League of Legends Leads Esports in 2023

League of Legends was the most watched Esport in 2023

More than 6.4 million people watched T1 vs. Weibo in the League of Legends Worlds 2023 Grand Finals.

As 2024 begins and the lights fade out on the esports stage for 2023, League of Legends stands as the reigning champion of esports in terms of popularity. While lots of games shined this year, with Valorant even beating League of Legends in terms of awards, League of Legends remains an undisputed titan, setting viewership records and taking esports entertainment everywhere in the world.

2023 was a great year for esports, with major events spanning games like League of Legends, Valorant, Overwatch 2, and Rocket League getting more attention than they ever did and granting the competitive gaming scene a well-deserved popularity boost. However, amidst the triumphs and exciting competitions, the industry faced more than a few significant challenges, marked by widespread employee layoffs and organizational problems in the management of multiple gaming organizations.

The esports sector, deeply connected to the technology sector, felt the echo of this instability. Nevertheless, this was only background noise when compared to the bigger-than-ever and meticulously produced esports events created by gaming companies like Riot Games for their fans. Esports Charts, the authoritative source for tracking viewership statistics, has now revealed the hierarchy of the most-watched games in 2023.

League of Legends, with its colossal player base and a legacy etched in the annals of esports, emerged as the indisputable front-runner, claiming the title of the most-watched esport in 2023. Although witnessing a marginal dip in overall viewership, the game etched its name in history by hosting the Worlds 2023 Grand Final, an event that etched its mark as the most-viewed esports spectacle ever. The tournament achieved a staggering peak viewership of 6.4 million, solidifying its status as the undisputed champion.

While League of Legends soared to unreachable heights, with League of Legends Worlds 2023 becoming the most watched esports event in history, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang came in at a close second, drawing in 5.07 million peak viewers during one of its M5 World Championship matches. The competition, while not dethroning League of Legends, ended up boosting Mobile Legends’ player base to a new record and demonstrating its huge popularity, particularly with the Eastern audience.

Following closely in the ranks of the most-watched esports of the year were Counter-Strike at No. 3, Dota 2 at No. 4, and Valorant at No. 5.

These titles, acknowledged as top-tier esports in terms of both competition and audience engagement, maintained their positions as pillars of the esports scene. Counter-Strike and Dota 2, recognized as legacy titles, consistently secure prominent spots in viewership charts. Meanwhile, Valorant, a newer arrival to the esports arena, created by League of Legends developer Riot Games, has quickly risen in the ranks.

Riot Games, not satisfied with Valorant's huge success just yet, has just released the VCT Chnia, boosting the game’s popularity with the Chinese audience, who have the potential for millions of regular viewers, taking the game’s numbers to a whole new level.

As the esports calendar reaches 2024, League of Legends stands set for another year at the top of the ladder after the start of Season 14, which was widely regarded as the best ever in League’s history, and the LEC started the year with record numbers after a change in schedules. The esports giant will continue to reign as the industry leader in viewership, once again captivating audiences around the globe.

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