Mini PC for casual gaming under $1000

I’m stuck deciding between building a gaming PC (with the option to upgrade parts like the GPU later) or just getting a mini PC.

I mainly play games like Valorant, Dota 2, and CS, so nothing super heavy but I still want good, stable FPS and smooth performance.

From what I understand, mini PCs are cheaper and more compact, but I’m not sure how well they hold up for gaming longterm compared to a proper desktop build.

Would it be smarter to build a PC now and upgrade over time, or just get a mini PC?