Video games are growing in popularity every day, with people of all ages eager to get involved. The gaming market is projected to be valued at $268.8 billion by 2025.
Gaming could be a fun hobby, but have you ever considered how you can make money out of it, from your phone to being a pro coach? We’ve collected all the ways to make money from playing games here to help you turn your interest into an extra income stream.
Competitive Gaming and Esports
The gaming community counts on popular video game tournaments. In this environment, gaming is a way to earn through putting your skills in front of an international audience. If you have the talent to rise above everyone else, then gaming tournaments are your stage for success.
The first place to start might be online qualifiers for popular games such as Dota 2, LoL (League of Legends), CS:GO, or Call of Duty. Given that you are good enough in competencies to meet their requirements, you won't have long to wait before they take notice. Esports are one of the best money-making games with impressive money prizes and generous sponsors.
Professional Teams
Participation in esport tournaments is not only an opportunity to show off your skills, but also a chance to earn serious money. Many teams and players started with amateur matches, and over time, entered the international arena, where prize funds of hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars are played out.
NAVI (Natus Vincere) is a Ukrainian esports organization that became famous after win money in the first The International tournament of Dota 2 in 2011 with a prize of 1 million dollars. Since then, NAVI has grown into a recognizable brand with teams in various disciplines, including CS2, Dota 2, PUBG, and others. The organization's total winnings in tournaments amount to more than $23.7 million, earned in 848 competitions.
Sponsorship
Brand partnerships are an important part of the success of eSports. Well-known gaming organizations become attractive to sponsors because they have a large fan base, high recognition, and regular appearances at major tournaments.
In addition to participating in tournaments with multi-million dollar prize pools, such teams also receive income from sponsorship contracts. This is clearly visible in the players' uniforms: they feature the logos of partner companies such as Logitech and GG.BET.
Streaming and Content Creation
You can also make money from gaming by streaming it online. Streaming in gaming refers to the act of someone showing an online audience how they play video games in real time. Successful streamers make millions from ad revenue, subscriptions, and brand deals.
Twitch
Twitch has 2.1 million daily viewers and is a popular streaming platform. Streamer's channels build the whole world on Twitch, many people get famous and even make money from doing it.
Besides the donations from viewers, once Twitch activates the Partner Program for you, start offering your own subscription levels directly on Twitch at three different prices for your subscribers: $4.99, $9.99 and $24.99 per month.
YouTube Gaming
200 million people watch gaming content on YouTube daily, which is slightly inferior to Twitch, but still remains an attractive platform for earning money. Your earnings will depend on your donations and who is watching you. When you start streaming, the most money will come from monetizing views, donations, and subscriptions.
You can also promote products or services that align with your audience’s interests. It will take some time before you have a dedicated audience, but with patience and determination, you will most likely succeed.
Gaming Channels
According to a January 2025 survey, about five in 10 adult gamers in the U.S. reported watching gaming guides and tutorials on YouTube. Game review content categories were popular with 40 percent of American gaming enthusiasts.
Starting a YouTube channel with gaming content can be a steady source of income, especially if you focus on the most popular formats. According to the chart:
- 47% of viewers watch gaming guides and tutorials.
- 32% watch “let’s play” videos.
Choosing formats with a large audience can help you grow your channel faster and start making money.
Game Testing and Reviews
Game testing and reviewing are two popular ways gamers can monetize their passions.
Game Testers
A game tester job is one of the most realistic ways to make money playing video games. Testers participate in the development process, identifying bugs and shortcomings before the game is released to the market.
The average annual income for a tester is about $60,000. If you love video games and want to turn this hobby into a source of income, testing can be a great start.
Game Reviews
Writing game reviews can help you earn from your knowledge while building trust and industry connections. Your blog can consist of game reviews, gaming experiences, commentary on world championships, and any other topics you want to discuss.
Take a closer look at new games, noting what makes them exciting or frustrating. The more detail and personality you bring, your insights will be more valuable.
The bulk of your income will come from advertising and sponsorships. A bigger blog audience can lead to higher earnings. You can also approach brands and offer to promote their business on your blog for a monetary reward.
Game Development and Sales
The passion for game development and selling game assets can go beyond a hobby and become a lucrative career. With demand for ready-made assets, even small projects can bring in a steady income.
Game Design
If you love playing games and have a degree in design or art, video game design may be your specialty. Video game development companies are looking for game designers to help them make their games visually appealing and cohesive.
Your responsibilities will include creating storyboards for the storyline, designing all the characters and environments in the game. Video game designers earn an average of $150,000 per year, so this is definitely an option worth considering.
Selling Assets
Selling game assets is one of the ways for developers, artists, and sound engineers to monetize. This can include:
- 2D and 3D character models
- Animations and effects
- Backgrounds and interface elements
- Music, sound effects, voice lines
- Templates of scenes, levels, or even entire mini-games
Such materials are actively bought by other developers. Platforms like the Unity Asset Store, Unreal Marketplace, or itch.io allow you to list and sell these assets for a fixed price or on a “pay what you want” basis.
Play-to-Earn (P2E) Games
Play-to-earn (P2E) games allow you to turn your gaming time into real-world rewards. Blockchain-based games have created a new way for games to earn money while playing.
Crypto Games
Games like Axie Infinity, Gods Unchained, Decentraland, and others allow players to earn cryptocurrency and in-game items (NFTs) that can be sold for profit.
NFTs
Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs in blockchain games, are a kind of digital contract that represents an object in the game world. It could be a character, weapon, skin, map, pet, or any other facet of the game. This type of game is different from traditional video games. Players can own these unique in-game assets and make money by selling them in various forms or putting them to work.
- One of the most expensive plots of virtual land in Axie Infinity was sold for 550 ETH. It was a plot in the prestigious Genesis zone, the rarity and location of which make it especially valuable.
- Investment company Republic Realm acquired virtual land in The Sandbox for $4.3 million, becoming one of the most expensive deals in the metaverse.
And there are many such examples. The more rare and useful NFTs players collect, the more opportunities to earn.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a simple and scalable way through games to make money by engaging with your viewers.
Promote Gaming Products
You can use your status as a game player to make a profit from gaming products. A way to start is by reviewing the products you like best, creating guides on how to use them, or showing as part of your online broadcasts.
When readers click through from your link to the vendor's and then buy that product, you'll receive a commission. Just make sure your recommendations are very real, because this will help you gain the trust of your followers.
Other Options
Making money from video games is not only about streaming, testing, or participating in tournaments. There are less obvious, but very real ways to get income.
Gaming Apps
One of the easiest ways to make money from games is through mobile gaming apps. While there are not many games that pay real money instantly, instead, you get paid for reaching certain milestones in games.
Mistplay, a mobile game platform that provides specially selected video games for participants. After you create an account, the profile will guide you to the most suitable games for your interests.
JustPlay is another app where you can win an Amazon voucher of $5 or a PayPal payout from $2 (if you refuse your prize in games for cash). The money that you are entitled to collect depends on how long you remain in any game on this app.
Coaching
Now that being a video game trainer is a recognized profession, you can be an online game mentor-instructor, teaching the students some little tricks.
For example, you can gather five people to play under your guidance and explore every aspect of the game. Take them on tours of various video game tournaments, and make them better players.
Use platforms like GamerSensei or Fiverr to promote your coaching services.
Selling Merchandise
The global gaming merchandise market reached USD 489.8 million in 2024, placing the main emphasis on customization. Merchs that reflects a fan's love, with items like t-shirts, hoodies, and posters, is selling like hot cakes. With a large enough fan base, this can become a lucrative sideline or even your main livelihood.
How to start playing games and earning money
Here's a clear, step-by-step guide to help you get started:
- Choose your direction
Start by choosing a path that matches your strengths, interests, and time available. Here are a few popular options:
- Competitive gaming (tournaments, esports)
- Streaming on Twitch or YouTube
- Game testing
- Reviews
- Play-to-earn games
- Affiliate marketing
- Coaching
- Set up your equipment
Depending on where you're heading, your setup might include a powerful computer or gaming laptop and a good internet connection, a microphone, and webcam.
- Look for monetization opportunities
Each direction has its own way to earn. Here’s how to start monetizing:
- Esports: Sign up for online qualifiers on platforms like FACEIT, ESL, or Battlefy.
- Streaming: Join Twitch’s Affiliate or Partner program, or monetize a video game through YouTube views.
- Game testing: Submit your application to studios or freelancing platforms like PlaytestCloud or Upwork.
- Crypto games: Explore the P2E game economy and check out marketplaces.
- Affiliate marketing: Join the gaming affiliate programs established by Amazon and Razer, and so on.
If you want to do something with crypto, information channels like Arkham Exchange should be examined more closely. You can sign up for an account or browse related articles to learn more about cryptocurrency platforms and how to keep your digital assets secure.
- Track your progress and adapt
Treat your gaming activity like a business. Monitor what content performs well, which games or platforms bring in the most money and pay attention on feedback from your audience or clientsUse this information to adjust your strategy, double down on what works, and drop what doesn’t.
Success in gaming doesn’t happen overnight. Stay active, keep learning, and don’t give up after the first setback.
Conclusion
There are many different ways to make money for aspiring gamers who love playing video games. You can earn extra money in your savings account just by playing games on your phone. Or, you can jump right into your professional career and play games for money.
Get ready for the future and play by getting paid to test games, game developers, and game designers. Or kickstart your professional gaming career and join an esports team. You can also stream on Twitch and make some money on the side as you’re training for these different tournaments. Enrol as a video game journalist and generate written articles or video reviews from games. Pick the one that fits your lifestyle best and begin earning money from gaming!
FAQ
Is it possible to earn a full-time income from gaming?
Yes, it is possible to earn a full-time income from gaming, but for most novices, it doesn’t happen overnight, and the approach to making money from gaming can vary widely by game.
Do I need special equipment to start earning through gaming?
To start earning through gaming, you don't need special equipment. A stable internet connection, a laptop with a microphone and webcam will be enough.
What types of games offer the best earning opportunities?
The best earning opportunities offer esports games and P2E games.
What games pay real money on Cash App instantly?
Games like 21 Blitz or Solitaire Cube pay real money to cash app instantly.
How much do Twitch streamers make?
Twitch streamers can make between $50 and $1,500 per month for a decently sized audience, depending on the average viewer count.
![Pre-Bitcoin Era. The Evolution of Magic Internet Money [Basic Crypto Course]](https://hodlfm.com/content/images/size/w600/2025/02/Crypto-course-1-part.png)