By Sagar V. Mankar 
League of Legends maintained its crown as the most-watched esports game in 2024, leaving competitors far behind in total viewership hours.
According to Esports Charts, LoL recorded an astounding 749.6 million hours of watch time in 2024, nearly double the second-most-watched game, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB). It is a substantial 27% increase from the previous year.
The highlight of LoL’s success was the 2024 World Championship (Worlds 2024), which alone accounted for over 190 million hours watched. The grand finals, where T1 and the legendary Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok clinched their fifth title, peaked at 6.8 million concurrent viewers.
The top five most-watched esports games of 2024 were:
- League of Legends (749.6M hours)
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (475.8M hours)
- Counter-Strike 2 (434.5M hours)
- VALORANT (355.6M hours)
- Dota 2 (319.7M hours)
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
MLBB’s popularity in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, is the backbone of MLBB’s audience.
The MPL Indonesia Season 14 became its most popular regional event, peaking at over 4 million concurrent viewers. Despite a slight dip in its World Championship viewership, MLBB continues to thrive in its core regions.
Counter-Strike 2
Counter-Strike 2 saw a notable boost due to hosting two Majors in 2024:PGL Major Copenhagen and Perfect World Shanghai Major. While neither broke viewership records, the Shanghai Major marked a pivotal step for Counter-Strike in the Chinese market. Esports Charts exclude from Chinese streaming platforms, so the figures could be higher.
VALORANT Surpasses Dota 2
For the first time, VALORANT overtook Dota 2 to claim the fourth spot. Riot Games’ tactical shooter gained traction globally, particularly with the introduction of the VCT China League. The VCT Masters Madrid Grand Finals, featuring fan-favorite Sentinels, set a record with 1.6 million peak viewers. Riot’s regional circuits and the introduction of “Kickoff” events further boosted VALORANT’s viewership.
Dota 2 Adjusts to a New Ecosystem
Dota 2 slipped to fifth place with 319.7 million hours of watch time. The discontinuation of the Dota Pro Circuit and reliance on third-party events led to a transitional year. The community-driven approach may offer long-term potential, but 2024 marked a year of adjustment for this iconic esports title.
Sources: Esports Charts