Most Popular Competitive Games in South East Asia

In 2024 competitive gaming in Southeast Asia continues to thrive with several titles reaching millions of players. From furious MOBAs to explosive first-person shooters, these are the top competitive games in Southeast Asia this year.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Counter-Strike is an excellent illustration of the way you could not go wrong with the classics. Global Offensive still has a strong following 10 years after its original release. Pro-CS: The tactical first-person shooter is an esports staple, with professional CS: GO competitions attracting a huge audience in Southeast Asia.

LAN cafes packed with aspiring pros dueling over hostage scenarios and bomb defusion rounds are a common sight in countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand. CS: GO’s established esports ecosystem and competitive integrity make it an enduring fan favorite.

Overwatch 2

Overwatch 2 has found its feet in the Southeast Asian market in 2024 after a bumpy launch stretch in 2022. The vibrant hero shooter’s diverse roster of characters and abilities provides an appealing competitive experience.

Regular content updates from Blizzard have kept Overwatch 2’s gameplay fresh, while its Overwatch League esports circuit has spawned fervent hometown fans rallying behind teams across the region. The Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand tout particularly passionate Overwatch communities.

Arena of Fury

In 2023, Arena of Fury exploded as Southeast Asia’s first blockbuster competitive game IP to achieve global prominence. The 5v5 hero shooter from Singapore’s Zeplin Games pays homage to Counter-Strike and Valorant with precise gunplay but innovates with a unique melee combat twist that allows for seamless transitions into close-quarters brawls. 

Arena of Fury’s fast-paced gameplay and eye-catching art style fueled its rapid rise from a hit across Southeast Asian scenes like Indonesia and Vietnam to an international phenomenon. Kuala Lumpur’s first world championship brought the sport to its pinnacle with over 100,000 fans watching its first world champions win.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang

 

Mobile Legends competitive gaming remains the most popular mobile game in Southeast Asia. The multiplayer online fighting arena (or MOBA) has been downloaded over 100 million times since its release in 2016.

Mobile Legends champions from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore regularly rank among the world’s top on even the cheapest devices but are packed with strategic depth. The MPL esports league has cultivated a ravenous fanbase closely following domestic and international tournaments.

League of Legends

Then there is League of Legends – the famous MOBA that’s been South East Asia’s most competitive game for over ten years. Riot Games’ flagship title is so ubiquitous across Internet cafes and households that it’s achieved a level of mainstream cultural penetration.

Professional LoL competitions like the Pacific Championship Series are passion-fueled events, with star players elevated to celebrity status. From the Peranakan capital of Melaka to the neon corridors of Bangkok, League of Legends’ grip on Southeast Asian gamers shows no sign of waning in 2024.  

Honorable Mentions: Valorant, DOTA 2, SuperPeople, FIFA 24

While the games listed above represent 2024’s biggest competitive hits, titles like Valorant, DOTA 2, SuperPeople, and the perennially popular FIFA franchise all boast active communities making their mark on the South East Asian esports landscape.

Up-and-Coming: Operation Apocalypse

One competitive game flying under the radar but generating early buzz is Operation Apocalypse, an innovative 5v5 tactical shooter melding Counter-Strike gameplay with hero abilities akin to Valorant.

Still in beta but already sparking interest from pro players and organizations, Operation Apocalypse was developed by Shanghai-based Rapier Games and could be the next big competitive craze to captivate Southeast Asia if it delivers on its high-skill promise.

Widespread Competitive Passion

Whether it’s the landed gentry of Singapore battling over LoL supremacy or Filipino villages coming alive for Mobile Legends watch parties, South East Asia’s shared fervor for competitive gaming hits a fever pitch in 2024.

With a diverse array of games catering to both PC and mobile preferences while attracting various degrees of casual and hardcore engagement, it’s a golden age for the region’s esports ecosystem. Expect these titles and skilled players from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and beyond to make global waves on the 2024 competitive circuit.