So you want an esports team at your school? Well, what game are you going to play?
There are so many to choose from! Each with different hardware, player, and startup requirements. In this chapter, we’ll explore some of the major highschool esports to help you make a decision. In the end, the most important factor is finding a game everybody has a passion for!
Genre: Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA)
Hardware: PC
Players: 5 v 5
Description: League of Legends is a team-based strategy game where two teams of five powerful champions face off to destroy the other’s base. Choose from over 140 champions to make epic plays, secure kills, and take down towers as you battle your way to victory.
Required Skills: Teamwork, Economy & Itemization, Cooldown Management, Objective Control
Genre: Hero-Based First Person Shooter (FPS)
Hardware: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Players: 6 v 6
Description: Overwatch assigns players into two teams of six, with each player selecting from a roster of over 30 characters, known as “heroes”, each with a unique style of play that is divided into three general roles that fit their purpose. Players on a team work together to secure and defend control points on a map, or escort a payload across the map in a limited amount of time.
Required Skills: Teamwork, Mechanics, Cooldown Management, Objective Play
Genre: Percentage-Based Fighting Game
Hardware: Switch
Players: 1 v 1
Description: Controlling one of the various characters, players must use differing attacks to weaken their opponents and knock them out of an arena. Each player has a percentage meter which raises when they take damage, making them easier to launch in the air and out of the arena. Players have a set number of lives and must aim to be the last player standing.
Required Skills: Reaction Speed, Combos, Reading Opponents, Matchup Knowledge
Genre: Digital Collectible Card Game (CCG)
Hardware: PC, Mobile
Players: 1 v 1
Description: Turn-based card game between two opponents, using constructed decks of 30 cards along with a selected hero with a unique power. Players use their limited mana crystals to play abilities or summon minions to attack the opponent, with the goal of destroying the opponent’s hero.
Genre: Vehicular Soccer Video Game
Hardware: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Players: 1 v 1, 3 v 3
Description: Described as “soccer, but with rocket-powered cars”, Rocket League has up to four players assigned to each of the two teams, using rocket-powered vehicles to hit a ball into their opponent’s goal and score points over the course of a match.
Required Skills: Teamwork, Physics Manipulation, Ball Control
Genre: Multiplayer Battle Royale
Hardware: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Players: Solos and Duo Teams, 100 players per match
Description: Weaponless players airdrop from a “Battle Bus” that crosses the map. When they land, they must scavenge for weapons, items, and resources while trying to stay alive and eliminate other players. Over the course of a round, the “safe area” of the map shrinks down in size; players outside that threshold take damage and can be eliminated if they fail to quickly evacuate.
Required Skills: Mechanics, Awareness, Map Control, Resource Management
Genre: Sports Games
Hardware: PC (NBA Only), PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Players: FIFA: 1 v 1, Madden: 1 v 1, NBA 2K: 5 v 5, 3 v 3
Description: Digital form of your clasasic sports titles.
Required Skills: Sports Knowledge, Animation Manipulation, Teamwork, Ball Control