Best esports based off sports games

There are many different sports games in the video game industry, with these ranging from EA Sports FC to NBA2K to many others. The best esports games based on sports are not as popular as other genres of video games, however there is undoubtedly a growing scene based around these titles. Our guide to sports games in the esports industry, will run you through some of the key titles, how to bet on these esports and why this genre could end up dominating the landscape.

Full list of sports video games with professional esports tournaments

Esports, or competitive video gaming, has exploded in popularity over the last decade. One large subset of this industry is sports-based esports. Here are some of the best esports based on traditional sports:

• FIFA Series (EA Sports): This was a long-standing football (soccer) simulation series hosts numerous global tournaments annually. The game attempts to realistically depict the sport, making it a popular choice for fans of football. Its esports scene features competitions like the FIFA eWorld Cup. This EA series is now marketed EA Sports FC.
• Madden NFL Series (EA Sports): Madden mirrors American football and has a well-developed esports scene, particularly in the United States. The Madden Championship Series is the game’s premier competitive event, attracting many skilled players.
• EA Sports FC (EA Sports): Now the number 1 football, formerly known as FIFA, and the esports scene surrounding it is beginning to pop in 2025. Stand-by for a big announcement surrounding a major esports tournament and EA Sports FC.
• NBA 2K Series (2K Sports): This basketball simulation game has a dedicated following and its esports league, the NBA 2K League, is unique in that it’s directly run by a professional sports league (the NBA).
• Rocket League (Psyonix): Although Rocket League involves cars playing soccer, it’s still fundamentally based on a traditional sport. Its blend of driving and soccer mechanics, along with its exciting professional matches, make it a stand-out in the esports community.
• Pro Evolution Soccer Series (Konami): Although not as popular as FIFA, Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) – recently rebranded as eFootball – also has an active esports scene, with its competitive events organized under the eFootball.Pro banner. While not as big as FIFA, PES has definitely got fans in the esoccer scene.
• F1 Esports Series (Codemasters): Based on the real-world sport of Formula 1 racing, the F1 game series translates the high-speed thrills of this motorsport into a competitive esports format.
• iRacing (iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations): iRacing is a highly realistic racing game that appeals to fans of various motorsports, from NASCAR to sports car racing. The iRacing esports scene is quite active, with various tournaments that often feature professional real-world drivers.
• AFL 23 (Big Ant): While this title is largely restricted to Australia, because Aussie Rules is their national sports, there have been several esports events launched surrounding the game. While not having huge prizepools, the AFL is the no.1 watched sport in the country, which means AFL 23 will have a large fanbase to call on. Featuring all the real AFL players, decent gameplay and a perfect format for esports events.
• PGA 2K series (HB Studios): The “PGA Tour 2K” series is a golf simulation game developed by HB Studios and published by 2K Sports. Unlike other games, there isn’t a dedicated, developer-run esports league for PGA Tour 2K, like you might find with games like League of Legends or Overwatch. However, there are numerous online tournaments and competitions organized by the community or third-party organizers. The game aims to deliver a realistic golfing experience, featuring officially licensed PGA Tour professionals, courses, and gear. Its sophisticated gameplay and high degree of realism have made it popular among golf fans and gamers alike. Like many other sports simulation video games, “PGA Tour 2K” is conducive to competitive play, making it a good candidate for esports. This is particularly true given the rising interest in sports-based esports.

It’s important to note that the “best” esports game will depend on your individual interests. If you’re a big fan of a certain sport, you might enjoy the esports equivalent even if it’s not as popular on a global scale.

How to bet on sports video games

The best online betting sites will feature esports betting markets, although not all of the esports mentioned on this page will have big enough events to warrant wagering. For instance, FIFA esports has got a huge betting industry on their major events, like the FIFA World Cup, but smaller titles like AFL 23 or iRacing will have limited betting available.

The betting industry is rather large, with many countries now having their own regulated wagering industry. This includes esports betting sites in most cases, with this area of the wagering industry one of the biggest growth areas. Generally signing up at betting sites is straight-forward and involves filling in a digital form with your name, email, address and several other details. You will then be able to fund your account with various deposit methods, in many different currencies, while many of these esports betting operators will also have bonus offers and promotions.

Sports betting sites will have markets on things like who will win the esports event outright and even things like the MVP of an event. When match-day comes around you will then be able to access head to head markets, goal-scorer markets and many others. Essentially, you will be at the whims of the betting site you have signed up at, and the amount of detail they put into their markets.

Why sports games could be the future of esports

Sports are very popular all over the globe, which means sports esports have got a ready-made fanbase to draw upon. For instance, billions of people love football and it is a universal game. There is no reason that this won’t continue now that there is a digital version of it, with video games having the ability to connect, again using football, fans right around the globe and have them competing against each other.

You can picture it now, the top FIFA player from every country competing for a huge prizepool, and millions of people tuning in to watch online. What a great opportunity for marketers and sponsors to reach a young crowd. For reasons like this we can see sports esports outshining other esports genres like first-person shooters, which is handicapped by the fact that many parents don’t want their kids exposed to gratuitous violence.

So in summary, we think sports games have got the potential to become the no.1 esports pursuit.