Top 10 Esports Shooters
Esports has evolved from playing LAN tournaments in enclosed spaces to matches being hosted in huge arenas with thousands coming to watch their favorite teams compete.
Numerous games over the years have taken their place in the esports ecosystem. Each has dozens of teams and countless fans dedicated to their team and the game.
A lot of games have been consistent in their competitive turnouts and their viewership does not seem to be diminishing. These viewership numbers depends on the number of tournaments, prize pools, and the overall health of the game itself and its competitive scene. Almost any game that’s pulling in tens of thousands of viewers with its esports events is going to be a well-maintained and regularly updated competitive game, and today we’ve listed the top 10 esports shooters.
As an interesting sidenote, almost all of the currently popular esports shooters support NVIDIA Reflex, which is a latency-reducing technology meant to bring you even closer to the game. For this reason, we’ve analyzed and listed the performance of each game with the Reflex tech turned on versus Reflex off to see how much of a difference it really makes. If you want to learn more about Reflex, you can read our What is NVIDIA Reflex article.
10. Escape from Tarkov
$44.99 | Purchase Escape from Tarkov on the official website
Despite an official release date still pending, Escape from Tarkov is already entering esports with EFT: Arena. Combining the brutally realistic and punishing gameplay that EFT has become known for with PvPvE combat in the hidden arenas of Tarkov, the matches are organized by the secretive Masters and led by the Host.
Escape from Tarkov: Arena features 5 game modes and 7 challenging locations. Tactical gameplay and proper equipment will raise your chances of winning. You can play in any style including assault, sniper, or scout.
What’s interesting is that any skills, weapon mastery, or levels that you achieve in Arena will update in the main game as well. So be sure to try it if the realistic and challenging gameplay of EFT has impressed you and you want to try Escape from Tarkov competitively.
NVIDIA Reflex Performance
The game now has NVIDIA Reflex, which can reduce system latency by up to 38%. Enabling this can give you a much-needed edge over your opponent.
9. Rainbow Six Siege
$19.99 | Purchase Rainbow Six Siege on the Ubisoft Game Store
Rainbow Six Siege has made a significant name for itself in competitive scene, and why wouldn’t it? It features team-based tactical gameplay set in cramped spaces where perfect planning and execution win you rounds. Players take turns attacking and defending a location and have a large roster of operators with different abilities and gadgets to choose from. Knowing the maps and agent tricks on said maps is crucial, and Siege has a high skill ceiling, making it ideal for esports.
The Six Invitational is the largest tournament, taking place annually with a prize pool of $3 million and over 300,000 viewers. Other official events include the Six Majors, Six Minors, and the Rainbow Six Siege Pro League. There are third-party events as well hosted by ESL, FACEIT, Dreamhack, and Blast.
Siege fans are never left disappointed as they get to see what new and creative tactics their favorite teams employ.
NVIDIA Reflex Performance
When you play Rainbow Six Siege, be sure to enable Nvidia Reflex to get a 30% reduction in latency, gaining a competitive advantage in this close-quarters shooter.
8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
$69.99 | Purchase Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on Steam
Call of Duty is one of the original esports games, and the developers are once again taking the esports side seriously as they have set up a fully franchised Call of Duty League (CDL) where teams from all around the world will compete.
It will be composed of a regular season and the playoffs, where the winner of the playoffs will be the Champion.
Common players will also have access to the League and can secure a spot on it. So, if you want to step into the esports ecosystem, then Modern Warfare 2 is a great game to get into. Its esports presence is still maturing which will provide an effective chance to stand out in the league.
As for the gameplay, CoD doesn’t really need an introduction. It’s a super fast-paced shooter game with a very low time to kill, so your reflexes and aim will be of critical importance in CoD.
NVIDIA Reflex Performance
The fast-paced signature CoD gameplay is further complemented by the game’s support for Reflex. The latency can be cut down by up to 30% which is quite significant in a CoD game.
7. Call of Duty: Warzone 2
Free to Play | Download Call of Duty: Warzone 2 on Battle.net
The relatively new descendant of the original Warzone, CoD: Warzone 2 amps up the battle royale experience and adds new game modes as well. If you’re into battle royale gameplay and you love the fast-paced style of CoD then Warzone 2 is an ideal game for you.
The esports climate for Warzone 2 is relatively new right now and provides the perfect opportunity to get into the game.
The big events include the Call of Duty League World Series of Warzone, the ONE Esports New World Royale, and the EGL Clash of Clans World Championship.
With prize pools in the millions, Activision has come up with an amazing competitive ground for one of the most popular game genres.
NVIDIA Reflex Performance
You can be even quicker with the built-in Nvidia Reflex support in Warzone 2. Hitting those quick scopes or tracking an enemy through your FOV, you are bound to succeed up to 30% more with Reflex.
6. Overwatch 2
Free to Play | Download Overwatch 2 on Steam
Let’s be honest, Overwatch 2 didn’t stand up to its predecessor completely when it comes to overall hype levels. Still, many would argue that the game is nothing short of amazing and is, competitively speaking, in the best state it has been in for years.
While the Overwatch League isn’t what it used to be, Overwatch 2 is definitely still one of the prime competitive games out there, allowing you to sweat it out no matter your strengths. Contrary to other shooters, you don’t need pixel-perfect aim in order to shine in OW2. If your strengths lie in your ability to outplay the opponents, you could play as the tank, and if you like supporting you could do just that with a healing character.
This enticing mix of strategy and gameplay has convinced millions of people over the years to pick up the game, and now that it’s free to play it’s a great time to get into the competitive Overwatch world.
If you plan on being very serious, it’s good to know that there is a path-to-pro system, which enables players to compete in tournaments to be a part of the Overwatch League. So each player has a chance to be an OW2 pro and make it big if they have the skill.
NVIDIA Reflex Performance
If you’re struggling with frames, turning on NVIDIA Reflex will reduce latency by 60%. This can turn a losing battle into a winning one, to be honest. Newer NVIDIA GPUs are also crossing the 360 FPS mark on 1440p with Reflex enabled.
5. PUBG: Battlegrounds
Free to Play | Download PUBG: Battlegrounds on Steam
PUBG is one of the most popular battle royales in the world. No one can forget how it topped the Steam charts with the most active players when it launched. The player base experienced a huge hike with the launch of PUBG Mobile, bringing the highly successful battle royale to an even greater number of players.
The PC and Mobile versions have their own events and the turnout is huge. Tournaments take place in more than 100 countries.
The PUBG Global Championship is the most prestigious event with a prize pool of $2 million. Then there are regional events as well. PUBG is probably the most diverse esports game as players from multiple countries compete in the tournaments.
If you’d like to try a very competitive and brutally punishing (but very rewarding) battle royale game, PUBG is the place to be. Its realistic gameplay can lead to many frustrating moments, but the feeling of relief when you get that first winner winner chicken dinner is worth all the blood, sweat, and tears.
4. Fortnite
Free to Play | Download Fortnite on the Epic Games Store
Standing shoulder to shoulder with PUBG, Fortnite was the next battle royale after PUBG to garner global fame and acclaim, and Fortnite even managed to surpass PUBG. The freedom to build on the go made Fortnite really exciting to play, as it allowed people to outwit their opponents by building intricate structures in a matter of seconds. Players who don’t like the building aspect can also breathe a sigh of relief, as a no-build mode has been added some time ago and is definitely here to stay.
Fortnite Esports, the official competitive scene for the game, has two categories, namely Fortnite Competitive and Fortnite Creative. The game has its own World Cup, called the Fortnite World Cup. It has a whopping $30 million prize pool.
With numerous regional and unofficial events, the Fortnite esports scene is thriving, and with its very active developers and frequent updates, the game will keep feeling fresh for a very, very long time, so it’s worth investing your time in.
NVIDIA Reflex Performance
Fortnite supports NVIDIA Reflex as well to boost your response times by cutting down latency, especially at low framerates. You can get up to 36% lower latency which ensures you will never experience any delay.
3. Apex Legends
Free to Play | Download Apex Legends on Steam
A game that needs no introduction. Apex Legends dominated the battle royale world and became the fastest-growing battle royale and has over 100 million players now. Its unique spin on the battle royale genre, with players having to choose from a varied roster of different characters with their own abilities and skills, still manages to pull in hundreds of thousands of players every single day. If you like a character-based game with a focus on movement and tracking-style aiming, Apex Legends is a great game to pick up.
Apex has regional Pro Leagues, culminating in the Apex Legends Global Series, the highest level of the game’s esports. Then there are Masters events, the winners of which compete in the Champions, which is the world championship for Apex Legends. The Champions is the most prestigious annual event, having a massive prize pool and a very big following.
NVIDIA Reflex Performance
If you have an NVIDIA GPU 900 series or later, you can enjoy the benefits of Reflex as it will lower your latency by 27% providing an additional advantage.
2. VALORANT
Free to Play | Download VALORANT on the official website
VALORANT combined elements from some of the top competitive FPS games like CS:GO and Overwatch and by giving it a touch of their own, Riot turned it into a hugely successful game on its own.
The esports community grew rapidly, new teams started forming and in no time, VALORANT was being played in front of gigantic audiences.
The largest event is the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT), managed by Riot, and it had a $2.25 million prize pool in 2023. It is divided into three regions which have their own Challengers League.
The game is rapidly growing and the competitive scene is absolutely thriving.
NVIDIA Reflex Performance
With NVIDIA Reflex, you can have a perfectly lag-free experience on VALORANT, if your system is up to par of course. The latency gets reduced by almost 20% when you turn on Reflex.
1. Counter-Strike 2
Free to Play | Download Counter-Strike 2 on Steam
As the successor to CS:GO, CS2 is not a separate new game but rather a replacement. All the events, items, and teams will largely remain the same, adapting to the new game over time.
The new iteration of Counter-Strike will also feature NVIDIA Reflex. That means now you can get that millisecond advantage and snipe the enemy before they hit you.
The base gameplay largely remains the same and the maps will also be familiar to older players. The changes to the gameplay are mostly subtle, with a huge graphical overhaul being perhaps the most eye-catching difference.
One major difference between CS2 and CS:GO lies in the behavior of the smokes. The smoke system is completely new, and smokes now react dynamically to bullets or grenades, allowing for much more tactical diversity.
All in all, it is like the game we have grown to love. All your items, skins, cases, and progress will carry over to the new game. The ranking system has also been modified in favor of a more traditional ELO system.
Counter-Strike is without a doubt the game that many people think about when they hear the words ‘competitive shooter game’ and with this fresh new iteration it will likely remain that way for many, many years.
Related: CS2 Premier Mode Explained
Related: CS2 Ranks and the CS2 Rating System Explained
NVIDIA Reflex Performance
Currently, the implementation of Reflex in CS2 is a bit iffy, as some users have reported that enabling Reflex gives them input lag and stuttering. This is likely to get fixed in the (near) future though.
Conclusion – Top 10 Esports Shooters
Here wraps up our list of the best Esports shooters available right now. It’s imperative to know that you don’t need to be a pro to try out these games. You can follow the esports scene while you enjoy the game with your friends. Noobs can have fun too, right?
The list covers shooters with different genres, gameplay, and player bases, but they all have a strong esports ecosystem. So if you are into competitive gaming, be sure to try them out!
