Dota 2 extends streak as esports’ top money-maker

As 2024 comes to a close, most esports games already had a closure to their 2024 esports calendar. Those that gain the spotlights are Valve's Dota 2 and Counter-Strike, which led the rankings for total prize pools, followed by two mobile games from Level Infinite (Tencent Games), Honor of Kings and PUBG MOBILE.

According to Esports Charts, which tracked over 6,300 tournaments across 100+ games in 2024, Dota 2 topped the list with a total prize pool of more than $22 million. This figure represents a 28% drop from 2023, primarily due to reduced prizes at the Riyadh Masters and The International (TI).

Despite this decline, Dota 2 has maintained its position as the highest-earning esports game for four consecutive years. Over the past eight years, the game has awarded more than $330 million in prize money — far outpacing its nearest rival, Counter-Strike, which has distributed $155 million in the same period.

Interestingly, Counter-Strike came remarkably close in 2024, trailing by just approximately $10,000. The game also saw a 10.5% increase in its prize pool compared to last year. It led the top 10 games in terms of tournament count, with more than 700 events held throughout the year.

Mobile games surprised many by taking the third and fourth spots. Honor of Kings and PUBG MOBILE, both published by Level Infinite (Tencent Games), achieved significant milestones in 2024.

Honor of Kings made history as the fifth game to surpass the $20 million prize pool mark, joining the ranks of Dota 2, Counter-Strike, PUBG MOBILE, and Fortnite. The game had one of the highest average prize pools per tournament, with each event offering over $410,000.

The game's rapid global expansion included the debut Honor of Kings Invitational Midseason 2024 in Saudi Arabia, featuring a $3.05 million prize pool. The year concluded with the Honor of Kings Championship 2024 in Indonesia, offering $1 million. However, its most lucrative event was the King Pro League (KPL) Season Finals in China, with a staggering ¥70 million CNY (over $9.6 million) up for grabs.

Meanwhile, PUBG MOBILE amassed an impressive $100 million prize pool in 2024, although this represented a 26% drop from 2023. The decline was due to scheduling changes; 2023 featured two PUBG Mobile Global Championship events, significantly boosting that year’s numbers. In 2024, the game held three major tournaments: the PMGO in Brazil, PMWC in Saudi Arabia, and the PMGC in England.

Another notable mobile title, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, made waves with its M6 World Championship in Malaysia. Although its prize pool was smaller compared to other games on the list, the game’s passionate community helped it secure the sixth spot for the most-viewed esports event of the year.

The 2024 esports rankings showed some notable changes compared to the previous year:

This year's rankings showcase the evolving landscape of esports, with mobile games continuing to gain traction and long-standing titles holding their ground. As 2025 approaches, fans can look forward to even more thrilling competitions and record-breaking prize pools.

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