Up-and-coming esports games for 2022-2023

The esports market has never been in a better place. At the end of 2021, the industry was valued at more than $1 billion. Growth forecasts for the next couple of years look incredibly promising. By 2024, it’s thought the industry will be worth close to $1.7 billion. While more people than ever are discovering the delights of esports, the sector has been largely dominated by a few major titles. League of Legends has been a staple for more than a decade, while long-term audiences may be starting to tire of watching CSGO live.

Thankfully, as we move deeper into 2022 and beyond, a diverse range of new games are likely to penetrate the mainstream. Below, are some of the exciting esports games to watch out for in 2022 and 2023.

Halo Infinite

The Halo series has been a long-standing fixture of esports competitions for many years. Halo Infinite is the latest entry in the expanding franchise. As with previous entries in the franchise, it’s a first-person shooter that’s big on action.

Although there are no major departures from previous games, what sets Halo Infinite apart from its predecessors is its compatibility with the Xbox Series X. For many years, fans have been eagerly awaiting a next-generation Halo release. Once this one becomes a mainstay of the esports circuit, it’s almost certain to supplant previous games in the series as the Halo title of choice.

Diabotical

Diabotical started like as a Kickstarter campaign. After the GD Studio managed to secure crowdfunding, the game quickly became a reality. This is an imaginative take on the first-person arena genre, throwing many aspects of first-person shooter games into the mix for good measure.

Although it’s unlikely to replace Quake and Halo as the FSP of choice anytime soon, Diabotical has been developed with the esports sector in mind. It’s a game that lends itself well to competitive play, with almost as much thought paid to audience engagement as playing mechanics.

Gwent: The Witcher Card Game

Gwent: The Witcher Card Game could be a dream combination. For a start, it capitalises on the substantial appetite for the Witcher franchise. Furthermore, the game itself is free to download and play. Finally, it hitches onto the virtual trading card trend that shows no sign of subsiding.

Trading card games are becoming more commonplace in professional esports circles. This latest addition to the growing genre boasts all the hallmarks of a future favourite. The overall design and level of detail on display here are nothing short of extraordinary. Meanwhile, a substantial deck and engrossing gameplay mean players need to work hard to master a winning strategy.

Roller Champions

Although roller derby is incredibly popular in the United States, this contact sport is largely unheard of elsewhere in the world. As such, it’s no surprise that it hasn’t enjoyed much recognition by video games developers. This looks set to change with the release of Ubisoft’s Roller Champions.

This fast-paced game pits two teams of three players against each other. With this release, Ubisoft has assumed some artistic license. This isn’t supposed to be a realistic representation of the sport itself. Rather, with its high-octane gameplay and futuristic setting, it’s more akin to titles like Rocket League. Currently, it’s available to download for Switch, PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles. First-time players should have little trouble getting to grips with the basics. However, to succeed at Roller Champions, it’s necessary to put in considerable practice. Ubisoft has big plans for this title. Although it’s only just hit the market, the developer plans for this one to become a staple of professional esports tournaments across the world.

The editorial unit