[AnimeGamer]

3 Best Esports Games to Watch 2024

In the modern age of gaming with the rise of websites such as YouTube and Twitch, it seems a new genre of gamers has been birthed. Those who were happy and content in watching other people play games. Due to this, a new market has opened up for game developers to target and it also incentivizes older game developers to change and match industry trends. Because of the way the current gaming and gaming hardware market is going many can only afford to watch other people play the games they like. A list of such games has been compiled below.


Table of Contents

1. Pokémon Scarlet / Violet
   
2. Eternal Return
   
3. Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel
   

Pokémon Scarlet / Violet

Figure 1-1. Pokémon Scarlet / Violet

Platforms: Nintendo Switch.

Starting the list we have the magnum opus of Nintendo the one series that single-handedly has the power to outlive the human race itself.  Yes, it is none other than Pokémon, Pokémon Scarlet, and Violet the latest entries into the series to be exact. It also seems Nintendo has taken the massive criticism they received from the previous entry and made some drastic changes to the core gameplay systems. For example now instead of fighting in a separate scene from the battle, you will simply send out your Pokémon into the overworld and have them duke it out with the rival Pokémon in their natural habitat. Not only does this add to the strategy of the battle as now the environmental effects are even more powerful, but it is also much cooler than fighting in a pocket dimension. But one thing I am sure many of you are wondering is how can Pokémon a turn-based game about monsters be fun to watch. Well, my dear reader Pokémon might seem a simple game at the surface, level but do not be fooled as it hides enough completxity to make even a League player think twice. From Pokémon stats and types to the move and its type and power Pokémon is made up of tiny complex mechanics that combine to create one of the most unique esports ever. And the second reason for people spectating the matches is that well, the sheer time commitment for esports in the series is off the charts. It also happens that Nintendo holds official esports matches with 5,000 in cash prizes, you can also watch the matches on the official YouTube and Twitch channels. So if you wish to witness your favorite childhood games be played at the national level then Scarlet and Violet are the games for you.

Figure 1-2. Pokémon Scarlet / Violet Tournaments

Eternal Return

Figure 2-1. Eternal Return

Platforms: GeForce Now and Microsoft Windows.

Now on the list, we have a game that has taken the Asian gaming community by storm in recent years. Developed by the Korean-based studio Nimble Neuron, the game is the perfect blend between high-stakes MOBA and the fast-paced thrill of the Battle Royale genre. You will have the option of picking from an ever-expanding roaming roaster of characters to play as, and after that, you will be dropped on the island either in pairs or solo with a singular purpose in mind to survive and to kill all enemies. Don’t let the flowers on the side fool you everything on the island is an enemy and will try to kill you. But do be warned for powers greater than mortal understating are at play here, and for them, the island is their playground. In terms of being a spectating esports, Eternal Return has the distinct advantage of being more fast-paced than the rest and it also features less side content and padding to ensure matching is fun to watch and play. It also happens that the game has multiple tournaments with 2000 dollars in cash prizes, you can also watch the matches on the official YouTube and Twitch channels. So if you wish to join an esports game that is slowly rising to compete with the industry giants then Eternal Return is the game for you.

Figure 2-2. Eternal Return Tournaments

Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel

Figure 3-1. Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel

Platforms: Switch, PlayStation, Android, iOS, Xbox, and Windows.

Last on the list we have a game that has slowly been taking over steam charts in every metric possible. And on top of that, it also happens to be one of the very few new good games from the iconic game developer Konami. It is none other than Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel, is the latest entry into the series of gaming adaptations and arguably one of if not the best card battle games to date. To understand why the game is great one first needs to understand the inner complexity of the game and how this adaptation solves the onboarding issue of the series due to those complexities. Yu-Gi-Oh! unlike Pokémon requires far more strategic thinking and learning of mechanics to enjoy fully, which has always been the reason why not many players leave only after playing one game. But Master Duel breaks down all the aspects of the game from the points systems to the card types in such a way that the players become immersed, leading to longer play times and higher commitment to the game series. And as for the spectating aspects of its esports, who doesn’t like seeing people duel and losers being sent to the shadow realm?  Also, did I mention Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel has multiple tournaments with 500 dollars in cash prizes, you can also watch the matches on the official YouTube and Twitch channels. So if you wish to experience a piece of nostalgia gaming from the 90s then this game is for you.

Figure 3-2. Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel Tournaments

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