8 Ways to Earn Money Playing Games

Getting paid to play video games seems like the dream job that's almost too good to be true. While we know there are people out there living this life, how exactly can you make that dream a reality?

Some of the top professional e-gamers earn up to $15,000 a month! However, getting to that level of gaming takes decades of practice so what can you do today to start making money playing games?

Video Game Testing

Testing video games has long been a sort after job amongst keen gamers. Get paid to play your favorite games?  What could be better! However, it's not as simple as just playing games all day - you'll need to have a keen eye for bugs and at least a basic understanding of programming. The best video game testers should be able to consistently make recommendations that increase sales for the developer. Top video game testers can earn up to $60,000 a year.

Twitch Streaming

Streaming your live games on Twitch can earn you revenue through advertising and sponsorships. Some of the top Twitch streamers earn up to $10 million in a year, although the average is closer to $20,000.

To get started earning money on Twitch you'll need to rack up at least 500 broadcast minutes in a month with 7 unique broadcasts. You'll also need to have 50 followers or more and on average 3 simultaneous viewers over 30 days.

Get a Secondlife Job

Through the online virtual community Secondlife, you can get a job and earn real money while playing the game. Ways to earn money in Secondlife include buying and selling virtual real estate or clothing, hosting or performing at virtual events, and teaching classes.

There are also small tasks you can do to earn extra cash, like winning prizes, doing surveys, or simply sitting on a chair outside a store. Players get paid in Linden dollars which can be converted into real cash.

Youtube Video Streaming

Like Twitch, keen gamers can make money by streaming their live gaming tournaments on Youtube. The most popular Youtube gaming personality, PewDiePie, made $12 million in 2017 doing this. His fun gaming style combined with witty commentary proved to be a huge success, gaining him millions of followers.

Most gamers won't make anywhere near this much but even just a few thousand subscribers is enough to start earning advertising revenue through Youtube.

Video Game Coach

If you feel you've perfected a specific game maybe you could teach your skills to other wannabe gamers. Video game coaching is a big industry, with some of the top teachers earning hundreds of dollars an hour! You'll need to really know your stuff though and be able to prove your skills, which can take time. However, in the long term, it could become a lucrative career.

In-Game Currency Farming

Many MMO games now feature their own in-game currency or gold which can be earned by completing mundane tasks. It often takes a long time to earn this currency so other wealthier players will buy it off you with real cash.

You won't make a lot of money doing this and it can be time-consuming but if you have nothing else to do it's at least some earnings.

Research and Report on Video Games

Another way that you can make money playing video games is by writing about them for game review websites. You'll need to have decent language and writing skills but half your job will involve just playing games.

This kind of work is usually freelance and can be done remotely, earning you a fairly decent income if you don't live somewhere expensive. If you have some qualifications in journalism or research it will help a lot.