As the esports industry expands and more people begin to hear about it, some are left confused about what it is. I, for example, initially thought that esports competitions only feature actual sports games, like Madden or NBA 2K. I was wrong, but I wasn’t alone in being wrong.
There are hundreds of games that let players earn rewards, including cash. Some offer built-in cash prizes, while others have competitive tournaments that pay out thousands – or even millions – of dollars. Games like League of Legends and Fortnite have become known for their competitive tournaments, but there are a lot of games you might not realize you can make money playing. Here are some of the most surprising.
1. Solitaire
One of the oldest card games has gotten a serious makeover in the 21st century. Solitaire is no longer a boring, lonely game – it’s a high-stakes competition for cash prizes. At least it can be if you use Solitaire Cube.
Solitaire Cube is like the classic card game on steroids. Games are fast and fun, and you compete with other users for prizes. You can play for free, but once you get the hang of it, you can also try cash games. Entry fees range from $0.25 to $300, meaning you can really play for keeps if you’re confident.
2. Rocket League – Soccer, But With Cars
Imagine soccer but with cars instead of people. It may sound crazy, but it’s also one of the fastest-growing games in esports. Rocket League, a frantic take on soccer where cars attempt to direct a massive ball into a net, paid out more than $2 million in tournament prizes in 2018.
Becoming a great Rocket League player takes a lot of skill, but the game is so fun that you won’t even mind practicing to get better.
3. Super Smash Bros.
The Super Smash Bros. series takes all your favorite video game characters and lets you beat them up with your other favorite characters. You can have Mario, Pikachu, and Kirby fighting in Hyrule Temple from the Legend of Zelda series, to give just one example. It’s one of the most simple and fun game series ever made. It’s also huge among competitive gamers.
Between the five installments in the Smash Bros. series, gamers have earned nearly $6 million playing the classic beat-em-up games. Smash games are pretty easy to learn and fun to play, so it’s no wonder that thousands of gamers have competed in tournaments and earned money over the years.
4. Any Game You Like
While certain games have built-in rewards systems or competitions with prizes, there are ways to make money playing just about any game out there. Streaming on Twitch has become the center of the gaming industry, and some streamers earn hundreds of thousands of dollars every month.
See Also: How to Make Money on Twitch.
Most streamers aren’t that successful, but there are still a lot of gamers who earn cash by broadcasting themselves playing games. The best part about Twitch is that you have tons of freedom as a streamer. You can play just about any game you want, and as long as you’re a charismatic streamer, people will watch along, and you’ll earn some extra cash.
Getting started on Twitch takes a bit of work, but if you’re serious about gaming, it’s a great way to supplement your income and have some fun.
