Do you love gaming? If your answer is yes then you could be making some really good money from your favorite hobby – playing video games!
Almost everyone out there likes to play certain types of games on various devices. But have you heard about people who get paid to play video games?
Nowadays, games are played not just for fun but also as a legitimate career option. In this article, you are going to learn the many ways you can make money playing video games.
You can earn some serious cash playing video games at home by turning that fun pastime activity into a real money maker for you! Many professional gamers are making a living by earning up to six-figure or more incomes by just playing games.
I’m sure you must have read about people making real money playing games on the computer and it is a real legitimate career option in today’s age, even if you’re just a kid.
Not long ago, gaming was only considered to be a fun hobby for teenagers and youngsters. You couldn’t imagine people making money using this method. But things have certainly changed with the times!
While it is true that some people are earning lots of cash by playing games, it may not be as easy as it sounds. Playing video games on the computer or on your phone may be fun but you will have to give it a serious commitment if you want to be able to make money off it.
You have to be able to distinguish the real opportunities from the scams. And yes, there are a lot of scams out there that prey on unsuspecting gamers to defraud them.
12 Best Ways to Make Money Playing Video Games
Let’s take a look at some of the amazing ways that can help you get paid to play video games:
1. Become a Video Game Reviewer
Do you have a knack for playing different types of games? If yes, then you can make money by writing reviews for the all the video games that you have played.
The task here is similar to what most bloggers do. You offer information on topics that you have expertise in with your audience.
The idea is to create a blog or a website. Provide an in-depth analysis of the different games that you have played. You can also talk about the different features, walkthroughs, tutorials, flaws, etc. of the games that you’ve played.
You could also have a YouTube channel where you post video reviews of different games. Having a link that directs visitors from your blog to your YouTube channel and vice versa is also a great idea to diversify your audience. This can help to expand your reach to your prospects.
Now, you may still be wondering how you can make money from any of this.
Well, it’s quite simple. Your blog and YouTube channel will soon become popular with gaming enthusiasts and you will eventually build an audience.
From this, you can sell ad space to advertisers and get paid. You could also earn money as an affiliate from various video game companies. Or you could even do sponsored posts and videos for these different companies.
2. Get Paid to Test Video Games
Another great option is to test different video games and get paid for it. Game developers are always looking for people that they can pay to test their new games.
And this is where you come in if you are a gaming enthusiast. Developers pay game testers to test their games for a variety of reasons.
One of those reasons is for the testers to help them identify any bugs that may need fixes. Sometimes they also need people who can give them honest reviews of their games. This way, they find it easy to fix areas that need improvements before they release the games to the general public.
You’d be happy to know that video game testers do make a lot of money. As a video game tester, you get to play a lot of games and also get paid while doing so!
Sometimes you may have to play against several characters, play the same game levels repeatedly, and other things that may require lots of patience.
Testing computer (or mobile) games also involves testing them for user experience and finding bugs. This is time-consuming and isn’t as easy as it sounds.
You must also take notes of the issues you encounter when testing the games. This requires you to be attentive and thorough in what you do. Any slight mistakes can mean that you won’t get paid, or worse still, get fired, after all your work.
So make sure to treat this as a serious job (while having fun)!
Here are some websites that pay for testing video games –
You may also apply to various gaming studios like Ubisoft, Rockstar Games, Activision, etc. to work for them as an in-house game tester where you will be hired on a salary.
3. Compete in Video Game Tournaments
For you to make some serious money from playing games, you must have exceptional competitive talent. It may not be a very consistent source of income and you may not be the winner all the time (you win some, you lose some), but the prize money is generally worth all the hard work and effort.
If you are a highly talented gamer, you can win big at these video game tournaments. There are exclusive tournaments for popular games such as PUBG, League of Legends, Call of Duty, and many more.
If you manage to win at such big tournaments, you get to take home lots of cash. But keep in mind that you must be consistent with your winning form and also be highly talented to win big.
4. Play Online Games That Pay Money
You can also make money when you simply play video games online at home. This might sound far from the truth, but there are lots of people out there doing it.
There are tons of online apps and websites that will pay you for playing online games. Here is a list of some of the best ones:
InboxDollars
InboxDollars is a website that lets users earn some money while they play online on their platform. You can also take advantage of this and sign up with them for free. Once you have your account all set, you can start playing games online and make money.
There are lots of games available on the website for you to choose from. As you start, you can make anything from $5 per day and then increase as you keep improving your skills.
Swagbucks
Swagbucks is another popular website that offers a variety of services. You can also play games on this website and make money. You can start small by playing simple games that don’t pay much. When you get more experiences, you can begin taking on more complex games that pay more.
Gamehag
Gamehag is yet another exciting play-to-earn platform that you can play video games on to make money. There are lots of game offerings available on this site.
You get paid in Soul Gems as you progress through the games. These can then be exchanged for Robux, Steam Wallet, prepaid Mastercard, and other payment methods. You get more rewards as you play more games and complete challenges.
Mistplay
Mistplay is an excellent Android app that lets you play games for money on your phone. You get to compete with other players and earn points by winning which can later be redeemed for rewards like gift cards from Amazon, Google Play, prepaid Visa, etc.
Mistplay is completely free to join and you can start earning points from the moment you sign up. They also provide an excellent in-game chat feature that encourages communication with other players.
GamerSaloon
If you love to play games and are good at it, then GamerSaloon could be the perfect platform to turn that hobby into a real money maker.
On this website, gamers get to sign up and then choose from a variety of games they like. As a player, you will compete against other skilled gamers in tournaments, and if you win, you get paid for your winnings!
All you need to do is fund your account with an initial deposit to be able to participate. You can then join 1v1 or multiplayer tournaments. If you win, you need to report your results. And once verified, you will receive your cash prizes.
Is GamerSaloon legit?
Yes! GamerSaloon is an absolutely legitimate website that pays real cash prizes to its users. It was started by 2 brothers who were looking for a similar website where they could compete in games for money but could not find any at the time. So they decided to start their own site which is now known as GamerSaloon.
Paid Game Player
Paid Game Player is an excellent website that offers gamers a fantastic opportunity to make money. To get started, you need to register an account. As a registered member, you will get the chance to access many different games on the website.
The site is only open for users who are 18 years and above (who can make money from it). There are several games that you can play here. Some of the genres include – arcade games, puzzles, word games, and much more.
Pogo
As you begin playing on Pogo, it might not look like a money-making website. Once you create an account, you will be able to gather tokens by playing the many different games available on this website. These tokens will let you earn money.
5. Get Paid to Live Stream Your Games
Another fun way that you can make money from games is through live streaming. You can do this by streaming yourself playing your favorite games live for your audience.
Your audience can be people from different parts of the world. If you have a large broad audience, you can earn good money from displaying ads on your channel. Lots of companies advertise their products or services through these streaming platforms.
You can get started on platforms such as Twitch, YouTube Gaming, Facebook Gaming, or others. These are some of the best platforms where you can make some serious cash by showcasing your talent.
You can also make money directly from your audience in the form of donations, super chats, stars, etc. Every platform has its own form of currency that viewers can pay directly to the streamers as a form of their appreciation.
You can stream from any gaming device like PCs, consoles like the PS4 or XBox, or even your smartphone.
Some of the most popular game streamers are –
You can also make channels and build huge audiences just like them!
Things to note:
- Making money by live streaming games is not easy, and it will take a lot of time and effort for you to build an audience. For this, you will need to be patient and consistent with what you do.
- Another challenge is that there are lots of games that are live-streamed by lot of streamers out there. You will have to get creative to stand out from the crowd. You either need to be really good at the game you’re playing or have an entertaining personality to hold your audience.
6. Get Paid to Play Trivia Games
There are many trivia apps that allow users to play and earn points that can be redeemed for money. This method might not be as lucrative and probably won’t generate as much money. It can, however, be a good way for you to make some money on the side if you find trivia fun.
For you to make good money out of playing trivia, you must answer all the questions correctly. There are several apps that offer users an opportunity to earn points.
Here are some of the popular trivia apps:
- Swagbucks Live
- Givling
- HQ Trivia – iOS and Android
7. Create Video Game Guides (If You’re an Expert)
Video game lovers are usually looking for ways that can help them improve their skills to become even better gamers. For this, they are always on the lookout for quality video gaming guides.
Here’s how you can cash in on this type of demand. Look for websites that seek advanced players’ guides or video guides for games. Such websites will pay you for offering your expert guides either in the form of videos or written content.
For you to make money from this method, you will have to make such gaming guides for various websites. Some of these websites are:
Of course, there are several other websites that will pay you for writing video game guides. You can find more such sites with just a quick search.
8. Become a Video Game Coach
Did you know that you could also make some good money by becoming a gaming coach? Yes, you can offer to render your video game coaching services to willing learners.
Most video game coaches earn between $15 to more than $200 per hour! This usually depends on their experience, expertise, skills, and demand.
A great way to start this is through YouTube. Create a section on your channel where learners can contract you on an hourly basis.
For you to get some following, you will have to set up a YouTube channel where you offer some free gaming tips initially. This will help you gain some following and an audience. You can then advertise your video game coaching services to this audience.
You can also sell your game coaching services on a site like Fiverr. All you need to do is create a free account on the platform and then set up a gig offering your coaching services. You can then charge your clients anything starting from $5 to provide your favorite game’s coaching service.
It is important to note that Fiverr will charge you 20% of every transaction that is made on its platform. For instance, if you get a gig of $100, $20 will go to them. The advantage of using this platform is that it has a large userbase and it’ll be easier to find people looking for such services.
9. Create a Gaming Blog
Another great method that you can use to make money is by creating your own gaming blog. This method requires you to be patient because it takes some time for you to start earning from a blog.
Just like having a YouTube channel, you can cover a vast variety of gaming content like walkthroughs, cheats, hacks, tutorials, etc. on your gaming blog. You could also write reviews of the best and hottest new games available in the market.
You can start setting up your gaming blog easily with a cheap and reliable hosting company like Bluehost.
Game lovers are usually searching for such content that gives them information about their favorite games. This can bring you massive traffic from gaming enthusiasts.
Once you build up traffic, you can then put up display ads on your blog and start earning money.
10. Participate in Esports
You can become an Esports professional if you are highly talented at playing video games. For this, you must be an elite gamer who is willing to attend real competitions to play for cash. Numerous esports championships even get televised for the game lovers to watch live!
As a pro player, you can make money by winning at team tournaments. You can also sign up as a salaried player for an Esports team that will hire you. If you are good at what you do, you can make substantial amounts of money to play computer (or even mobile) games as a professional.
One of the biggest challenges of earning money as a professional player is stiff competition from other talented gamers. The good part though is that once you manage to sign with a top team, you can have a successful career and be paid good money in the form of a monthly salary!
11. Farm and Sell Video Game Accounts or Items
Farming accounts and selling them for profit is a relatively new way of making money from video games. In this method, you will have to create an account in a certain game that you’re good at and make it rise the ranks.
The more in-game items and other valuable goodies like points or coins that you can acquire, the more you will be able to charge for it.
The idea is that a lot of people want to be able to play their favorite games with all the in-game perks and boosts without having to start from scratch.
This method might not make you a lot of money but it’s still better than playing games for free. It lets you take advantage of the new in-game economy concept added within games as a way of monetizing them.
Some of the websites where you can start selling game-related accounts and items are:
- G2G
- PlayerAuctions
- Playerup
- Eldorado
- and more…
12. Additional Ways of Making Money by Playing Video Games
Become a Video Game Developer
You can also make money from video games by becoming a game developer. For you to get successful at this, you will have to get a higher specialized education.
Top gaming companies are usually on the lookout for fresh and new talent. With proper education and a knack for gaming, you can get paid well as a full-time game developer.
If you don’t know anything about game development, you can start learning with this course.
Work as a Video Game Customer Support
You can still make money from video games without much technical knowledge. Finding a career as a game customer support personnel can earn you good cash.
Working as a support agent for a gaming firm is not that technical — some of the duties that you may be tasked with performing are billing, order fulfillment, and subscriptions.
Become a Video Game Technical Support Agent
Apart from the customer support reps, game companies also hire people that offer technical advice to their customers.
For you to be considered for this role, you must have a vast knowledge of gaming. Working as a video game support agent can earn you lots of money, usually more than customer support.
FAQs
How to Make Money Playing Video Games Without Streaming?
There are many different ways to get paid to play video games that don’t involve streaming. Some of these methods as discussed are:
– Start a gaming blog
– Become a game tester
– Farm and sell video game accounts
– Compete in gaming tournaments
– Play online games that pay real money
– Create gaming guides
– Become a video game coach
– and more…
How to Make Money Playing Video Games on Youtube?
There are lots of ways by which you can earn money by playing video games on Youtube. Some of the best ways to monetize your gaming Youtube channel are:
1. Youtube ad income – You get paid for the number of ads shown on your gaming videos.
2. Affiliate marketing – You can promote games and gaming-related products in your videos and make affiliate commissions.
3. Viewer donations – Viewers of your channel can donate directly to you on Youtube in the form of memberships, superchats, and direct donations.
4. Merchandise sales – You can develop and sell your own line of merchandise once your brand becomes popular.
5. Brand partnerships and sponsorships – Brands can collaborate with you directly for any sponsored content that they might want you to create for them.
Conclusion
Making money by playing video games can be your thing even if you are a casual gamer or a serious one looking to make some big money.
There are many professional gamers who have made full-time careers out of gaming. Today, more than ever, there are countless opportunities to make money from gaming.
We are witnessing the gaming industry grow rapidly with new advances in technology. This means that career and money-making prospects are getting even better for gamers. You can use this to your advantage and take up gaming as a full-time career or a part-time side hustle.
It is not going to be easy when you start, but as you grow in the industry, you get to learn more tricks of the trade. This will make you a better professional who can compete at a higher level.
As with everything else in life, nothing comes easy and you need to put in a lot of time and effort if you wish to be successful.
Now that you’ve learned about some of the best ways to make money playing video games, I wish you all the best and success in your gaming journey ahead!
Which of these methods did you like the most? Which method do you think suits your lifestyle the best and can make you the most amount of money? Let me know in the comments below! And also, I’d love to hear what your favorite games are!
It’s interesting. Almost anybody can make money from online gaming. I myself made tons of FUT coins in FIFA and sold them to a reliable website like WhatsGaming.