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When we think of esports, we immediately tend to think along the lines of Counter-Strike, Dota 2, League of Legends, and some of these other popular titles that bring in hordes of viewers and fans. These esports games are celebrated like a festival whenever they host their annual championships or their league games. However, over the many years, a lot of niche games have come up, hosting their own esports leagues and competitions.
In this article, we will take a closer look at many unconventional esports titles that have grown a dedicated following.
Five Most Unusual Esports Games
Here are five niche and unusual esports games that boast some intense competition:
Farming Simulator
Developed by GIANTS Software, this unusual title in the esports scene leaves many in disbelief. While the name suggests a cozy, Stardew Valley-esque world of farming, the game is much more than that. It is a farming simulator, in the simplest of words. It presents the life of a modern farmer who navigates his professional life, tackling the four seasons.
But it doesn’t end there. The creators started the Farming Simulator League (FSL), a hay-stacking competition for the fans of the game. It entered the world of esports in 2016 and has introduced many new competitions. Recently, the third tournament of the fifth season of FSL took place, where a team called ‘Helm’ took the trophy, winning by a 9-point difference.
FSL has also opened registrations for its next tournament, which will take place in November 2023. Interestingly, players from all strata can partake in the competition, as long as they have a team. They will compete against each other for a prize pool of € 15,000 Euros.
GeoGuessr
If a game like Farming Simulator does not have you in shambles yet, then what about a browser-based geography game? GeoGuessr is a popular guessing game based on Google Street View imagery. Players are dropped in an unknown place in the world, and they need to guess the name of the place to win.
While the preface is simple and might take you and me a few minutes to guess, Geoguessr pros need just a single hint and you have the answer in just a few seconds. Geoguessr Esports has its own YouTube channel, where tournaments like the Geoguessr Reddit League are hosted and viewers can stream them live.
Geoguessr hosted its first Geoguessr World Cup on 14th October 2023, where Dutch player Consus was crowned the winner. Defeating the French player by the name of ‘Blinky’, Consus won a prize pool of $15,000 USD, while Blinky took home $7,000 USD and a portion of the $20,000 USD shared prize pool.
Shrek Superslam (2005)
Shrek has an unusually dedicated fanbase online. And rightfully so. One might expect Shrek to pop up when you are looking for lighthearted games online. Shrek Superslam is a 2005 3D multiplayer fighting game where players battle against each other in different arenas. The game features various characters from the Shrek film series that make us shed tears of nostalgia. This persistently dedicated fanbase has now revamped the old Shrek Superslam, remastering it with HD graphics for a more modern experience.
However, who would have thought that one day we might see Shrek in the esports arena, fighting off Humpty Dumpty or Cyclops? Usually referred to as a ‘Meme that Became an Esport,’ Shrek Superslam’s surprising entry into esports has since slowed down. The last tournament took place in 2021 and we haven’t seen much activity from the game’s end.
Microsoft Excel Esport
If there was an award for the most absurd esports title, we suspect that Microsoft’s Excel would win that. Well, you can say goodbye to working on spreadsheets for your boss and welcome this sport with open arms. While there is no particular game dedicated to this unusual esports title, people who wish to try it out can reach out to Microsoft.
The genius behind this title is the Financial Modeling World Cup (FMWC), established in 2020. The competition requires players to follow the given instructions in the game and create complex Excel sheets. While the tournament is obviously time-sensitive, it is also quite sophisticated.
Registrations for the Microsoft Excel World Championship 2024 have begun. While we are yet to decide on the 2023 Microsoft Excel World Champion, the qualifications are still on. The next tournament will take place on 28th October 2023, where 64 out of 128 qualified teams will be selected. The final rounds will begin on 9th December 2023 in Las Vegas, where eight remaining teams will compete against each other for the first prize.
Catherine
Catherine is a cross-genre video game where players play as Vincent Brooks, a man who finds himself stuck between Catherine and Katherine. No kidding! During the daytime, the game is a social simulation where he must interact with other people, while during the night, he is tormented by supernatural nightmares.
While this seems like a game reserved for angsty teenagers, the quest to fight the nightmares and climb to the top of the towers before your opponent does seem to have an esports element in it. In 2019, the game was rereleased with some additional content as Catherine: Full Body. Interestingly, this additional content introduces a new character named Qatherine, adding more substance to the storyline.
The game was first played competitively at the NorCal Install tournament and was later even hosted at the iconic EVO. However, many have now stopped interacting with the competitive side of the game.
