Esports are no longer tied to just high-end PCs or consoles. They’ve become accessible for everyone through mobile esports.

This has been made possible due to the rise in budget mobile phone devices with mid-to-high-level processing power. So players no longer need high-end PCs, setups and a stable local/online network to play against each other competitively.

That’s why mobile esports are changing the meaning of competitive gaming, and attracting bigger audiences and global prize pools.

Once limited to elite setups, the world of esports has evolved rapidly. This is possible due to the introduction of budget mobile devices that have medium to high processing capabilities. That’s why more than 650 million people actively use smartphones in India.

Of these, more than 500 million people are mobile gamers, as per data from 2022.

They play FPS and strategy-based games like Free Fire and BGMI, to card-based games like online Rummy. Interestingly, unlike regular esports, you don’t have to be a pro to play these games.

All you need is the knowledge of each of the rules and regulations governing each game, along with some basic practice, and you’re good to go.

But how else are mobile esports different from traditional esports games? And how is it redefining competitive gaming? Let’s consider that in the sections below.

What Makes Mobile Esports Unique?

Mobile esports are different from competitive esports in many ways. For instance, mobile esports is built for accessibility. You do not require any expensive gear or hardware to participate in them.

Anyone can download the games, practice them, and start competing in minutes. Let’s explore more differences between mobile esports and traditional esports in the table below.

Factor	Traditional Esports	Mobile Esports
Hardware Requirements	High-end PCs, and additional peripherals (headphones, controllers)	Just a smartphone
Accessibility	Limited to setup and available space	Global, low-cost, on-the-go
Popular Genres	FPS, MOBA, Strategy	Battle Royale, Rummy, Quick-Play MOBA
Audience Demographics	People between 18-30 years	People between 16-24 years of age
Prize Pools	High and brand-dependent	Growing fast, especially in Asia
Internet Requirements	Stable broadband	Optimized for 4G/5G

Table: Traditional Esports Vs Mobile Esports

Let’s now take a look at some of the popular mobile sports games players compete in today.

Which Are The Popular Mobile Esports Titles Played Today?

Some of the games that mobile esports gamers play today include:

Free Fire

Developed by Garena International, this game falls into the Battle Royale category. In other words, you will have to strategize against and defeat 49 other players to be the last one standing.

With over 990 esports teams registered, its popularity knows no bounds. Players enjoy the various ‘skins’ (virtual coverings/decorations) you can find in the game. They also appreciate how this game is optimized for devices with low specifications and its short gameplay format.

Clash Royale

This game was developed by Supercell and is a MOBA (Mobile Online Battlefield Arena) game. In this game, you have to defeat the other player by destroying their ‘castle’ and ‘towers’. You can do this with the help of your ‘card decks’.

These decks usually consist of different characters with various abilities, such as Fire Wizards, Witches, and Lava Dragons. You have to strategically use these characters, since each card costs ‘elixir’.

Esports gamers enjoy playing Clash Royale matches because of their short match durations, competitive elements, and real-time strategy.

BGMI Mobile

This game was developed by Krafton Inc. and is another Battle Royale game like Garena Free Fire. Players appreciate the various, expansive maps, character and gun skins,  and the multiple game modes this game offers.

Apart from that, its unpredictability and social features are also a hit, as players can chat with each other as well.

Esports games appreciate BGMI because of the relatively short match duration (dependent on the game modes), social camaraderie, and challenges. In fact teams like S8UL were formed after several rival teams and players became friends while competing against each other.

Currently, more than 280 professional players are registered for this game.

Online Rummy

Many different platforms allow players to play online Rummy. This card game relies on players’ skills like strategic thinking, predicting the opponents’ responses, and bluffing. Apart from that, players need to have good retention abilities to track card discards or draws.

All of these elements make playing these games challenging and exciting for esports players.

Monetization and Sponsorships in Mobile Esports
 

Other ways in which mobile esports have changed the competitive gaming world are through monetization and sponsorships. While sponsorships are not new, the nature of sponsorships is different.

In traditional esports, you can find a variety of brands across multiple categories. In mobile esports, you’ll find mobile-centric brands like OnePlus, Infinix, and Honor dominating the space.

However, sometimes, other companies also sponsor them, as in the Tesla update of BGMI mobile. Players could drive a Tesla car in the game.

Apart from that, mobile esports tournaments use in-app purchases to ensure monetization.

They ensure this by launching event or tournament-specific battle skins, which players can purchase as limited offers. Apart from that, players also view in-game ads, often by sponsors. For example, you might see ads for mobile phones, like the ones you see on TV.

How Fair Play Is Maintained on Mobile Platforms
 

Another factor through which mobile esports is redefining competitive gaming is through its fairplay protocols. Traditional PC-based esports gamers often have unfair mods (modified patches) or similar hacks installed in their gaming PCs.

These mods allow them to gain an unfair advantage over their competitors. However, mobile esports gamers cannot get away with this. This is due to factors like skill-based matchmaking, RNGs, and anti-cheating measures.

Skill-based matchmaking matches players based on certain statistics. For instance, these algorithms compare their trophies in MOBA games and K/D ratio in FPS games.

So everyone plays against opponents who are close to their skill level.

RNGs refer to Random Number Generators, which generate player IDs and deal cards, for example, in games like Rummy. This ensures that none of the players can use unfair tricks or use more than one ID to gain a competitive edge.

Mobile esports tournament organizers also ensure that gamers play only on approved devices and carry out frequent device checks. They also have casual observers in case of online esports streaming.

These observers report back to the tournament organizers in case of any inconsistencies.

Wrapping Up: A New Era for Competitive Gaming
 

Mobile esports are hence changing the very nature of competitive gaming. In other words, it’s no longer about having the best hardware. Players have to be strategic, analytical, and skillful to dominate.

Apart from that, factors like device accessibility, in-game monetization, and stringent anti-cheating measures ensure that everyone gets the same opportunity to win.

Are You Ready To Enter The World of Mobile Esports?

Join the mobile esports world by doing these things below:

 ✅ Pick one mobile esports title that matches your skill (action, strategy, logic)
 ✅ Join a low-entry tournament to understand the format
 ✅ Explore skill-based games like online Rummy for a quick strategy fix
 ✅ Follow 1–2 mobile esports leagues or creators for updates and tips