UPCOMING ESPORTS GAMES: It’s an ever-evolving industry, and you never know what upcoming competitive game will make it big in esports. There’s a horizon out there that never stops stretching onwards, and all the time, new games are surfacing that are positively bursting at the seams with competitive potential. This breakdown looks at the best upcoming esports games that could explode onto the scene through 2024 and beyond.
There are some top-tier titles on this list that you might be familiar with. For some other, quieter games, it may be the first time you’re being made aware of their existence. Every game on this list boasts the potential to be an esports game followed by thousands of fans – but when it comes down to it, which of them can be classed as the best upcoming esports game?
UPCOMING ESPORTS GAMES: THE FINALS (OUT NOW)
UPCOMING ESPORTS GAMES: The Finals was shadow-dropped by Embark Studios on December 8, 2023. It’s a high-octane, fast-paced, and destructive team shooter with hero elements and unparalleled verticality. It has proven to be hugely popular, racking up hundreds of thousands of players from the moment it went live. It has a solid foundation and the base concept of the game marks it as one of the best upcoming esports games in the business. The Finals literally is a spectator-themed game, with each map being housed inside a stadium.
ESCAPE FROM TARKOV ARENA (DECEMBER 2023)
UPCOMING ESPORTS GAMES: Escape From Tarkov Arena is an all-new, standalone game from Battlestate, and it fits neatly into the Tarkov universe. Since 2016, Escape From Tarkov has been regarded as the best extraction shooter on the market. Boasting near-milsim mechanics, large maps, intense combat, and a staggering amount of quests, Tarkov is the cream of the crop in that respect. However, Tarkov Arena is a brand-new game that features session-based, team-oriented modes akin to those found in any competitive esports game.
RAINBOW SIX MOBILE (2024)
UPCOMING ESPORTS GAMES: Rainbow Six Mobile is set to be one of the best free-to-play, mobile-based esports games in the industry. It has the backing of Ubisoft and boasts the legendary name, ‘Rainbow Six’. That’s enough for starters, but it’s important to also bear in mind that Rainbow Six Siege, the current main game in the series, has been a solid and successful esports title for several years. Rainbow Six Mobile uses many of the same mechanics as Siege, but at present, it’s not yet known when it’s going to be released globally.
VALORANT MOBILE (2024)
UPCOMING ESPORTS GAMES: VALORANT Mobile is being tested in certain regions as we speak, and it’s due to be released towards the end of 2024. It looks like there will be some brand new features to this version of the game. This ambitious mobile endeavor from Riot Games ports one of the most successful esports titles ever to handheld devices. It opens up an entirely new market for VALORANT, which has been a seriously stupendous competitor to Counter-Strike since it was released back in 2020. It’s still the new kid on the block, but VALORANT is fast becoming one of the highest-rated esports games ever.
TEKKEN 8 (JANUARY 2024)
UPCOMING ESPORTS GAMES: Fighting fans, rejoice – Tekken 8 is being released on January 26, 2024, bringing another generation of the fantastic and legendary fighting game into the light. It has been a busy year in 2023 for fighting games with the release of a new Mortal Kombat and a new Street Fighter game, but these developers aren’t done yet. In January, Tekken 8 will be released with updated hardware requirements, satisfying fighting game fans by completing this trinity of titles.
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STORMGATE (2024)
UPCOMING ESPORTS GAMES: Stormgate is an all-new RTS game that is set to challenge the paradigm established by the likes of StarCraft and Age of Empires. It’s being developed by Frost Giant Studios in Unreal 5 and is being published exclusively on PC at some point in 2024. With various game modes, an ‘ever-evolving campaign’, and a tagline that stresses it’s the ‘future of RTS’, Stormgate is promising big things that could revitalise this genre in the esports scene. It’s easily one of the best upcoming esports games in 2024.
PUBG: BLACK BUDGET (2024)
PUBG’s creator is diving into the world of extraction shooters with ‘Black Budget’. This is the project name for an all-new title under the KRAFTON banner. This game is shrouded in mystery at the moment. But it’s expected to be released in some way towards the end of 2024. It’s a highly anticipated game, and if there’s one thing that KRAFTON does well, it’s an esports game. PUBG essentially spearheaded the battle royale genre, and it could easily capitalise on the popularity of extraction shooter-based games.
FOAMSTARS (2024)
Foamstars is PlayStation’s take on Splatoon, a beloved Nintendo title that sees characters fight with ink. In Foamstars, the ink is replaced with… Well, foam. But it’s the same concept and even some of the game modes look reminiscent of those found in Splatoon. It’s being developed by Toylogic, the creator of Happy Wars, Warlander, and Nier Replicant. Currently, it’s expected to be released in 2024. This light-hearted game won’t move mountains in the esports industry, but it’s a great introductory game for young players.
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