5 Toughest Esports Games in 2022, Ranked

When it comes to competitive Esports, almost every game is difficult in and of itself. After all, the games that have reached the Esport level have done so because they required extreme amounts of concentration and teamwork. However, when viewed through a magnifying glass, some games demand far more from their players than what is visible on-screen or at events. As a result, they are considered to be some of the toughest Esports games, in a profession where the bar for the difficulty is already at an extremely demanding level.

It's safe to say that you have to adore these games in order to be a professional at them. Because the players who are competing at them on the Esport level have probably already surpassed the 10,000 hours required for mastery. Yet they are still learning ways they can improve and re-master their game. That's because there are hundreds of variables at play when it comes to the five toughest Esports games of 2022. So let's investigate what precisely makes these games so difficult and demanding.

5. Rainbow Six Siege

By the looks of it, CS:GO has been dominating the FPS scene for the better of 12 years. However, there's another game lying in the midst of competitive FPS that demands much more from its players. That game is no other than Rainbow Six Siege. And while we will say both games require extreme amounts of skill when it comes to aiming, Rainbow Six Siege demands much more when it comes to strategy, map knowledge, and team tactics.

Being a close-quarters breach and clear, map knowledge in Siege is vital to a team's success. This is due to the fact that players must be completely aware of the layout of the room or space they are entering before breaching a door, window, or wall. As there quite literally is hundreds of angles they can be shot from. Even from under tables across the room, or from a pinky-sized hole in the wall. That's why players must spend hours on end studying the map and remembering crucial choke points. On top of their in-game training.

4. League of Legends

One of the most notable Esprot games of all time is League of Legends (LoL). The popular MOBA is consistently growing itself, which is most likely due to how adaptive and constantly changing the game is. By that, we mean, with its characters and items. Behind the button mashing and flurry of abilities that get cast in a LoL match, hundreds of different percentages, statistics, and factors are at play, all of which are working against one another. And if you want to be a professional LoL player at the Esports level, you must know how each of them works with and counters each other.

Now we wish we could say this was one broad scope that can be studied, however, it's much more particular than that. Players must know the science of each item, and in-game element, for each of their own characters, and all the others on the field. Players can constantly combine their abilities to deal more damage or anticipate when they won't be as effective. This also depends on the items players have, so you must be aware of what all players possess.  It's a constant game of back and forth strategy, on top of the wildly fast thinking, you must conjure at a moment's notice.

3. Super Smash Bros. Melee

Super Smash Bros is one of the most popular competitive games of all time. However, Super Smash Bros. Melee's release in 2001, a few years after the original game's release, was what really launched its entry into the world of competitive video games. It offered a much more challenging and unforgiving version of the game, that for some reason its players loved. However, if you know Smash players, they are all about the challenge.

To start off, there are hundreds of button combinations available just to perform the game's most elementary movements and attacks. Which, if you want to be successful you must know to a tee. Additionally, the timing of your attacks—even down to the tenth of a frame—is absolutely crucial. Just a fraction of a second off could see you getting eliminated. Now we are talking in fictitious slow-mo time, but in all reality, this must be realized in real-time. It's not as easy as done and requires hours upon hours of mastering each player and their skillset in the game.

2. Starcraft II

If you have the chance, watch a Starcraft II player play the game with a mouse and keyboard cam. Upon doing so, you'll quickly realize why Starcraft II is one of the toughest esports games. In the game, there are three different races to play, Protoss, Terrain, and Zerg. Each of which has its own special units and attacks. Players choose a race to play and are dropped into a 1v1 style map. From there must build their army from the ground up, in offense, defense, and upgrades.

This is done by giving a series of commands, so since you're in a race with your opponents, the timing and speed at which you do so is crucial. Because of this, players started using hotkeys, which function somewhat like keybind shortcuts for quick command delivery. Furthermore, the game has hundreds, if not thousands, of commands that you must memorize and execute quickly. We could go on and on about the other requirements that StarCraft II has in order to be good, but this is just one of the key factors that make the game so challenging.

1. Dota 2

There is a reason that the International, the most prestigious and lucrative Esports tournament in the world results from DOTA 2. That's because, its without a doubt, one of the toughest Esports games, and has respectfully held that standing amongst players and viewers for a long time. Being a MOBA, unlike LoL which sees champions set for certain lanes and roles, DOTA 2 on the other hand, opens up that choice to the player and their character.

Each character can be built in a variety of ways, play a multitude of roles, and consequently have a major impact on the game, even with the smallest of details. This opens up an extreme amount of strategy when it comes to team composition and team plays. It truly adds a new dimension to the game to take into account and a new level of difficulty. Because of this, mastering and learning each character, item, abilities, and how they stack and counter a much wider root than you would see in LoL.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Are there other toughest Esports game that we should know about? Let us know in the comments below or over on our socials here!