BIG names like Dota 2 and Call of Duty aren't the only games that have attained esports status. Other games might be played for much smaller prizes, but they're still lots of fun.
Diving deep
In Spelunky (pictured), you navigate a series of randomly generated caves bristling with traps and creatures. The Spelunky Daily Challenge gives every player one chance to complete a newly generated cave, the winner being the top scorer at the day's end. Players can record their attempts and upload them to YouTube.
Fight to the death
Beat-em-ups are the original esports. Games like Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat and Super Smash Bros involve quick reflexes, extensive memorisation and the ability to psych out your opponent. The genre is celebrated at the annual Evolution Championship Series in Las Vegas, a three-day tournament with prize pots of around $10,000.
Race to the finish
Speedrunning – trying to complete a game or part of one as quickly as possible – turns any game into an esport, and an exceptional run can be posted to YouTube to ensure bragging rights. Ordinary players could take days to finish games like Super Mario 64, but speedrunners can do them in under an hour.
Read more: "Esports: Video games jump from couch to stadium"
This article appeared in print under the headline "Can you speedrun your way through Spelunky?"
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