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The most unusual forms of e-sports: a review of 10 disciplines

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What comes to mind when you hear the word “e-sports”: Dota 2, CS:GO, maybe League of Legends? But it’s not just about fighting for an ancient throne or taking out terrorists. The gaming scene has grown so much that unusual forms of e-sports are starting to catch the public’s attention, from Google Street View travel to office professionals competing for speed in Excel.

GeoGuessr: Traveling the world from home

GeoGuessr takes participants to random locations around the world via Google Street View. The task is simple but challenging: determine the exact location on a map by just looking at the surrounding panorama. In the world championship, players have to demonstrate their geography skills as best as possible. Rainbolt, one of the game’s most famous professionals, impresses with his ability to determine where a certain object is located literally in a matter of seconds. Thanks to this incredible spectacle, an unusual cybersport like GeoGuessr has received its deserved share of attention.

Microsoft Excel: Office Battles for Speed

Have you ever heard of Excel Championships? Yes, yes, the seemingly boring spreadsheet program becomes a real testing ground for office battles. Participants solve tasks ranging from complex calculations to creating huge formulas, competing for speed. These competitions require skills similar to those of classic cyber sports: precision, knowledge of the program’s subtleties and immediate reaction. By turning office software into a cyber competition arena, Excel becomes a truly interesting discipline that breaks with conventional ideas about what a “game” is.

Turbo Racing League: Snails at the Start

Can you imagine a snail race? In honor of the release of the animated film Turbo, DreamWorks launched the Turbo Racing League in 2013, in which users control snails in dynamic races. The tournament, with an impressive prize pool of $250,000, attracted players from all over the world, making this fun discipline part of an unusual cyber sport. Does that sound absurd? But it is precisely the kind of eccentricity that is missing from traditional competitions.

Farming Simulator League: Virtual farmers in action

When e-sports and agriculture meet, an unusual type of game is born: Farming Simulator League. Teams of three compete to harvest the crop within a limited time. They choose the right equipment, drive the virtual tractors and use all the functions of the simulation. It is not just about the harvest, but also about teamwork, because in this discipline it is important to plan ahead and work together.

osu: rhythm in every movement

GeoGuessr: Traveling the world from homeosu! has won the love of millions of people. Participants control the cursor, try to keep up with the music and perform incredible precision moves. The osu! world championships attract both professionals and beginners with their spectacular and fast sessions. Reaction, coordination and musical hearing are the main tools of the users. Rhythm games have always been a great way to practice, but osu! has turned them into a real cybersport spectacle.

Shrek SuperSlam: fairytale hero fights

When we talk about fighting games, few people think of Shrek SuperSlam, a game based on the universe of Shrek. But this particular project has become iconic thanks to its humor and unexpected characters. The competition took place at the annual Shrekfest festival, where participants demonstrated their skills with the fairytale characters. These fighting games not only offer the opportunity to fight in the arena, but also to experience all the “fairytale” skills of the characters, adding humor and lightness to the proceedings.

VR Esports: Immersive Virtual Battles

The world of VR Esports immerses players in stories with virtual reality headsets. Teams compete in shooters or sports simulators, such as big tennis, while being fully immersed in the game. There is no room for passive observation: users actively interact with the environment. These unusual cybersport competitions are held all over the world and attract spectators who are eager to see how virtual reality becomes a real battle.

Puyo Puyo: Fast Arcade Puzzles

Puyo Puyo is a simple arcade game in which you have to match balls by color to make them disappear and score points. At the professional level, however, it becomes an exciting spectacle. Participants compete with speed and strategy to make combinations and make their opponents disappear. The puzzle requires not only fast hands, but also a thoughtful approach, which makes it interesting for both spectators and players.

Shaq Fu: The Basketball Player Against Evil

In Shaq Fu, basketball player Shaquille O’Neal fights demons and other evil forces in another dimension. Despite mixed reviews, the concept has found its fans and has become cult entertainment for people who like unusual combinations of genres. The Shaq Fu cybersport competition has become an event for fans of the extraordinary and has shown that there are no limits to imagination in cybersports.

Cycling Esports: Cycling in the Virtual World

In Cycling Esports, users compete on bicycle machines connected to a virtual circuit. World championships bring together the best cyclists, who show not only their physical condition, but also their tactical skills. Real loads, virtual climbs and descents and high competition make this type of cybersport truly unusual and exciting. The project clearly shows how physical activity and virtual competition can be combined.

Unusual Cybersports: Conclusion

Shrek SuperSlam: fairytale hero fightsThe world of esports is not limited to classic games and well-known disciplines. Unusual forms of esports are expanding the ideas of what the basis of a game can be. From Excel battles in the office to virtual farmers, all these disciplines prove that virtual reality can be versatile, interesting and unpredictable. So the next time you hear the word “cybersport” remember: it’s not just about challenging shooters, but also about snails, dancing and even the infamous Excel spreadsheets.

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Valorant immerses players in a dynamic space where every second affects the outcome of the round. Beginners are confronted with dozens of mechanics at once: shooting, economics, team coordination, micro-positions, and working with abilities. To simplify the journey, it is important to choose the right character. The best Valorant agents for beginners are not the most spectacular ones, but those who help you understand the mechanics of the map, team movement, and the essence of interaction.

Why choosing an agent is critical for beginners

Every agent decision affects your perception of the game. A bad start can form bad habits: aggression without information, pushing without cover, pointless trades. The best Valorant agents for beginners allow you to focus on the basics — position, aim, synchronisation with teammates — while contributing to the overall strategy.

Signs of a suitable hero:

  1. Simple, intuitive abilities without the need for micromanagement.
  2. The ability to influence the game in any round (not just with an ultimate).
  3. Supporting the team through control, reconnaissance, or healing.
  4. No dependence on precise timing coordination.

Role categories: how to choose the best Valorant agent for a beginner

Before choosing, it is important to understand how roles work in the game. The best Valorant agents for beginners are usually classes with simple functions and consistent usefulness regardless of the player’s level.

Types of roles:

  1. Duellist — initiates, makes first contact, requires accurate shooting and an understanding of risks.
  2. Controller — limits visibility, cuts off space, provides a safe exit.
  3. Initiator — reveals positions, gives teammates information, plays through reconnaissance.
  4. Guardian — defends, holds the zone, works through traps and slowdowns.

Starting five: universal solutions

The best Valorant agents for beginners, which simplify entry, develop game thinking and minimise mistakes:

Sage (guardian). Access to healing, resurrection, wall creation, and slowdown zones. Suitable for developing team play, space management, and point control. Does not require perfect reactions, compensates for allies’ mistakes.

Brimstone (controller). Smoke screen falls exactly on the mini-map. Minimum mechanical actions — maximum map control. Ultimate blocks the bomb, blocks passages. Allows beginners to focus on positioning.

Killjoy (guard). Trap, turret, slowing pulse. The game is built around defence. The turret provides information. Strong positional play. Ideal for learning the principles of defence and space control.

Skye (initiator). Has reconnaissance, healing and flashes. Has a flexible set, but requires moderate coordination. Forms a habit in newbies to keep an eye on allies and open rounds through information.

Phoenix (duellist). Simple abilities: flash, wall, self-heal. Ideal for players who want to develop aggression without getting lost in complex combinations. Mistakes are forgiven, style is active.

Principles of interaction: how abilities work for the team

The best Valorant agents for beginners are revealed not through individual actions, but through their contribution to the overall game advantage. Each round requires not a hero, but a link in the system. Abilities in Valorant enhance teamplay, control the map, and create opportunities for capture, defence, or interception. It is a mistake to view abilities as a replacement for weapons. The correct approach is to use them as a coordination mechanism.

The impact of abilities on the outcome of a round:

  1. Control zone. Abilities create virtual boundaries. Walls or smoke reshape the map, restrict passageways, and force the enemy to change their route.
  2. Time frame. Even a single second gained by slowing down or distracting the enemy can decide the outcome. Abilities control time: they force the enemy to wait and delay their planned actions.
  3. Information. Reconnaissance is the basis of strategy. Blinding, sound, pinging, and voice contact with an agent all work as a data collection system.
  4. Distracting attention. The presence of a trap, turret, drone, or clone forces the enemy to be distracted, reducing their accuracy or slowing their movement.

Scenario applications:

  1. Holding a point — Killjoy sets up a turret and trap, the enemy slows down, loses momentum, and allies take up positions.
  2. Entering the point — Brimstone covers two shots with smoke, Skye launches a flashbang, and the team enters without taking damage.
  3. Counter-initiative — Sage blocks the push with a wall, slowing down the enemy’s rhythm, causing them to retreat and leave space.
  4. Retake — Phoenix launches a flashbang, attracting attention, while a second player comes out from the rear.
  5. Fake and distraction — Smoke and a turret at one point create the appearance of an approach, while the team works on the other side.

Mistakes in mastering: typical beginner traps

Even the best Valorant agents are useless to a beginner if the player ignores the context of the battle. Each hero has a set of actions that requires a precise understanding of the situation. The main mistake is trying to play as an individual shooter, forgetting about the collective task.

Aggressive style in unsuitable roles

A beginner takes on a duelist, does not know how to retreat in time, does not wait for support, and pushes forward as if competing in a kill race. This approach forms a bad habit — ignoring the macro game. Even an agent with an aggressive profile requires conscious movement, synchronisation with flashes, and knowledge of economics.

Mechanical use of abilities

Sage puts up a wall simply because the round has started. Killjoy places a turret in the first place that comes to mind. Phoenix throws a flash without checking the angle. All of these are chaotic actions without understanding the goal. The ability to use abilities for a specific task is a skill that can only be developed with a conscious approach.

Inattention to the mini-map and sounds

The map constantly transmits information: pings, sound waves, ally movements. The best Valorant agents for beginners only realise their potential when the player reads the space. Who is pushing, who is waiting, who is staying in the back — all of this is visible. Ignoring information turns even a strong agent into a zero.

Refusal to play a support role

Many beginners find support boring. They prefer to shoot rather than heal or set traps. This leads to an imbalance: the team ends up with four duelists without smoke, without heals, without control. The result is failed attacks, loss of initiative, and failure to hold points.

How to minimise mistakes: the gradual learning method

The best Valorant agents for beginners involve step-by-step training. Mistakes are inevitable, but with the right learning structure, they turn into lessons.

Stages:

  1. Focus on one role — the beginner chooses an agent and plays at least 20 matches in a row, tracking each use of the ability.
  2. Analyse usage — after each game, analyse which abilities worked, which didn’t, and why.
  3. Move on to reading the map — the agent stays the same, but the focus shifts to the map: where to place, when, and how not to interfere with allies.
  4. Communication with the team — the player learns to coordinate abilities: ‘I’ll give smoke in 3 seconds’, ‘I’ll cover the right side’, ‘I’ll heal after the engagement’.
  5. Combos with others — the next stage is synchronisation: flash + pass, heal + trade, turret + angle.

How to choose the best Valorant agent for a beginner

The best Valorant agents for beginners work not for effect, but for progress. They teach you to observe, understand, and feel the map and the pace. The heroes don’t require highlights, but they provide the foundation on which the entire competitive structure of the shooter is built. The right choice accelerates growth, eliminates burnout, and turns an ordinary roller coaster into a platform for learning.

The world of eSports is a place where some rise and some fall. The third quarter of 2024 was a real battleground for popular eSports games: which ones made it to the top, and which ones merely tried to catch up with the frontrunners? We have compiled a top 10 of the most watched and exciting projects that attracted millions of viewers around the world. Let’s delve into the unique features of each project and understand what made them so appealing.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is the king of mobile eSports

The East-West Cup 2024 (EWC) tournament reaffirmed Mobile Legends’ status as the best mobile game of the year. With more than 2.38 million viewers during the finals, the EWC set a new bar for mobile eSports. The importance of this tournament lies not only in the number of fans, but also in the participation of the world’s best teams, such as Blacklist International and RRQ Hoshi.

Community and team

The Mobile Legends community is made up of true strategists who live the game. The developers continue to support members with regular patches and events, creating an atmosphere where everyone feels part of a big and important world. Professional teams host regular broadcasts and masterclasses, further engaging fans and growing the popular eSports game.

League of Legends: the immortal leader of the moba genre

The LCK Regional Finals 2024 tournament was another major event that attracted 1.82 million viewers worldwide. Riot Games has consistently focused on League of Legends by championing the growth of the eSports ecosystem, and the LCK was a great example of how the project can grow through regular big games.

In 2024, prize pools for major eSports tournaments such as Worlds and LCK totalled over $10 million, attracting both new and experienced players. This keeps League of Legends in the spotlight and makes it one of the top eSports games.

Dota 2: the champion of strategy

The International is an icon among competitors. eSports prize money reached another record $40 million. More than 1.52 million people watched the final matches, where not only victory was at stake, but also the history of an entire generation of gamers.

Community and fan loyalty

Dota 2 is a community that needs no further introduction. The game has been a favourite of millions of people for years, thanks to its depth and complexity. You can’t rely on luck: only calculation, teamwork and flawless execution of strategies lead to victory. This makes Dota 2 one of the most lucrative e-sports games.

The secret of its continued popularity

Many popular eSports games come and go, but Dota 2 endures because of its unique balance of difficulty and opportunities for individual exploitation. Each game is different from the last and the next strategy requires a subtle approach.

Valorant: young blood

The Valorant Champions 2024 tournament proved that the project has a place among the leaders in its own right. More than 1.41 million viewers followed the final, in which teams from North America and Europe performed on a global level. Riot Games actively supports the concept, adding new maps and agents and organising spectacular battles.

Breaking through and reaching new audiences

Valorant is characterised by its accessibility for beginners and its great potential for professional players. Its unique blend of tactics and action attracts many players from other shooters, such as CS and Overwatch. The high level of support and competitive events make Valorant one of the most popular eSports games.

Counter-Strike 2: A new chapter in the legend

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is the king of mobile eSportsThe IEM Cologne 2024 tournament attracted 1.05 million viewers, confirming that interest in Counter-Strike 2 is not waning. The transition to the updated engine breathed new life into the game, making it even more attractive for spectators and participants. A new lightning-fast shooting animation system added depth and realism to the gameplay, while improved weapon models now take into account more detailed ballistics.

Fortnite: a battle royale with a unique style

The FNCS 2024 Global Championship was a huge event for Fortnite, attracting more than 809,000 spectators. The championship brought a new wave of popularity to the project and proved that battle royale is still at the forefront. Fortnite appeals not only for its gameplay, but also for its ability to express itself. Constant collaborations with global brands, concerts and events make the concept stand out among popular e-sports games.

Arena of Valor: a Chinese mafia classic

Arena of Valor eSports tournaments continue to attract attention, reaching a peak of 699,000 spectators during the 2024 AoV Premier League. The participation of Asia’s best teams makes for spectacular matches and demonstrates the high level of professionalism of the players. The project offers fast-paced matches, in-depth strategy and heroes that create unique gameplay. AoV’s popularity in the East is due to the game’s adaptation to local preferences and cultural idiosyncrasies.

PUBG Mobile: the living legend of mobile Battle Royale

The World Cup tournament attracted more than 566,000 viewers and confirmed PUBG Mobile’s status as one of the most popular mobile e-sports games. The project appeals to users with its large-scale competitions, such as the PUBG Mobile World Cup, and the variety of maps, each of which requires a unique approach and strategy.

PUBG: Battlegrounds: Battle Royale on PC

PUBG: Battlegrounds, like the classic version of PUBG, attracted an audience of more than 510,000 viewers for the 2024 Nations Cup. The event was a milestone for players who wanted to showcase their skills in the original version of the popular concept. The tournament brought together teams from all over the world, including favourites from South Korea and Russia. As such, the PUBG Nations Cup was a real treat for Battle Royale fans and the match finals were incredibly exciting and full of tactical manoeuvring.

Battlegrounds Mobile India: the Indian market leader

The BMPS Pro Series attracted over 493,000 spectators and made Battlegrounds Mobile India a staple of eSports in India. The tournament has become the premier event for local participants, allowing teams like Team SouL and GodLike Esports to showcase their skills on the big stage. Regular updates, improved localisation and events to celebrate national holidays make BM India particularly appealing to the local market, keeping it one of the most popular eSports games among locals.

Conclusion

Fortnite: a battle royale with a unique styleThe third quarter of 2024 has shown that popular eSports games continue to surprise and attract new viewers. Each has unique features and is set to offer players something special. We continue to keep an eye on their development and look forward to new tournaments that will set the standard for all eSports in the future.