How To Make Money Gaming: 27 Legit Ways For 2023

Playing video games is not only a great way to unwind but also could be a great way to earn some extra money. We’ll go through some of the options available for you to make money with video games.

Learning how to make money playing video games can be a bit challenging and these options should give you a few ideas on how to get started.

Hopefully, you will find ideas on how to make money playing video games and some platforms to get you started.

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27 Ways To Make Money Gaming In 2023

How to Make Money Playing Video Games

You can accomplish your goals more efficiently by knowing what you want to do and what steps you need to take thus it is important to have a plan if you want to get into gaming whether as a full-time career or as a side hustle.

You can find your niche in video games and earn money for pursuing an interest.

Making money playing games has gained a lot of popularity and become a viable revenue stream in the last few years. The video game industry is filled with players and so many different platforms to choose from.

Whilst it is clearly an attractive way to make money if you can pull it off, it’s certainly not easy. You may have more success implementing other ways to make money such as The Real World.

Here are a few options to consider making money playing video games.

Create a YouTube channel

YouTube is a popular platform that you can utilize to make money playing video games. Many professional gamers make money on YouTube by running live streams or pre-recorded videos of their gameplay for others to watch as they go through the game.

As a platform, it has been quite revolutionary. For example, other people like Shmee150, Blippi, and Marques Brownlee have found ways to monetize the platform for other reasons.

Going back to gaming, some players post video game tutorials, gameplay tutorials, reviewing games, and general gaming tips on their YouTube channel. Followers can recommend you to their gaming friends and the revenue can quickly become substantial. Video game YouTubers monetize with a combination of:

YouTube ad income
Affiliate marketing
Brand partnerships and sponsorships
Viewer support and donations
Merchandise and product sales

Typical advertising income for video game channels may be $3-5 for every 1,000 views. This can add up fast with a popular channel! You will earn a percentage of ad revenue when your viewers watch video or banner ads on your gaming videos.

You should use YouTube to further your gaming research, too. If you’re looking for in-depth information on monetizing your gaming habits, YouTube has a wealth of content that can provide you with guidance on that topic. Whatever your approach is, starting with YouTube is the way to go.

Video Game Developer

Your skills as a gamer can also be used behind the scenes as a video game developer. You can work with game design companies to create new games and become part of the video game industry as you earn money.

Game developers have an average salary of about $60,000-70,000 a year which is quite lucrative. Video game developers are usually on high demand.

Each company will likely have different requirements so you can browse job boards to understand what requirements are needed for a game developer.

Video game coaching business

Another way to earn money gaming is through coaching video games. Teaching and playing games can be combined to set up a video game coaching business. Should you decide this is the path you are most suited for, your responsibilities would entail walking through gameplay tutorials, giving players tips and advice, and helping players improve as they practice for video game tournaments.

Video game guides or tutorials can show others how to complete tricky levels or improve their gameplay. It’s another way to convert your expertise into cash.

After you’ve created the guides, you can post them on your social media, upload them to YouTube, or sell the whole bundle as an online course.

You can set up your coaching business, so it’s a mixture of one-on-one teaching and watching videos so that clients feel engaged and motivated to play better. Video games coaches can earn anywhere between $26,000 a year to $75,000 a year depending on their expertise and the game.

Video game journalist

Video game journalism is another option which under exploited. As a video game journalist some of the activities you’ll be involved in are reporting on new releases from video game companies, playing games and writing reviews, reporting on gaming tournaments and many more.

You can be a freelance video game journalist or apply to write for a video game publication for a video game company. Most video game journalists earn between $26,000-$103,000 on average based on their expertise, profile, and portfolio.

Video game tester

Video games are ultimately the result of computer programming. For developers to get the look right and the game to feel realistic as possible, they need outside feedback. Video games are tested before release to the general public.

This is where your vast experience in gaming would come into play. So, this job entails playing the game, providing feedback on the quality of the game experience, the game itself, and reporting any bugs or issues you spot.

You can work with a new or upgraded game and help make it better as a quality assurance game tester. A video game quality assurance tester can earn about $50,000 a year on average which could also go to higher rates based on experience.

Twitch streamer

Many gamers earn real money by streaming their gameplay on Twitch which is one of the most popular gaming sites in the world. Twitch is one of the legit money-making apps in gaming. Top streamers make 6- to 7-figures a year so, learning how to make money on Twitch could be a real game changer for you.

If you are either very good at a certain game and/or very entertaining to follow, then twitch could just be the thing for you. Remember, you are competing for your followers’ limited attention, so the content needs to be really compelling.

Twitch enables users to monetize their live streams through ads and subscriptions. Twitch can be a lucrative way to use your interest to make money for you.

It requires you to build a following and apply for monetization status once you’ve established yourself as a gamer who can drive traffic to the site.

When you’ve become a monetized streamer, Twitch will compensate you in various ways. For every subscriber who visits your channel, you will receive $5.00.
You will also have the option to add a Google Adsense-like set-up with your channel. This will enable you to receive monetary compensation for ads on your page. For every 1,000 ad views you receive, you’ll earn $3.00.

Amazon Affiliate Links

Twitch allows its users to capitalize on Amazon affiliate links. This means gamers can recommend products and items available on Amazon. They can offer their viewers direct access to the products via an affiliate link.

Every time a product purchase uses the link, the gamer receives payment for creating this connection. It’s a passive income generation method for players to advertise items and products they like to anyone who views their channel.

PayPal Donations

Many successful gamers have found that they can market and receive PayPal donations from loyal fans or sponsors.

You read that right. How gamers do this is by inviting fans to help them continue to game at their current intensity. They ask for money, and people give it so they can keep playing video games.

Part of enabling this commitment is assuring the gamer can financially live off of gaming.

Many gamers will receive PayPal donations because viewers want to learn and replicate the tips and tricks the player uses. Donating to a gamer’s PayPal account becomes much more reasonable if you consider gaming a performance art.

It beats the thought of giving some cash to your younger brother for playing video games.

Practical Tips To Increase Revenue When Live Streaming

As we mentioned above, thinking of gaming as performance art is the best way to grasp how to achieve the most success. Live stream gamers need to be engaging.

They should have larger-than-life personalities that attract a high volume of views. This goes hand-in-hand with having a voice that is enjoyable to listen to. If a gamer isn’t pleasing to listen to or dull, both will turn viewers off.

Another facet of the live streaming puzzle is creating regular content. You’ll want viewers to know when to tune in to your streaming. Keeping a regular schedule will help them start watching you on a particular day and time.

Networking is the final piece to the trifecta of tips and tricks of live stream gaming. Interacting with your viewers, fellow live streamers, and sponsors are some of the most effective methods to advance your reputation and bankroll.

Much like business networking, live stream gaming requires an equal, if not more, amount of investment in your relationships.

Video game tutorials

Video game guides or tutorials is another way to convert your expertise into cash. Tutorials show others how to complete tricky levels or improve their gameplay.

You can post your guides/ tutorials on your social media, upload them to YouTube, or sell the whole bundle as an online course.

You can earn some money while teaching others how to play new and upgraded games and impart your expertise. You could either choose to focus on a particular game and build a niche or create tutorials for many games to attract a wider audience.

Sell Merchandise

As a gamer, you know that a love of video games can be part of your identity that’s why game-themed or game-inspired merch can be such a hit.

If you have some design skills, take a look at sites like Etsy and Redbubble to see what’s selling. You may not be allowed to use licensed characters in your design, but you can get creative to sell other products gamers would love.

With print on demand technology, you don’t have to carry any inventory or deal with shipping, simply upload your designs, set your prices, and the platforms take care of the rest.

Another different angle to consider would be to partner with popular streamers to make merch for their fans. You could include a particular inside joke or catchphrase that would make a fun shirt. Reach out with your design samples and see if they’d be open to splitting revenue with you.

Contact Potential Sponsors

Once you have a following whether on YouTube, Twitch, or elsewhere, you will likely want to contact sponsors to generate more revenue. This is very similar to how TV producers used to seek out sponsors for programs.

To acquire sponsors, you must first impress them. Make sure your channel expresses a certain style and ethos, one which may also align with your sponsors’ goals. You will then want to search for brands you like that might be interested in sponsoring you. Also, consider whether or not you would use their products (this is important since you’ll be marketing for that brand!)

The most crucial part is that you present yourself as someone who would be a great fit to sponsor their brand.

Customer Service for a Game Company

Like every other industry, gamers also need customer support. Becoming a customer service rep for a game company is a great way to get paid in the video game industry. The average customer service representative makes $13.64 per hour, with some making up to $20 per hour.

Like Blizzard, some companies even have in-game admins who play the game and deliver support via the in-game chat function.

Getting an internship is one of the best ways to start this career path. Landing this job is more about your customer service skills than your gaming skills. You have to be good with people and have excellent communication skills.

Farm In-game Currency

Many Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) games have a farmable in-game currency that people who don’t feel like earning their time can pay for.

This is probably the most time-consuming and lowest-paying opportunity, next to customer service work. Gold farmers in countries like China do this for a relatively low amount daily. This is not the most popular form of getting that extra cash through gaming, but it is worth noting on this list as an option.

Build Your Own Video Game or App

How cool would it be to have your own popular game on the App Store? If you don’t have coding or game design experience, you can learn from top-rated courses like this one.

Developers earn a 70% royalty on any sales of the app or in-app purchases. For a popular game, that can turn into a serious income stream.

Sometimes the biggest hits are the simplest. Take Wordle for example, where you have 6 chances to guess a 5-letter word. Creator Josh Wardle sold it to The New York Times just a few months after starting it for more than $1 million!

Should the proposal be a hit, you can use your own gaming skills to develop the game you have always wanted to play.

Animators

This is a creative role where you bring objects, vehicles or characters created by 2D and 3D artists to life by making them move thus combining art and technology. The average pay is about $25 per hour.

Apps and Websites

There are other options available online through mobile games and websites if you’re looking for more ways to make money while playing games.

Mistplay

Mistplay is an excellent app available on Android that is a great way to monetize playing video games on your phone.

The app provides users with an environment to participate in games in exchange for prizes. Users can join in-app games to receive gift cards from retailers such as Amazon, Google Play, and even virtual Visa gift cards by earning points.

You are eligible to receive compensation from the minute you start playing with Mistplay. You can even play with friends and level up your avatar to unlock achievements and earn units faster. They also support user communications and offer a chat feature, encouraging connections amongst participants. Another good thing with Mistplay is that users will not pay fees to download, join, or play games.

Blitz

Blitz is currently available on Android and iOS as a mobile app.

Users can play against other team members simultaneously and make money while playing games by redeeming their points for gift cards with Blitz. You can solve multiple puzzles and play a wide range of games with Blitz, including Solitaire, Bingo, Pool, Helix Jump, Ball Blast, Blackjack and Poker.

Skillz Gaming

Skillz Gaming is an eSports platform with various games for players such as puzzle games, trivia games, fighting games, and more as you compete against other players. Earnings are paid out via PayPal cash or to your PayPal account.

Skillz Gaming is currently available both as a website game and a mobile app on Android and iOS.

VeryDice

VeryDice has a simple premise that is roll dice and win redeemable tickets. Players win tickets for each roll with the prizes varying depending on their dice roll. These tickets can be redeemed by users for items such as electronics, gadgets, and many more.

Skillz Gaming is currently available as a website game and a mobile app on Android and iOS.

Brain Battle

Brain Battle lets users play video games and get a chance to win some cash. When users play video games, they are entered into cash prize draws to give them a chance to win real money by playing different kinds of games.

Brain Battle is currently available as a mobile app on Android and iOS.

GAMEHAG

GAMEHAG is available both as a website game and a mobile app on Android and iOS.

Gamehag rewards its users for playing games by collecting gems that can be used to redeem rewards. GAMEHAG players can collect soul gems as they play and interact with the community. The main focus is mainly on fantasy games. The gems can be redeemed for gift cards, vouchers, with new options being added frequently.

Compete in Tournaments

While not a consistent source of money (unless you’re incredibly talented), winning game tournaments for competitive games like Call of Duty, League of Legends, Fortnite, etc., can net you some serious cash.

One of the world’s top esports competitors, Timothy Miller (aka “Bizzle”), earns around $322k per year participating in Fortnite tournaments.

This is probably the most straightforward way to make money playing video games, but it’s not a big earner unless you’re really good at the game and consistently win.

Where to find gaming tournaments?

Some tournaments are free to enter, while others have an entry fee.

Facebook Gaming
Game Battles
Gamerz Arena

E-Sports Star

ESports short for electronic sports is a form of competition where you can earn prizes by gaming.

The typical format involves professional players that compete against each other individually or as part of a team in a multiplayer contest. The increasing popularity of esports has a lot to do with how streaming has developed in the last decade or so.

As more gamers want to see competitions featuring their favorite games, more game developers have started competitions to showcase their games and provide funding for those tournaments.

Typically, the games that are involved in competitions are first-person shooters, multiplayer online battle arenas, battle royale, fighting, real-time strategy, and sports.

If you excel in competition and need to push the boundaries in a particular game or format, then there are several e-sport franchises to choose from. These include Dota, Counterstrike, League of Legends, Valorant, Overwatch, Super Smash Bros., StarCraft, and Street Fighter.

Huge tournaments like the League of Legends World Championship and Intel Extreme Masters attract a big audience and even bigger paydays for the winners.

Speedrunner

Speedrunners complete games as quickly as possible usually with agreed constraints as outlined on Speedrun.com. You could earn on speedrun depending on your own popularity and ability to entertain. Most Speedrunners broadcast on Twitch and earn money through donations or by entering tournaments.

In 2018, Twitch Rivals ran a Mega Man 11 race with a whopping $25,000 prize pool.

Speedrunning brings in millions each year through events such as Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ) and RPG Limit Break. Both are charity events, but Speedrunners submit their runs and it’s often here that their profiles are elevated to the masses.

What does a Quality Assurance Tester do?

Play through different designs, character builds, levels and modes
Report any glitches, bugs or errors that occur
Report about how they feel while playing the game
Actively try and “break” the game to see where things could go wrong for a user
Plays a game multiple times until they find nothing wrong

How Much Money Can You Make Playing Video Games?

The amount of money you can make playing video games will significantly vary depending on the kinds of games you play, the content you create, the platforms you use, and the amount of time you dedicate.

Reports indicate that gamers can earn anywhere between $20 an hour to $200 an hour for game playing, but there is no way to establish an average. However, these earnings can be increased by participating in activities such as game tournaments, which often offer cash prizes and other incentives. Game tournaments can pay anywhere in the thousands per tournament.

Conclusion

Now that you have an entire list of options go ahead and explore which ones are best for you.

Bear in mind that it will take some time and effort to make substantial money while playing those awesome games. Consider trying several different outlets at once! For example, you could give both streaming and doing game tutorials a try.

Now would be the perfect time to try your hand in the gaming industry, you could just be on your way to reaping big.

Time to grab your controller and start on your journey toward making money playing your favorite video games!

Before you leave

If you’re tired of scams and want a real solution for making money online check out my no.1 recommendation.

It’s helped me earn over $300,000 in the last 12 months alone:

Go here to see my no.1 recommendation for making money online

(This is a 100% free training)

David Fortune

David Fortune has been the editor NoBSIMReviews.com since 2019. He is an expert at writing content on stock advisory services, side hustles, reviewing online business opportunities and many more topics. You can learn more about David on our about us page.

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