Who wouldn’t want to earn money playing video games? It’s one of the most popular hobbies and, frankly, the most fun. Any gamer would quit his daytime job and start gaming in a heartbeat. If only they could make it profitable.
That’s the tricky part. There is money to be made in the video game industry, but you’ll need to invest time and use other skills to make it work. The competition also doesn’t help, but the best way to deal with it all is to start early.
Can You Really Make Money Playing Video Games?
Yes, with a lot of dedication and talent, it is possible to make money or even a living by playing video games. Statistically, however, your chances are quite low as only the top few percent in the whole gaming industry make money playing video games.
On the bright side, the current trend is that game companies are making more and more each year. In fact, the gaming industry is already much bigger than the movie and music sectors combined. Some of these profits are sure to be shared with other gaming-related industries that you can be a part of.
How to Make Money by Playing Video Games in 2024
There are way more millionaire gamers than you might think. Some, like N0tail (Johan Sundstein), worth over $7 million, are professional gamers. Others, like Ninja (Richard Tyler Blevins), worth around $40 million, are gaming streamers.
Of course, these are just very successful exceptions, but there’s more realistic potential. The key is to position yourself within the gaming community, bringing value that can be monetized. Journalists, content creators, developers, testers, and many others have made it work, so you can do it too.
However, you should manage your expectations and prepare to face the risk of your beloved hobby becoming a boring job. If you are willing to put in the hours and treat gaming professionally, we have some options for you below.
Proven Methods to Make Money Playing Video Games
It is a good idea to monetize your hobby by combining it with something that can bring profit, at least in the long run. Below are ten methods for making money online from video games.
Live Streaming
We start this list with live streaming because it’s an easier route for most gamers. Monetizing your Twitch or YouTube channel is faster than competing, as you don’t need to be that good at the games you play. It’s all about entertainment.
If you can build a relatable persona, all it takes is to acquire an audience that donates money or get some sponsorship deals. Twitch, for example, requires only 50 followers and three or more concurrent viewers to get your account monetized. Then, you can start making money online.
Tips for getting started
- Stream consistently, it’s best if you do it every day.
- Set up premium subscription options.
- Include affiliate links in your profile.
- Reach out to brands for partnerships.
- Sell your own merchandise.
- Use multiple platforms – YouTube, Twitch, Patreon, Substack.
Potential earnings
Most streamers earn anywhere from $50 to $2,000 monthly. It’s not much, but it can pay the bills. It will take some time to reach even these income levels, so be prepared to make do with less at the start.
Competitive Gaming
The only way to earn money playing video games without doing anything else is to become a professional gamer. These are people who practice certain games daily to participate in online tournaments with cash prizes.
Competitive gaming is a dream for many, but it is closer to a sport in terms of the level of discipline, talent, and luck required. Some gamers are extremely successful and win millions in prize money or sponsorship deals, but as with sports, this is the tip of the iceberg.
Tips for getting started
- Pick a game that has a professional league or is likely to have one soon.
- Practice regularly and play to improve. You aren’t doing it just for fun.
- Be active in the community.
- Join a team early.
- Stay physically and mentally fit. Pro gaming can be demanding.
- Use professional gear.
Potential earnings
Online gaming tournaments can be a source of full-time income. On average, a professional gamer earns from a few thousand to $5,000 per month. It’s usually paid by teams or sponsors, so you might have to start with much less.
Speedrunning and Other Competitions
There are a lot of online gaming tournaments and modes that aren’t so competitive. However, making money from niche tournaments might require you to be a streamer as well. Luckily, many game companies support such players.
Speedrunning is a great example, where players are using various tricks to beat the game as fast as possible. Not only do these online tournaments and leaderboards bring profit, but they help you earn new viewers and social media followers.
Tips for getting started
- Stream your play.
- Practice, but keep it fun for viewers.
- Consistently look for new tournaments and records to break.
- Look for partnerships.
Potential earnings
It’s difficult to pinpoint how much you can earn from a record-breaking speedrun or other niche tournaments. Realistically, you can make similar money as an average video game streamer earning around $1000 monthly.
Create Game Guides and Walkthroughs
Some people aren’t fit to become professional gamers, and some games aren’t fit to become e-sports. This doesn’t mean you can’t monetize your time in the gaming industry. Walkthroughs guides, commentary, clever tips, and other content reaches millions on blogs and YouTube.
Such large audiences aren’t difficult to monetize. What’s hard is to be the first one to make video game reviews about new titles. Following news on social media, forums, and chat rooms helps, but the main source is your own experience.
Tips for getting started
- Follow the trends and try to be the first.
- Start by focusing on one or a few games.
- Copy competitors to become better.
- Give genuinely good tips.
- Use multiple channels and formats.
Potential earnings
Gaming blogs, just like other affiliate blogs, can earn thousands of dollars monthly. A gaming YouTube channel can also raise a couple of thousand dollars each month if your videos are trendy enough to reach a large audience.
Video Game Coaching
Some things cannot be included in the tutorials. That’s why live video game coaching is a side gig from which you can earn money. People are paying money for consultations with a video game coach or a professional esports gamer to learn their craft.
Usually, players buy such services to impress their friends or get a better rating in a particular game, so don’t expect them to pay thousands for a coach. No matter the reasons, the video game coaching market is profitable, and you can become a paid video game coach.
Tips for getting started
- Make a name for yourself as a professional.
- Focus on games that have a market for coaching. Chess, Dota, and CS:GO are among the most popular.
- Having a YouTube channel and other social media presence helps.
- Start with low rates and ask for recommendations.
Potential earnings
Platforms like Fiverr are full of people selling courses and tutoring sessions on various games. Depending on the level of expertise and the popularity of the game, a video game coach can earn between $10 to $250 dollars per session.
Gaming Journalism
A video game journalist is a person who reports on the news and gives his honest opinion on newly released titles. Unlike other content creators in the gaming industry, he is usually the one advising on whether you should buy a game or not.
You can’t be a video games journalist without having some writing skills, so it’s usually an option for people already in journalism. You’ll also need good connections with major game studios, esports events, and professional gamers.
Tips for getting started
- Practice writing and journalism.
- Attend esports and other gaming events, such as SGF.
- Write about real stories and opinions.
- Publish your own blog as a portfolio to get into big websites.
Potential earnings
A video game journalist is a freelancer who earns a fee per article. It can range from $5 to a thousand per piece. A general estimate is that most professional gaming journalists earn at least $40,000 per year.
Apps That Pay for Playing
It might be hard to believe, but some apps pay money for playing games on them. Game companies pay money to these apps for each download and player they bring. In turn, they share part of these profits with players.
They might require you to reach a certain level, play for a determined time, or gather some other achievements. In short, you play mobile games and get rewarded points exchanged for gift cards or other prizes. Mistplay and PlayTime are two great examples of such apps.
Tips for getting started
- Try multiple apps.
- Use these apps daily to earn more rewards.
- Calculate your earning goals before starting to play.
- Cash out in gift cards to save money on transfer fees.
Potential earnings
It’s unlikely that your earnings from these apps will be significant. Most users earn up to $70 per month with apps that pay for playing mobile games. Despite the modest amount, it’s a good deal for a few minutes on your lunch break.
Video Game Testing
If you want to take it to the next level, you can play games and sell your feedback to game companies. Most serious developers employ game testers who play the title in the early stages to evaluate its usability.
Various games are tested with such means, so you won’t get to choose what to play. However, in many cases, such jobs don’t require much technical knowledge, just your time spent playing the games and writing feedback.
Tips for getting started
- Use multiple platforms, such as Game Tester, HeadSpin, or UserTesting.
- Write through feedback.
- Earn recommendations for more tests.
- Research game testing basics beforehand.
Potential earnings
A game tester without any formal qualifications can expect to earn a similar salary as a website UI tester. Usually, it’s around $40 per test, but not all tests are short, and not all of the feedback is approved. The best way to increase your earnings is to acquire formal qualifications.
QA Game Testing
Unlike simple game UI testing, Quality assurance (QA) game testing involves some game developer knowledge of design and coding. Mostly, you will be responsible for finding bugs and offering their fixes. Professional testing involves much more planning and documentation than you might think.
Technically, QA testers are making money playing video games, but it’s nothing like an ordinary gaming session. They read the source code and meticulously plan what actions to take to find bugs. Then, it’s all about writing an analysis with suggestions on how the issues might be resolved.
Tips for getting started
- Work on your skills. Coding and design qualifications are essential.
- Learn to think about games from a systematic approach.
- Follow the newest trends in the video game industry and game design.
- Network and apply for entry-level roles.
- Participate in public beta testing.
Potential earnings
A good QA game tester makes somewhere in the ballpark of $65,000 a year. Your earnings highly depend on your qualifications. A junior QA tester might start with a much lower salary, while a senior one can earn more than some game developers.
Become a Video Game Developer
Becoming a video game developer takes a lot of knowledge and, often, a degree in software engineering and computer science. While you won’t be making money playing video games, you will have a much more steady income than in other related fields.
A software developer is also not just a programmer. Often, they contribute to essential game design or art concepts. Some specialize in certain parts, such as 3D modeling, and others. There’s a lot of room to find your place when you have the required qualifications.
Tips for getting started
- Learn coding with relevant languages. C++, C#, and Python are used most often.
- Earn a relevant degree.
- Network with other game developers.
- Build a game of your own as a portfolio.
- Analyzes designs of useful games.
- Be active in the gaming community.
Potential earnings
An experienced game developer earns at least $80,000 per year. In many cases, the earnings are even bigger as software developers, in general, tend to earn well over $100,000 per year. A skilled video game developer might even create his own game, which, depending on its success, does not have any earning ceilings.
Final Words
The options are plenty, and all that is left is to step into the video game industry. One last tip to mention is that trying out multiple strategies will greatly increase your chances of success. You can only be successful if you try as many different methods as possible.
