By Sagar V. Mankar 
The world of competitive gaming continues to grow, with millions of euros up for grabs across various tournaments. Let’s dive into the most lucrative esports games of 2024, ranked by their total prize pools.
The Top Prize Winners
1. DOTA 2 (€21,822,233)
Standing tall at the top, DOTA 2 continues its reign as the most financially rewarding esports. While its current prize pool doesn’t match its record-breaking €38.5 million from The International 2021, it still holds an impressive distinction: the seven largest tournament prize pools in esports history all belong to DOTA 2.
2. Counter-Strike 2 (€21,815,464)
Following closely behind, Counter-Strike 2 has seen an impressive 10% increase in prize money since its launch in September. The transition from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive to this new platform hasn’t slowed its momentum in the competitive scene.
3. Honor of Kings (€19,809,141)
This Chinese MOBA game has made quite an impact since going global. After starting in Brazil in 2023, its worldwide release in 2024 quickly established it as a major player in the esports scene. In addition to the local tournament, its global publisher Level Infinite has announced $10 million for global esports expansion.
Strong Contenders
- PUBG Mobile (€15,630,973): The mobile version of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has accumulated an impressive €100 million in total prizes over six years.
- Fortnite (€12,834,117): Despite reducing its FNCS Global Championship prize pool by half, Epic Games’ battle royale remains a top earner.
- Rainbow Six Siege (€8,873,257): The tactical shooter has distributed over €50 million in prizes since its 2015 release.
Notable Mentions
- League of Legends (€8,873,257): While it’s the most-watched esports globally, its prize pool ranks lower than might be expected.
- Valorant (€8,594,191): Riot Games’ hero shooter maintains its position as a major competitive title.
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (€7,672,454): A newcomer to the top rankings, with its biggest tournament held in Saudi Arabia.
- PUBG: Battlegrounds (€6,692,128): The original battle royale has seen declining prize pools since its 2021 peak of €14.42 million.
Industry Insights
These numbers reveal interesting trends in competitive gaming:
- Mobile games like PUBG Mobile and MLBB are becoming increasingly important in esports
- Traditional PC titles like CS2 and DOTA 2 still command the highest prize pools
- New games can quickly rise to prominence with proper investment
- The most popular games don’t necessarily offer the biggest prizes
The esports industry continues to evolve, with prize pools reflecting both game popularity and publisher investment.
Note: All figures are based on Esports Charts’ report for 2024 and represent total prize money across all tournaments for each game.