Top 15 Esports Games by Prize Money in 2025
Last updated: Oct 20, 2025 YTD
Source: EsportsEarnings 2025 tracker (money awarded so far this calendar year).
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🥇 1) Counter-Strike 2 — $12.3M
The new king of consistency. Every IEM/Major = packed arenas, seven-figure stakes, and clip-worthy moments. If pros chase reliable paydays, they grind CS2.
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🥈 2) Dota 2 — $11.6M
Fewer events, fatter checks. Even without a record-breaking TI, Dota shows up with chunky purses—EWC’s Dota event alone paid $3M.
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🥉 3) Fortnite — $9.1M
Not just emotes. FNCS Global Championship dropped $2,001,000 (winners $450k), and constant regionals keep the cash flowing.
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4) Rocket League — $6.9M
Soccer with rocket cars = sponsor catnip. Worlds put up $1.2M; easy to watch, easy to hype, surprisingly lucrative.
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5) League of Legends — $5.3M
Prestige over quantity. Fewer events than shooters, but the stages (and checks) stay massive—EWC’s LoL event alone paid $2M.
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6) Apex Legends — $5.0M
Quietly top-tier with multiple million-dollar stops: ALGS Championship ($2M), Midseason Playoffs ($2M), and more.
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7) Mobile Legends: Bang Bang — $3.5M
SEA juggernaut. The Mid-Season Cup at EWC threw down $3M, with Team Liquid pocketing $1M. Mobile esports money is very real.
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8) PUBG Mobile — $2.3M
PC cooled; mobile prints. Especially strong across Asia and the Middle East, with EWC’s championship alone putting $2M on the line.
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9) Street Fighter 6 — $1.3M
FGC flagship. Fewer events than team esports, but six-figure Capcom Cup stakes + global circuits = legends can actually pay the bills.
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10) VALORANT — $1.28M
Style, drama, production. VALORANT Champions 2025 ran a $2.25M purse (winner $1M) — the scene’s big finisher.
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11) Free Fire — $1.0M
Quieter in the West; massive in LATAM/SEA with seven-figure events and diehard fanbases.
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12) Pokémon UNITE — $866k
Yes, the Pokémon MOBA. Worlds pays six figures and keeps Unite in the real competitive conversation.
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13) StarCraft II — $736k
The 1v1 classic refuses to fade. EWC SC2 handed Serral $200k for first — not bad for a 2010 launch title.
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14) Minecraft — $585k
Creator tournaments and charity showdowns quietly stack serious totals. Community-first events still win big.
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15) EA Sports FC 25 — $532k
The digital pitch keeps paying. EA FC Pro + regional leagues = steady prize money and huge global player bases.
Quick Takeaways
- Shooters rule: CS2 + VALORANT + Apex = 3 of the top 10.
- MOBAs print: LoL, Dota, MLBB (and even Pokémon UNITE) keep the genre’s money machine humming.
- Mobile is massive: MLBB, PUBG Mobile, Free Fire prove big esports don’t need big PCs.
- Old but gold: SC2 and Minecraft still cash checks thanks to prestige and creators.
Figures are YTD and update as more events finish. Totals reflect prize money awarded in 2025 so far.
How to Start Playing Smaller Tournaments (Quick Guide)
- Pick your lane: Commit to 1–2 games for 60–90 days (e.g., one team title like CS2/RL/Apex + one solo/duo like Fortnite/SF6/FC).
- Find brackets fast: PC/shooters on FACEIT, ESL Play, Challengermode; FGC/console locals on start.gg; calendars via Liquipedia.
- Start with opens: Look for low/no entry fees, clear rules (region, ping, anti-cheat). Aim for 2–3 online brackets/week.
- Build your core: Duo/trio (Fortnite/Apex/RL) or full stack (CS2/LoL). Practice 2x/week: aim & mechanics (30–45m), set plays (30m), VOD review (30m).
- Gear & settings: Stable 144+ Hz display, low input latency, graphics tuned for FPS > eye-candy, record POVs for review/recruitment.
- Climb smart: Stay in-region, track placements, and only travel to LANs once you’re placing top-8 online.
- Get IRL reps: Hit local monthlies (FGC/Smash/RL/FC). Bracket confidence + networking = faster improvement.
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