So you’ve decided to become a game streamer.
Congratulations! You are now one step closer towards the streamer career many aspire to achieve. Big names in the streaming world such as Pewdiepie, Ninja, and Shroud got themselves earning a massive fortune from their hobby-turned-business.
The good news is: it’s not too late for you to aspire to take the road they’ve taken. But before you become a streaming A-Lister, you must first pick a game to stream. These games would define your career, so it would be better to pick the right game for you!
Here are some of the popular and up and coming games to consider streaming in 2021:
Popular Games to Stream in 2021
Fortnite
Contrary to popular belief, Fortnite ain’t dead.
Although a lot of big streamers already left the game and moved on with their careers, the BR title remains to be one of the most-streamed games across all platforms. It was released as different software packages by Epic Games in 2017, with a variety of game modes that share the same world and game engine.
The most popular game mode is Fortnite: Battle Royale, where 100 players fight to win a last-man-standing match that involves picking gun and medic loots and building fortresses.
Why play this game?
Every match is guaranteed to raise your adrenaline levels and keep you pumped until the end. In short, this game is undeniably fun even in 2021! While it can prove to be a challenge for new streamers to join this audience, it’s a good pick for those on pro teams or who aim to compete in tournaments.
Epic Games also knows how to appeal to its young audience, forming exciting collaborations such as the recent appearance of K-Pop superstar boy band BTS in-game thanks to an epic crossover. The game has an average of 81.2K viewers on Twitch.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG)
The release of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) in 2017 paved the way for Battle Royale genre games to enter mainstream status. It is a competitive survival shooter game developed by Tencent International Limited, where players must fight to locate weapons and supplies on an uninhabited island to be hailed as the lone survivor.
If you manage to win over the hundred others, the “chicken dinner” is rightfully yours.
Why play this game?
It’s always interesting to see the gameplay of one of the most popular games in the world. PUBG attracts viewers across all ages, making it easier for you to possibly cultivate a loyal following. Whether you’re playing on PC, console or mobile, every match is surely a whole lot of fun!
League of Legends
League of Legends is arguably one of the most classic games to be streamed. It recently saw a resurgence thanks to the decline of Battle Royale (BR) games in 2020, and many of its veteran players are returning to the game due to quarantine and social distancing protocols brought by the pandemic.
It is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game that is fast-paced, competitive, and filled with an ever-expanding roster of champions to choose from.
Why play this game?
LoL hosts frequent competitions worldwide. The hype for League always grows during its routine yearly peak (October – November), making it an ideal time for you to stream the game. The ceiling for growth in this game is enormous, too.
The game’s eSports scene also remains unwavering. It’s one of the few titles that pushed through with the annual 2020 League of Legends World Championship on October 31 where Damwon Gaming outlasted Suning, 3-1 in a best-of-five finals series.
Minecraft
Simply described by its creators as “a game about placing blocks and going on adventures,” Minecraft grew to become a cultural phenomenon over the years. It is one of the games which helped Pewdiepie rise to the ranks of being the top streamers of all-time with 100 Million subscribers.
Released in 2009, it is one of the most best-selling PC games ever created. With the endless possibilities it presents, it’s no surprise how this game is a streaming hit.
Why play this game?
Minecraft allows gamers to have freedom and total control as they play. They can choose to build their own worlds and do other in-game activities like exploration, gathering resources, and full-on survival mode.
It’s guaranteed that no two streams will be exactly the same thanks to its huge breadth of possible experiences. How fun is that?
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is a first-person shooter video game produced by Activision. The long-renowned and iconic first-person shooter game is back on track! Cross-play, free maps and modes, and a new gaming engine deliver the largest technical leap in the entire CoD franchise. Long-time fans wouldn’t want to miss out on that.
Why play this game?
If you like to be challenged in your games, this game is a great choice to stream. The reboot is branded to be more provocative than its predecessors, thus more strategy and thought is required. There’s also plenty of multiplayer modes to enjoy.
Call of Duty: Warzone
From the world of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Warzone is the title’s free-to-play BR game mode which features a massive combat experience up to 150 players. Drop in, armor up, loot for rewards, and battle your way to the top!
The action-packed video game currently gathers up to 48.8K viewers on Twitch.
Why play this game?
For Modern Warfare owners, Warzone can be easily accessed as another game mode option in the Main Menu between Multiplayer and Co-Op.
For Non-Modern Warfare owners interested to give the game a try, a separate version can be downloaded as a free-to-play MW title on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Games Store, or the Battle.net App on PC.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
CS:GO is a multiplayer first-person shooting game which is among the most competitive games online. It currently holds a 9/10 rating on Steam. The game added a battle royale mode last year to jump on the BR hype, and it was later turned into a free-to-play game. Most notably, CS:GO’s competitive aspect remains unrivalled to many.
The FPS title currently has 43.4K average viewers on Twitch.
Why play this game?
There are lots of positive reviews for the game, and the peak concurrent players is relatively high all-year round. Many players also note that other FPS games don’t nearly have as much depth as CS:GO. With its Counter Strike title, it’s also bound to hit players with the classic nostalgia.
FIFA 21
The perfect game for soccer heads: FIFA 21 is here to maintain the track record of the revered soccer series. The gameplay isn’t drastically different from last year’s title, but it features improvements for longtime fans.
It marks the 28th installment in the FIFA series, and was released October 9 for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The sports game has an average of 68.4K viewers on Twitch.
Why play this game?
FIFA 21 is a fast-paced game with a better and improved attacking feature, making it easier for players to score goals. Passing has notably improved, along with shooting such as Karim Benzema’s remarkably good left foot.
Another noticeable improvement is found in the game’s career mode. The training schedule now has a more in-depth program, where players can individually set which attributes they wish to specifically focus on & improve.
Valorant
Valorant is a 5v5 character-based tactical FPS where precise gunplay meets unique agent abilities. The game brings a very crafted gameplay with a similar shooting mechanic to CSGO, though adding more technical ability which is an advanced version of utility in a round.
The Riot Games-developed title is considered as one of the biggest video games in 2020, with an average of 37.8k followers on Twitch.
Why play this game?
Valorant is a great tactical FPS choice with distinct abilities at a balanced state. The game is pretty solid in terms of gunplay and balanced abilities. Agents’ abilities are the only new aspect of the game, which mostly revolves around defending, distractions and front assault.
It also does not require high-end specs to play the game, which makes it accessible to many players across the world.
Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V is a classic action, adventure and a FPS shooter game with 2 fascinating modes: Story mode and Online mode. Although established in 2013, the action-adventure game’s open world design lets players freely roam San Andreas’ open countryside and the fictional city of Los Santos, based on Los Angeles.
The nostalgic title maintains an average of 27.5K viewers on Twitch.
Why play this game?
Even in 2021, the appeal of GTA V is forecasted to remain strong. If you want to play a sandbox game with such an in-depth level of graphical detail together with your friends, the title is still a solid choice.
From FPS, world building, story, physics and game mechanics, cars, characters and a whole lot more— it is undoubtedly a great game to play for your future streams.
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Are you a frustrated aspiring pilot or do you want to relive your childhood dreams of becoming one? If so, this game is for you! That is, if you have an ample amount of space left in your hardware.
The true-to-life flying simulator is indeed awe inspiring, but it demands powerful hardware to be able to unlock its full potential. The immersive world, in addition to pulling in live weather, flight traffic and multiplayer data makes it a bit of a bear to run smoothly
Why play this game?
Microsoft Flight Simulator is just as fascinating to watch than it is to play the game. To be able to map the whole world in itself is already remarkable, not to mention the stunning and breathtaking in-game graphics.
If you enjoy flight simulators, consider this game a must-have! The scenery is top notch, lighting is amazing, and the aircrafts are meticulously made true to the smallest details. The gorgeous and next-level visuals will surely attract new viewers for your channel.
Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact is a free-to-play action RPG developed by miHoYo in 2020. Considered as one of the biggest launches on Mobile with 19.7K average viewers on Twitch, the game features a fantasy-themed open world environment and action-based battle system using elemental magic and character switching.
It also uses gacha game monetization for players to obtain new characters, weapons, and other resources.
Why play this game?
This action RPG features an incredible open world and addictive exploration, making players explore around for hours on end. The Anime illustration is stunning and the storyline will keep you hooked. Before you know it, you will be playing for quite sometime already.
It is available to play on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, and Microsoft Windows.
TeamFight Tactics
This popular auto battler game is developed by Riot Games, where it uses character assets from League of Legends and is heavily based on Dota Auto Chess. TFT is where players compete online against seven other opponents by building a team to be the last one standing!
Why play this game?
Assemble an army of your favorite League of Legends champions on the PvP strategy autobattler. It is a fun game to play if you put the time and effort to know good synergies. TFT is also a famous game to stream, with an average of 11.8K viewers on Twitch.
Bottomline
In closing, for new gamers looking to break into the streaming world — take time in deciding which game fits your niche the most. It might take some time and a lot of trial and error from one game to another, but choosing the right game can guide your streamer career into the road of glory.
For those looking to perhaps go outside their comfort zone, challenge yourself and play a game which intrigues you the most. Sure, you might start as a beginner with low skills, but the growth and progress you’ll show along the way is a great option for building an audience.
