Top 3 Rising Esports of 2020

With the events of the past year, having a majority of the world going on lockdown, putting a halt to sports everywhere.

21:12 04 September 2020

It was finally time for the masses to be shown in the world of eSports. Sports networks around the globe were strapped for content and turned to show off some of the highest level video game players around. Sky Sports and BT Sport showed live FIFA tournaments and the BBC aired Rocket League!

So, given the surge in viewership for eSports, what are the top 3 to look out for this year?

Number 1 - Rocket League

Number 2 - Valorant

Number 3 - Fall Guys?!

 

Let’s dig a little deeper and see why I think these are the eSports to look out for.

 

Rocket League

 

Rocket League by Psyonix is one of those games that most people have heard of but it seems it isn’t as popular as it deserves to be, however with the coverage of US tournaments on ESPN during Covid-lockdown having people like Landon Donovon on the panel? It’s sure to have gained the interest of many people. To play, Rocket League has a very steep learning curve, you’ll spend your first 2 weeks aimlessly driving in circles before it suddenly clicks and you’re away, making passes, scoring goals, blowing up the opponents. But to watch? I’ve watched MANY a tournament with my wife and kids, none of whom play the game but FULLY appreciate how insanely entertaining this game is. It appeals to such a wide audience and while I feel it’s been around for a while now, Rocket League is definitely on the way up! *psst* it’s also going free to play soon!

 

Valorant

 

Valorant from Riot Games is an FPS that feels to me like a mixture of CS:GO and Overwatch, heroes with individual tactical abilities with that gunplay feel of CS:GO. Valorant is ALWAYS near the top of the watch list on Twitch and betting sites and given its short life so far seems to show no sign of stopping. I personally have never played Valorant but given the sheer amount of people that share gameplay clips into my timeline I can ABSOLUTELY appreciate the insane skill these players have and with CS:GO being an ever-present eSport, I feel like the fact the gameplay is similar but with different characters for people to appreciate, Valorant will appeal to a wider audience than CS:GO and it’s this that makes me put it in the list of rising eSports for this year!

 

Fall Guys

 

Now wait up a second, I know what you’re thinking, Fall Guys?? Stubat, what are you thinking my man!? Hear me out, okay? Fall Guys is a super entertaining, hilariously fun, ADDICTIVE game that appeals to people of ALL ages. It has a huge player base given the fact it was given out for FREE on PS+ for August, there have already been tournaments held and it has such a huge audience on Twitch (currently 123k people watching 29/08/20). A lot of my friends are definitely casual gamers but all I see when I go online on my PS4 or Steam, “ currently playing Fall Guys”. IT IS EVERYWHERE AND EVERYONE LOVES IT. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that if the developers can support this game in the right way, maybe add in features for smaller local tournaments? This game can absolutely THRIVE as one of the most fun and accessible eSports of 2020.

 

Overview

 

So, that’s it, that’s my top 3 rising eSports of 2020. We have a wide range of game genres here that appeal to absolutely everybody, with Rocket League being a long runner with a new lease of life, Valorant being the new big thing in the FPS world and although some may think my number 3 slot is absolutely outrageous, all you have to do is look at the top watched games on Twitch and check out the buzz that Fall Guys is getting on social media, with companies LITERALLY in a bidding war to get the first custom/sponsored skin in the game, with that sort of hype around it I feel it’s a no brainer!

 

As gamers, what are your picks for the top rising eSports of 2020? Hit me up on twitter @Stubat_ and let me know, I’m keen to see your opinions, and don’t forget you can keep track of the eSports world on supanet.com.