Competitive gaming is no longer limited to the most demanding PC titles. Familiar games and phone games now appear on major stages, and simple games can support serious competition.

One caution first: "casual esports" isn't an official category. We haven't found a reliable count of who takes part, so this article sticks to specific, documented examples.

What has actually happened

Familiar games reached an Olympic event. The initial lineup for the 2023 Olympic Esports Series included Just Dance, Chess.com and Tennis Clash, alongside Gran Turismo and Zwift. The event was planned for Singapore in June 2023, according to a summary by the law firm Reed Smith.

Phone games joined one of the biggest events. The Esports World Cup's announcement for 2026 set the event for Riyadh from July 6 to August 23, 2026. Its 22 returning titles included chess and four mobile games: Free Fire, Honor of Kings, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and PUBG Mobile. These mobile games aren't casual in depth, but they show that a phone can be a serious competitive platform.

A simple game made headlines. In January 2024, 404 Media reported that a 13-year-old player known as Blue Scuti had become the first known human to reach the kill screen in the original NES Tetris. The run took about 38 minutes and broke world records for score, level and lines. Anyone can learn to play Tetris quickly, yet players are still pushing its limits.

Who's competing

The examples above point to three broad groups:

  • Specialists in simple games. These players go very deep on a game that looks easy, as Blue Scuti did with Tetris.

  • People who already love the activity. Chess and dance have a following outside video games, so their competitive versions start with a familiar idea.

  • Everyday players. Competition can also be informal. When LinkedIn added its daily puzzle games in 2024, results fed company and school leaderboards, so colleagues and classmates could compare scores.

Why it's catching on

This part is our own reading of the trend, not a measured finding.

  • It's easy to start. You can often play on a phone you already own, with no special equipment.

  • It fits into a day. Short rounds suit people who can't commit to long practice sessions.

  • It's easy to follow. You don't need to study a game for long to understand a score or a finish line.

  • Competition is motivating. Beating a friend, or your own record, gives a simple game a reason to be replayed.

Where it could go from here

Casual games are unlikely to replace traditional esports, and they don't need to. Big events depend on deep games and dedicated audiences, while casual competition mostly happens in small groups and short sessions. The two can grow side by side.

Try it yourself

You don't need a stage to take part. New to the idea? Start with our beginner's guide to competitive casual gaming, then try a round of Mahjong Legends or browse our battle games.

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