Ready to make money gaming? In this article, we will break down 16 ways how to make money playing games. The best part is that you can start making money no matter what age you are or even if you are a casual gamer, an enthusiast, or dreaming of being a pro.
- Becoming a pro player and joining esports tournaments offers big cash prizes.
- Live streaming platforms are here to help you earn additional income streams.
- Earn money from game coaching and tutoring.
- Social media provides the platforms to reach a target audience and drive more revenue.
- The global market for in-game-themed merchandise is on the rise alongside e-commerce.
- Skills in game development, blogs, and podcasts are in demand.
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1. Create Your Live Streaming Account
Get paid to play video games by creating a live-streaming account. Join a community of streamers that focuses on video games. Popular platforms include:
- Twitch. Huge following that provides many monetization options.
- Youtube Gaming. Monetization is made possible by ads, sponsorships, and superchats.
- Facebook Gaming. Gamers can earn money through virtual gifts (stars) or subscriptions.
- Kick. This is a new platform but has more monetization features than the rest.
Though these streaming services are free to use, other functions require a little bit of money to access. You can live-stream yourself while playing using a computer, smart TV, and even a mobile phone.
People watch others play games to pick up tips, and see exceptional gameplay, while you make money by:
- Earning through donations.
- Viewers signing up for paid subscriptions.
- Gaining sponsorship from brands.
- Get commissions from affiliate marketing promoting their products.
According to Statista, the Games Live Streaming market is expected to reach 1.8 billion users by 2029, a massive increase from 728 million users in 2020.
If you’re interested in live streaming, you might like to read more on how to make money streaming.
2. Start a YouTube Channel
Youtube is now one of the most popular websites worldwide with 4.95 billion monthly active users, and 200 million people watching gaming content daily.
This is a great platform to share your gaming videos while having the opportunity to make money. Here’s how:
- Grow your channel and earn ad revenue from views.
- Start promoting products to earn commissions.
- Do a live stream and earn from stickers and super chat.
- Charge a one-time fee or subscription for exclusive content.
3. Gaming Offers on Reward Platforms
If you’re looking for a more flexible way to earn money from gaming, consider reward platforms that offer game-related tasks as part of their earning opportunities. These platforms offer one-time rewards for completing specific gaming-related tasks, such as installing a game, reaching a certain level, or completing in-game objectives within a set timeframe.
Reward platforms offer an easy way to earn extra cash or gift cards for trying out new games in your spare time. Two well-known reward platforms that include gaming offers are:
- ySense: Offers various ways to earn, including game-related offers through its partnered offer walls. Users can get paid for downloading games and completing specific tasks or milestones within them. Earnings depend on the difficulty of the task, typically ranging from $1 to $20+ per completed offer.
- KashKick: Provides gaming deals where users earn money by trying out featured mobile and online games. Some tasks require reaching a specific level or making in-game purchases. Payouts vary, with earnings ranging from $5 to $50+, depending on the offer.
4. Design and Sell Game Merchandise
The gaming industry is big and only getting bigger every year. Personalized and customized merch is becoming popular as every gamer out there wants to have their own identity.
You can start with the print-on-demand technology, create your merchandise, and sell it directly online. You do not need to have inventory or worry about the shipping as the platform can do it all for you.
What’s good is that it is a free-to-sign-up website and will only take a cut from your profit once you sell an item. Combining it with the power of social media can provide a passive income stream.
5. Play-to-Earn Apps
Play-to-earn apps let you earn money by playing mobile games even in your spare time. Here are a few of the top picks:
- FreeCash: Make money by playing games, even by just installing apps. Earn $10-$100+ by discovering new games and reaching milestones.
- Rewarded Play: App made for Android where you can get paid to play games. Earn gift cards and redeem them at retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart.
- Mistplay: An interesting app that rewards you for playing new games on your mobile. Level your Mistplay account and redeem it for gift cards.
6. Game Testing
Playtesters are hired by video game companies to test out new game titles before launching to the market. This is done to check and evaluate the overall experience of a game and check if it is ready to be introduced to the market.
What you do in a game testing role:
- Check for bugs and errors.
- Test features, characters, items, and overall gameplay.
- Provide detailed feedback about the gaming experience.
There are skills needed to be an effective playtester. You need to pay high attention to detail and communicate your findings clearly and effectively, and you must have enough experience in playing games with different platforms and genres.
To gain enough experience as a game tester, you can join public beta game tests. This will allow you to build a portfolio as a game tester. You may also provide feedback even with beta game tests and if your feedback is good, some game developers might take notice and offer paid opportunities.
The average hourly pay for a game tester is $18.29.
7. Crypto Gaming
Several games are now offering in-game currency and using gaming tokens to reward players. By completing quests and winning, you can earn gaming assets and are free to sell them to other players or any crypto exchanges.
Various ways to earn assets:
- Winning tokens by beating other players
- Leveling characters
- Completing quests
After earning these assets you can trade or exchange them into stablecoins or fiat currency that can be used in the real world.
The cryptocurrency market is projected to grow 8.62% by 2024-2028.
8. Esports Games and Tournament Betting
If you are familiar with traditional sports betting, esports betting is no different. In esports, you are betting on a competitive video game played by an individual or a team. Here are some of the game genres that might interest you:
- MOBAS (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena Games): Dota2 and League of Legends are the biggest esports in the world.
- FPS (First Person Shooting): Counter Strike and Valorant are the most exciting.
- Sports Simulators: Top sports simulator games include FIFA and Rocket League.
Remember that you must be of the right age to bet and make sure that it is legally allowed in the country you are betting from.
Esports tournament betting requires real money, you must be familiar with and know different games you plan to bet to avoid losing.
9. Creating Video Game Tutorials and Guides
Video game tutorials and guides are one way to earn cash while enjoying your favorite pastime. While printed formats have declined and digital is on the rise, you can still benefit from both.
Those who are new to gaming will try to find ways to master a game and these guides and tutorials become handy. From finding secrets, tips, cheat codes, walkthroughs, and other helpful information about a game.
Create content and break them into 3 portions:
- Walkthrough and Tips
- Guide on Character Building
- Technical Guides: includes game settings configuration and customization
You must have a niche you can specialize in and connect with your target audience. This will help you create high-quality content and make better monetization opportunities.
These are the monetization opportunities available for creating gaming content:
- Ad Revenues
- Sponsorships
- Memberships
- Merchandise
- Donations
- E-books and Online Courses
10. Build a Video Game or App
Got an idea for a cool game? Coupled with your technical skills and knowledge of new technology, this can be a great way to earn money. And if you are new in this field, there are now websites offering free classes on how to build one.
Here are some ways to earn:
- If you make a PC game and put it on a platform like Steam as a paid game, people will download it and you will get paid.
- For mobile games, submit it to the App Store or Play Store, you can make it free and earn through ads running inside the game.
- You can choose to keep it free to play and benefit from selling merchandise.
If you plan to build multiplayer online games, be sure to use a reliable game server host. Check out the 5 best free gaming server hosting services.
11. Become a Video Game Journalist
If you have a way with words, consider turning your gaming knowledge into a writing career:
- Write video game reviews of new releases for gaming websites
- Create news articles about industry developments and upcoming titles
- Conduct interviews with game developers and industry insiders
Freelance rates for gaming journalists vary widely, but experienced writers can earn $0.10-$0.50 per word or more. Some full-time gaming journalists report salaries of $40,000-$70,000 per year, with opportunities for growth in senior positions.
12. Gaming Blog or Podcast
Starting a blog or podcast can help you get noticed online and connect deeply to the gaming community. If you are a natural speaker or writer, this could be a perfect venture.
How to start a gaming blog or podcast:
- Select your niche and target audience.
- Choose platform blogs ideal for gaming.
- Have a plan, write, and publish your content.
- Promote your blog online using social media.
- Monetize your gaming blog.
An excellent gaming podcast does not only focus on a single game but also caters to different genres to allow other gamers or enthusiasts to relate to it. It must be something exciting, witty, and entertaining.
13. Be a Gaming Coach
In 2020-2021, an esports coach is making $15 an hour. As of Aug 2024, the average annual pay for Esport coaching is $38,600 or approximately $18.56/ hour.
Share your love and expertise and help other players in reaching their full potential. The benefits of being a gaming coach include:
- Potential to earn big.
- A competitive career path.
- Having a flexible schedule and a positive working environment.
Becoming a gaming coach is not something you develop overnight. There are steps you can take to be one that can include the following:
- Focus on mastering games of specific genres. This means having expert knowledge of how the particular game works and the strategies for winning.
- Understand how the game’s theory works.
- Develop your communication skills to be able to teach others to play games as well as you do.
- Build a coaching portfolio by starting to offer free coaching.
14. Flip Game Account or In-Game Items
Get paid to play games by selling in-game items you collected inside the game or selling an entire account. Trade your resources and assets online, something you no longer need or an extra item in your bag.
You can sell any video game items you possess, anything that you can transfer to the other buyer’s account, whether a character skin and rare or collectible items.
What’s better? There is no limit to creating new accounts or collecting items in online games. As long as you can upgrade and obtain high-value items, you can make cash out of it.
15. Become A Gaming Influencer
Combine your love for video games and social media to earn cash. Take out your skills, build your fanbase, and share your content.
An average person spends around 3 hours a day on social media. How about using it to create content and make money while sharing your love for the game?
You could share tips, or post funny videos that other gamers can relate to. It would help if you could identify your Unique Selling Point (UPS) early on in your niche of expertise. Then you can better market yourself and what you can offer to the many gamers online.
PewDiePie started his journey as a gaming enthusiast and is now the most recognized individual in the world of gaming. One of the world’s highest-paid influencers, he is now worth $40 million.
16. Become a Professional Gamer
Elite-level gamers earn millions from tournaments and the creation of Esports around the world has made it more competitive and popular.
If you know you are great at a game, join local and online tournaments to level up, get experience, and be picked up by a big organization. If you don’t have a team yet, meet with other gamers and start your own teams.
It will require hours of practice to join professional gamers. You should also take care of your physical and mental health, participate in the gaming community, and interact with other players.
Does Playing Video Games Make Money?
Definitely. With the help of the progress in technology, anyone with gaming skills and drive can make money playing games. However, this does not mean that casual gamers make money as well as those who invest time and effort to become good at what they do.
The developments in the video game industry created opportunities for everyone. From getting small rewards, gift cards, redeemable items, selling merchandise, being an influencer, or becoming a professional gamer. Professional gaming has become a lucrative career path for many.
In 2021, the largest overall prize money in an Esports tournament is recorded with over $40 million of prize money. Today, a player is making an average of $25,000 to $1 million a year.
Conclusion
There are many ways one can make money playing video games. But any success will come from your ability to adapt to the ever-changing environment of gaming. Just like with any career, it is important to learn new skills, venture into other gaming platforms, and try other niches.
Maximize the power of social media and live-streaming platforms that will help you reach your target audience. By showing your love for the game, creating quality content, and generating revenue from monetization, you can make a profit from this.
Use your skills by coaching, tutoring, or developing your own game. If writing and speaking are your strengths, you can pursue blogging and podcasts as well. There are so many video game tournaments that are covered by gaming reporters and relayed to the different fan bases live.
If you are into creative design and sales, consider e-commerce for selling merchandise, or try print-on-demand technology.
Remember that choosing a path to making money by playing video games requires skills, passion, and dedication.
Next Steps: What Now?
- Before diving into the world of gaming, you must understand that it will not be easy to earn big in the beginning. You must dedicate your time, talent, and skills to reach the top.
- For starters, you can try to earn from websites offering rewards and gifts. Then slowly build your social media and live streaming platforms.
- Remember to choose the right niche for you and something that you would like to pursue even longer.
