Canada is home to some of the biggest names in the online gambling world. Think Mike “Shroud” Grzesiek, Jack “Zlaner” Lane and Damon “Karma” Barlow.
These Twitch influencers are six personalities who do what they love most: gaming. According to studies, more than 10 million Canadians identify as gamers. Here are some of the games they play the most:
Minecraft
Minecraft was the top-selling video game in Canada in 2020. Two years later, the video game is still one of the top sellers in Canada. Why is Minecraft so popular in Canada? For starters, you can build almost anything in the sandbox ecosystem. From designing the pyramids of Giza to creating an entire city, Minecraft lets you be creative in every aspect. It is also a survival game that challenges you to survive in extremely harsh conditions. In the grand scheme of things, Minecraft is popular due to its versatility. It lets you explore places you never thought existed. It lets you create fun stuff with your friends and has a soundtrack that can keep you hooked for hours.
Call of Duty
Call of Duty is one of the most successful video game franchises of all time. Released nearly two decades ago, the action-packed multiplayer game has been pushing the boundaries of what great gameplay should look like for years. Canadians love Call of Duty for different reasons. For starters, it’s exciting to play. Everything about this video game was designed with entertainment in mind, from the mechanics and graphics to the soundtracks and maps. Unlike some of its competitors, developer Activision is always trying to make a better version of Call of Duty. These days, the developer is investing in eSports to make COD one of the best video games in the eSports community. This includes COD: Mobile, one of the fastest growing online mobile games.
casino games
The online casino industry is growing rapidly in Canada. This follows the legalization of single-event betting last year, which encouraged provinces to market the industry left, right and center. Truth be told, Canadians have been playing online for years. Some of them were lucky enough to win millions of dollars in jackpot money. However, most people play slots, poker, and blackjack for their entertainment value. The majority of Canadian casino players use offshore websites. The reason is simple. Online casinos are a legal gray area in Canada. You can play at these legit online casinos listed here. And you can even earn a welcome bonus to help boost your bankroll. With that in mind, shop around to find the right casino for you. Compare slot machines and table games. Check bonuses and payment methods. And if you mainly bet via your smartphone, choose a mobile-optimized casino site.
CS: GO
Almost all of the big name Canadian esports influencers are CS:GO players. Unsurprisingly, the eSports franchise is a fan favorite in the Great White North. CS:GO is short for Counter Strike: Global Offensive. It’s an online multiplayer that pits five “heroes” against five “terrorists”. Lead your team to complete a certain mission and you win. For example, your team may be tasked with planting a bomb while counter-terrorists are tasked with foiling that mission. The game has a total of nine modes, although most people only play a few of them. That said, CS:GO uses a top-notch matchmaking algorithm that promotes fairness. Speaking of which, the game has an anti-cheat detection system that kicks out anyone suspected of using bots to gain an advantage.
Fortnite
Contrary to popular belief, Fortnite offers much more than its Battle Royale gameplay. You can create an island and invite your friends. Or, you could explore an island created by someone else. However, most people play Fortnite to experience battle royale. In this game mode, you fight 99 other players to be the last player or team left. When the game starts, your first job is to scatter for weapons and find cover. The island is shrinking fast, so there’s only so much time you can hide. Second, there’s a storm looming over anyone who tries to hide – make sure your best bet is to attack your enemies before they take you out. In Canada, Fortnite is incredibly popular with young gamers. It drew fierce competition from PUBG. But it’s still the battle royale game to beat.
Dota 2
Dota 2 is yet another popular eSports game with huge success in Canada. The game consists of five teammates who control specific heroes to defeat the enemy’s “Ancient”, a glowing building located in your opponent’s camp. Dota 2 has 123 playable characters, ensuring everyone has control they can love. For clarity, each hero has unique abilities and can upgrade their powers over the course of a game. Unlike some eSports games, Dota 2 is a strategy game. Both your team and the enemy need great strategies to win. This can mean choosing the right characters, punishing enemies’ mistakes individually, or prioritizing defense over attack.
League of Legends
Inspired by Dota 2, League of Legends is an online battle arena game created by developer Riot Games. It opposes two teams of five players on each side. The goal is to defend your team’s side of the map while occupying the opposing side. Similar to Dota 2, players in LOL control a character known as the champion. Each character has unique powers that often improve over the course of a game. Characters improve by earning points and buying weapons that could help defeat your opponent. To be clear, a game ends when one side defeats the enemy’s “Nexus”. This is a structure located in each team’s map. With that in mind, League of Legends is a very successful video game in Canada and around the world.
Conclusion
Canada is a nation of players. A large portion of the population regularly plays video games like CS:GO, Fortnite, and casino games. Statistically, Canadians love PC and mobile games. In fact, many of the games we’ve highlighted above are more popular among mobile gamers than desktop gamers.