Battlerite
Imagine a MOBA that was all fighting all the time. No minions to last hit, no towers to destroy, and no jungle filled with monsters to get gold from. This is how Battlerite is, a game that pits teams of two or three against each other in a fight to the death. Boasting 21 playable champions with their own distinct moves and styles of play, this title has a lot of esports potential based on its simplicity. Boiling down the traditionally drawn out games seen in other MOBAs like League of Legends or DOTA 2 to short bursts of action would be perfect for an esports setting with spectators.
Many fans of more traditional MOBAs will tell you that “teamfights” are the most intense parts of matches, so giving the community a game that is only player vs player combat is a no-brainer. Perhaps having each game between two teams can be best of three or five, with how fast-paced each individual matches tend to be.
This post was originally authored by Ian Gibson.
Paragon
This third person MOBA from the developers at Epic Games already has a great following as it is currently free to play. At the time of writing this feature, there are 35 characters to play along with the promise from the developers that there will be a new hero added every three weeks. Paragon has a high potential to break into the esports scene with its largely undefined meta and third person perspective.
With this undefined meta, the door is wide open for pro players to play the game however they want to, giving a lot of variety of what could be done in the confines of the match. Being put on a big stage will allow the professional players to define the meta for a game, or make their own personal one, which will make matches hard to predict with the athletes trying out the options given to them by a totally new game.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
This juggernaut came out of nowhere when it was released earlier this year, selling four million copies in a matter of months. Regardless of the current popularity of the title, Battlegrounds has humongous potential to be an esports phenomenon. One of the primary reasons why PUBG took over the Steam player charts is its focus on a tactical style of play when compared to its competitors in the newly expanding battle royale genre. Making tactical decisions on the fly is something that will challenge professional players of this game given the unpredictable nature of the shifting area of play. Currently there is an official ESL league being formed for the game with big names such as TSM putting together teams. At this time there have been no tournaments or events, but we will soon be able to see if the success with sales will translate into successful competitions.
Super Mario Maker
Okay so hear me out here, I understand that this probably isn’t a game that you expected to see on a list like this, but just indulge me. The Super Mario Maker community has been booming as of late, getting exposure recently with SDGQ, a charity event on Twitch put on by speed runners. So the audience is there, and along with the depth of the level customization for creating levels, there is a lot of potential for event coordinators to construct their own courses. Streamers of the game have also held their own competitions on “kaizo levels,” which are known for their insane difficulty. These streams have attracted thousands of viewers to cheer on their favorite streamer will emerge victorious. Whether it be a head to head race or a time trial, seeing the best speed runners attempting very difficult levels for the first time with the goal of jumping on the flag first would be something I could see becoming a great esport.
LawBreakers
With an open beta recently coming to an end and with a release date of August 8, this first person shooter will be one to watch when it comes to the esports scene. With a variety of characters to play, each with their own unique abilities to use along with objective based game modes, LawBreakers definitely has the potential to be a breakthrough success with its gravity bending combat and unique personality. The previously mentioned zero gravity combat is more than just a gimmick, but a vital gameplay element filled with its own tactics to utilize correctly, including shooting behind you to propel yourself through the environment. Coming from developers who first helped mold the Gears of War franchise, which also has its own success being an esport, this title comes with a well-earned pedigree in the shooter genre.
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