E-sports has always been a topic of interest among viewers, and so are their drama adaptations. With e-games becoming a popular way to connect with a massive audience, these dramas go way beyond their budget to produce a high rating viewership. The e-games gained much popularity after the drama’s release and even people who hadn’t played before started supporting teams or becoming professional players themselves. This is a common troupe of e-sports dramas.
Who does not enjoy the healthy competition between two rivaling e-sport groups with a little romance added to the mix? With the main leads either learning how to play to the female leads leading out with the championship trophy, we’ve got you covered.
If you have watched Falling into Your Smile and want to explore more Chinese dramas like it, then this article is all you need to read. Happy Binge-watching! The drama depicts the most famous troupe of Grumpy and Sunshine. Revolving around esports, the drama boasts of a strong female lead, Tong Yao (Cheng Xiao), who overcomes the barricades of esports being a male-dominated field.
She is determined and fiery, just like her gaming avatar Smiling. Tong Yao, takes pride in learning to play the game and won’t take no for an answer. The kind of female lead that most Chinese dramas fail to portray.
The male lead, Lu Si Cheng or Chessman (Xu Kai), is a stereotypical character who thrives on perfection but also holds the ZGDX team together. As the team leader, it is quite admirable to see his equation with each team member, including their manager. While he faces struggles of his own, Tong Yao tries her best to be there for Si Cheng.
Falling into Your Smile focuses majorly on the professional gaming industry and the real-life struggles the players face daily. Each character holds a strong back story, which slowly unfolds in each episode. While the main leads take their own time to fall in love, the friendship and light bickering between the members are refreshing to watch.
Title: Falling Into Your Smile (你微笑时很美)
Episodes: 31
Release Date: 2021 Duration: 45 mins
Original Network: Youku, Netflix, Youtube.
Plot: Falling Into Your Smile is adapted from the web novel “You’re Beautiful When You Smile”.
The King’s Avatar
The King’s Avatar (based on the web novel by Hu Dielan) is about e-sport athletes who play a Massive Multiplayer Online Playing Game (MMORPG) called Glory. The male lead, Ye Qui (Yang Yang), is unjustly made to retire from playing e-sports professionally. Taking it to heart, he quits and starts working at an internet café as a network manager.
The female lead, Chen Guo (Maggie Jiang), owner of the café and a die-hard e-sports fan, takes it upon herself to lift a dejected Ye Qui, whom she thinks is a regular e-sports fan like her. She provides him with all the necessary equipment after accidentally discovering Ye Qui’s love for the Glory and his remarkable skills.
The King’s Avatar portrays a strong belief in rediscovering your identity and leaving the past in the past. The male lead is determined to make a better team and proves to everyone that age is only a number while playing e-sports. Seasoned players like him should be given second chances to prove their worth.
While the drama does not acknowledge any romance between any of the characters, it does represent strong bonds between the team players and is heart-warming to watch.
The rise from underappreciated players to the nation’s pride, the drama showcases the truth behind the rose-colored glasses we often witness in any kind of sports event. The King’s Avatar deserves more appreciation and definitely should be a must-watch on your list.
Title: The King’s Avatar (全职高手)
Episodes: 40 Duration: 45 mins
Release Date: 2019
Original Network: Netflix
Love 020
Known as the OG, Love 020 is a full package comprising e-sports and romance. From reel to real life, the main leads of this drama fall in love with each other in a game. Adapted from the web novel “A Slight Smile Is Very Charming”, Love 020 focuses on the aftermath of online relationships.
The male lead, Xiao Nai (Yang Yang), falls in love with Bei Wei Wei (Zheng Shuang) after watching her play his favorite game. The heart-throb of the campus falls quickly for the computer science major, but this is not the average kind of love story.
While they have yet to meet in real life, their avatars take the romance game quite seriously by getting married inside the game. The CGI effect is note-worthy and makes up for the lack of story in some episodes.
The characters are easily lovable but without a proper backstory. The character arc for each of them develops throughout the drama, making them go from fun-loving college students to responsible adults. The humor is top-notch, and there is never a dull moment within the group.
Overall, Love 020 is a fun watch and a light-hearted romance drama that focuses on love, friendships, e-sports, and everything in between.
Title: Love 020 ( 微微一笑很倾城)
Episodes: 30 Duration: 45 mins
Release Date: 2016
Original Network: Netflix, Viki.
Gank your Heart
Ji Xiang Kong, a famous e-sports player popularly also known as a battlefield fraudster, is known for his good looks and charm. On top of it all, he also has a massive female fanbase. Quitting as a member of the Legends team, he forms his own team called the Phoenix.
Qui Ying, a female commentator for e-sports, yearns to become popular. She follows Xiang Kong to Vancouver in hopes of getting an exclusive interview. While the reputation of our male lead begins to sink, Qui Ying finds herself in a sticky position.
Together, they learn to excel in their own fields while constantly supporting each other in fulfilling their shared dreams and falling in love along the way. Gank Your Heart, takes us on a fresh adventure where the main leads begin their journey toward reviving their lost careers and fame.
Title: Gank Your Heart (陪你到世界之巅)
Episodes: 35 Duration: 40 mins
Release Date: 2019
Original Network: Mango TV, Viki.
You Are My Glory
A well-known celebrity, Qiao Jing Jing (Dilraba Dilmurat), faces flack online after a video becomes viral of her failing to play the game when she was the brand ambassador. In order to save her reputation, Jing Jing participates in an e-sports competition.
Yu Tu (Yang Yang), an aerospace engineer by profession and Jing Jing’s high school crush, takes the challenge of getting her ready for the competition. The distance between the two evaporates as time goes by, and it forces Jing Jing to make a decision.
(credits: Prime Video)
You Are My Glory entices the viewers with its storyline. Giving the main leads an opportunity to reconnect with their old crushes and face the challenges ahead. The drama makes for an exciting watch when bored or simply finding the perfect blend between romance and e-sports.
Title: You Are My Glory (你是我的荣耀)
Episodes: 32 Duration: 35 mins
Release Date: 2021
Original Network: Amazon Prime Video, WeTv, Viki.
Go Go Squid
Han Shang Yan (Li Xian), a former legend in the e-sports world, long retired from playing it professionally. Now the owner of K&K, a popular e-sports club known for their training of young teenage boys and molding them into professional players.
After facing a major loss in an important match, Shang Yan finds himself at a nearby café, to analyze the mistakes made.
Tong Nian (Yang Zi), a part-time online singer and full-time computer science major, finds herself at a café helping her younger brother. It’s love at first sight for the female lead as her eyes land on the dashingly handsome Shang Yan. Though he shows no interest in her, Tong Yian takes on the role of her own cupid.
A series of rather questionable occurrences and misunderstandings take place, which causes both of them to fall into unexpected circumstances. As Shang Yan begins to change his feelings, Tong Nian finds out the truth about his past.
Go Go Squid is a heart-breaking as well as heart-warming series to binge-watch. Watching the drama leads run around each other in never-ending circles but fall faster makes it a worthy watch.
Title: Go Go Squid (亲爱的)
Episodes: 41 Duration: 45 mins
Release Date: 2019
Original Network: Viki. WeTv, AppleTv.
Out With A Bang
Xiao Yi Chuan (Zhang Min), a professional e-sports player, is going to retire after playing one last e-sports championship. Standing in the stadium, he thinks about his career history and how he does not want it to come to an end. Yi Chuan prepares a tearful goodbye speech to his fans and returns to his dorm room.
(credits: iQIYI)
Xiong Jiu Jiu (Xu Ruo Han), a high-spirited girl with anger issues, begins recruiting an e-sports team consisting of new and old players. After getting no sign-ups, she meets Yi Chuan and begs him to join her. Though hesitant, Yi Chuan agrees to mentor the new team.
Out With a Bang focuses on the relationships between the team and the complex team-building capabilities of the male lead. While the female lead and male lead get along well, the second male lead syndrome is real; you can honestly feel it through the screen. In the end, the overall rating of the drama is good, and so is the romance.
Title: Out With A Bang (瞄准你的未来)
Episodes: 24 Duration: 42 mins
Release Date: 2022
Original Network: iQIYI
Cross Fire
The year 2008 was when Xiao Feng (Lu Han), a team leader of an underground e-sports team, strives to make a name for himself and his members. Misfortune happens, and Xiao Feng is forced to rethink his decision to become a famous e-sports player due to the lack of funds received from his company.
2019, the younger brother of Xiao Feng takes it upon himself to revive his brother’s lost legacy. Lu Xiao Bei (Leo Wu) is a professional e-sports player who excels in his career despite being disabled.
In a drama that shows the strong bond between the siblings, the trust they had once lost in each other makes way for a journey that transcends through time. Cross Fire is a drama that needs to be watched if you want more e-sports, mystery, thriller, sci-fi, and less drama.
Title: Cross Fire (穿越火线)
Episodes: 36 Duration: 45 mins
Release Date: 2020
Original Network: Tencent Video.
To Love, To Heal
Xiao Shui Guang (Li Xi Rui) is depressed after she gets blamed for the death of her boyfriend. Professionally, she teaches Kendo to young students. Enters Zhang Zheng Lan (Jiang Chao), who participates in a competition for the female lead’s kendo classes; he is the CEO of a famous gaming company.
(credits: Pinterest)
As the main leads, Shui Guang and Zheng Lan, try to navigate through their newfound relationship and try to put their past behind them, the second leads try to cause a problem for them.
To Love, To Heal is a light-hearted romantic comedy. With a slow-placed storyline, it makes for a good watch if one is interested in such kind of genre.
Title: To Love, To Heal (我站在桥上看风景)
Episodes: 40 Duration: 45 mins
Release Date: 2018
Original Network: CN Drama, Huan Tv.
Beyond Light Years
Lu Yu Chen, a computer major at Yan Qing University, aspires to be a successful e-sport creator with a major company. Yu Chen, known for his intellectual capacity and friendly attitude, is famous on the college campus. Fulfilling his dreams is the only goal he runs towards.
Xia Xiao Ci, a bubbly college freshman is a die-hard fan of martial arts and aspires to be a writer someday. Xiao Ci and Yu Chen meet and are immediately drawn to each other by hate. By what seems like a raging competition between the two, the leads of this drama would be better friends than linked romantically.
As the drama progresses, Yu Chen has to choose between his dreams and Xiao Ci. Unable to make a decision, the male lead is often caught between the two. At the same time, Xiao Ci has her own set of problems. The other characters play supporting friends to the main leads and do their jobs remarkably well.
Overall, the drama is fun to watch, as nostalgia hits in every episode.
Title: Beyond Light Years (光年)
Episodes: 38 Duration: 45 mins
Release Date: 2018
Original Network: Youku, VIKI.
My Eternal Star
Lu Si Heng (Tong Meng Shi) is the CEO of a major E-sports company. Unlike his avatar in the game, who is easy and outgoing, Si Heng is reclusive and keeps to himself most of the time.
(credits: Youtube)
Lin Xiao Di (Jiang Yi Yi) is an online gaming live streamer. Due to circumstances, she has to move out of her home and finds help from Si Heng, who offers her a deal. Unable to say no, Xiao Di agrees.
As time passes, Si Heng realizes that Xiao Di is his childhood crush. He begins pursuing her in hopes of a relationship.
Title: My Eternal Star (你是我的永恒星辰)
Episodes: 22 Duration: 45 mins
Release Date: 2023
Original Network: YOUKU
Love Scenery
Lian Chen (Lu Xu), the protagonist of this drama, is an average girl who just wants her music to find good listeners. She thrives on perfection and does her best in trying to be famous.
Lu Xing (Lin Yi) is a computer geek and avid gamer. He is known for his academic research and has a large female following. Unlike other men, Lu Xing shows his support for Lian Chen openly by cheering for her at music shows.
In this meet-cute drama, Lian Chen takes gaming sessions from Lu Xing while hiding her true identity. From neighbors to friends to lovers, this drama surely takes on the role of a rollercoaster ride.
The icing on the cake is the Love Scenery OST, with beautiful lyrics and captivating music. This drama surely is a must-watch for viewers who want more romance and E-gaming with a musical background.
Title: Love Scenery (良辰美景好时光)
Episodes: 31 Duration: 45 mins
Release Date: 2021
Original Network: iQIYI
