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

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

osu! 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

The 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.