly popular in China and Southeast Asia, known for its high stakes and large prize pools.

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6. PubG Mobile:

PubG Mobile has distributed $83.6m in prize money through 331 tournaments, involving 4,200 players. It has strong player bases in India and Southeast Asia, continuing to grow in the mobile esports scene.

7. PubG:

PubG has awarded $61.8m in prize money from 624 tournaments, with 3,963 players competing. It is popular in North America and Europe and is known for its intense battle royale competitions.

8. Rainbow Six Siege:

Rainbow Six Siege has given out $46.1m in prize money across 566 tournaments, featuring 3,069 players. It has strong competitive scenes in Europe and North America, with major events like the Six Invitational.

9. StarCraft II:

StarCraft II has awarded $41.4m in prize money through 7,438 tournaments, involving 2,270 players. South Korea remains the dominant force in this game, known for its strategic depth and competitive longevity.

10. Rocket League:

Rocket League has distributed $38.4m in prize money from 4,164 tournaments, engaging 6,028 players. It is popular in North America and Europe, combining soccer and racing for a unique esports experience.

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1. China:

Leading in esports with $289.1m from 8,585 players in 4,620 tournaments. Dota 2 is the top game, contributing $84.8m. The top player is Wang "Ame" Chunyu with $4.1m. Strong government support and infrastructure fuel success.

2. United States:

$268.3m from 27,049 players in 21,365 tournaments. Fortnite leads with $47.7m. Kyle "Bugha" Giersdorf has earned $3.7m. The U.S. excels in various games and has 113,877 top speedrun records.

3. South Korea:

$141.4m from 5,732 players in 8,353 tournaments. League of Legends contributes $36.6m. Lee "Faker" Sang Hyeok leads with $1.6m. South Korea excels in StarCraft II and Overwatch, with 1,344 top speedrun records.

4. Russia:

$81.7m from 5,264 players in 8,541 tournaments. Dota 2 leads with $36.7m. Yaroslav "Miposhka" Naidenov has earned $5.7m. Strong presence in CS:GO and Fortnite, with 9,466 top speedrun records.

5. Brazil:

$59.9m from 5,179 players in 4,082 tournaments. CS:GO contributes $11.9m. Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo has earned $1.2m. Strong in Rainbow Six Siege and Free Fire, with 11,285 top speedrun records.

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6. Denmark:

$58.3m from 2,078 players in 5,724 tournaments. CS:GO leads with $23.1m. Johan "N0tail" Sundstein has earned $7.2m. Denmark excels in Fortnite, with 1,970 top speedrun records.

7. Sweden:

$53.4m from 3,191 players in 7,799 tournaments. Dota 2 contributes $17.2m. Ludwig "Zai" Wåhlberg has earned $4.3m. Strong in CS:GO and Fortnite, with 4,420 top speedrun records.

8. France:

$53.2m from 6,035 players in 9,525 tournaments. CS:GO leads with $9.8m. Sébastien "Ceb" Debs has earned $5.9m. Strong in Fortnite and Rocket League, with 14,303 top speedrun records.

9. Germany:

$47.8m from 6,404 players in 10,262 tournaments. Dota 2 contributes $11m. Kuro "KuroKy" Takhasomi has earned $5.3m. Strong in Fortnite and CS:GO, with 13,383 top speedrun records.

10. Canada:

$46.6m from 4,041 players in 9,068 tournaments. Fortnite leads with $8.5m. Artour "Arteezy" Babaev has earned $2.7m. Strong in CS:GO, Call of Duty, and Rocket League, with 2,321 top speedrun records.