Scrambly: How to Make Money Playing Video Games: Top Methods (2025)
Looking for ways to make a little extra cash? Keen to have some fun while you build a nice little side hustle? Why not look at how to make money playing video games?
You’ll be amazed at how many opportunities exist… and how easy it is to get started. You just need to know where to look!
We’ve done the hard work for you! Read our guide to making money with video games below.
Can You Really Make Money Playing Video Games?
Absolutely! You can get paid to play video games, whether you're an occasional dabbler or a serious competitive player. Pick your risk tolerance and time commitment and see how the cash stacks up.
The best ways to play video games for money are:
- Free gaming apps
- Live streaming
- Competing in eSports Tournaments
- Playing skill-based ‘Play-to-Earn’ video games
- Creating gaming content (& 121 Gamer coaching)
- Testing games
- Developing games.
Main Ways to Make Money Playing Video Games
Level 1: Get paid to play video games for free
Get paid to play video games for free, with apps such as Scrambly, Swagbucks, and Free Cash.
Free video games are ideal for beginners, offering cash awards or prizes as you progress. Play free games to win coins, and convert them into cash or rewards when you hit the payout threshold.
There are over 120 free games to play for cash in Scrambly, with a low $1 threshold to cash out your winnings.
Level 2: Compete in eSports tournaments
Make money playing video games with eSports. Top-tier players in games like Fortnite, League of Legends, or Valorant earn serious income.
With esports and competitive gaming, you bet on your gaming abilities to earn cash, or join tournaments. The main esports sites are:
- Faceit – for competitive games like CS2 and Dota 2.
- Challengermode – for prize tournaments
- Repeat.gg – for leaderboard challenges (free and paid) to win cash prizes.
- Players' Lounge – for player vs player (PvP) wager-based matches
Competitive gaming income comes from team player salaries, prize money, and endorsement deals.
Tournament winnings range from several hundred dollars to millions of $$$. Professionals also earn team salaries and income from merch and sponsorships. For example:
Monetization opportunities with esports
To earn money playing video games in eSports tournaments:
- Focus on dominating one game to climb the ranking ladder
- Participate in amateur online leagues and ‘just for fun’ tournaments
- Network heavily with teams and the player community
- Identify target esports organizations and apply for tryouts.
- Stay mentally and physically fit to maintain your peak.
Level 3: Get paid to play video games with streaming
Streaming platforms let you play video games for money. This is one of the most accessible ways of making money by playing video games.
Use YouTube Gaming, Twitch, and Kick to build your audience and revenue model (donations, subscriptions, ad revenue, and sponsorships). For example:
- Play on Twitch to earn with Bits (tips), subscriptions, sponsorships and ads
- Monetize YouTube Gaming with the Partner Program, sponsorships, Super Chats, and memberships.
- Try Kick—a newer Twitch competitor that offers streamers a higher level of revenue split.
- Earn from TikTok gaming with gifts, sponsorships, and the Creator Fund.
- Consider affiliate marketing revenue through products such as energy drinks and gaming gear as you build your presence.
How to make money playing video games with streaming
- Pick a game or niche that you love playing
- Invest in a good microphone and webcam, and have fibre broadband for speed.
- Create a well-designed streaming channel
- Release content consistently and engage with your audience.
- Promote your stream through Twitter and TikTok to grow your following.
Level 4: Blockchain gaming
Make money playing video games with blockchain gaming and Play-to-Earn (P2R) platforms and earn cryptocurrencies or NFTs. Popular platforms include:
- Illuvium
- Guild of Guardians
- Star Atlas and
- TreasureDAO, which offers multiple P2E games.
How to get paid to play video games with P2E
- Win battles or achieve in-game milestones to earn crypto with real-world value
- Win in-game stakes
- Trade in-game NFTs
- Maintain a careful balance of risk and reward. Play-to-earn platforms are volatile and inherently risky. To mitigate these financial risks:
- Research each opportunity before investing money/time (see below)
- Choose games with transparent terms, positive reviews, and strong player bases.
- Monitor crypto fluctuations.
Popular Play-to-Earn (P2E) games and risk levels
Level 5: Create gaming content on TikTok and YouTube
One of the best ways to make money playing video games in 2025 is through content. Short and long-form content is growing, and viewers want:
- Gaming tutorials
- Game reviews
- Funny moments
- Commentary videos and
- Lore deep-dives.
Typical earnings come from ad revenue, affiliate links, SuperChat features, merch, sponsorships, product placement, and fan support.
YouTube Gaming, for example, is ideal for long-form content creators. To begin earning USD through AdSense, gain 1,000+ subscribers and 4,000 watch hours.
How to get paid for playing video games through content
- Invest in basic equipment and learn how to create videos and thumbnails
- Deliver regular, optimized content targeted to your audience
- Invest in social media marketing strategies to build your following
- Repurpose your content across platforms to maximize reach and value.
Level 6. Become a virtual game assistant
Earn by charging other players to help them level up, complete missions, or obtain rare items.
Also known as an in-game service provider, experienced players make money playing video games for other people.
Virtual Game Assistants charge other players to help them complete missions, level up, or secure rare items. This is a viable stream of income, particularly in battle royale and MMORPG games.
Check the terms of service on each game to avoid a ban.
Level 7: Coach other gamers
Players with advanced skills make money playing video games by coaching other gamers.
The top platforms for coaching players are Metafy and GamerSensei (particularly for Fortnite and LoL). Some coaches advertise on freelance platforms such as Fiverr, or offer private lessons via Discord.
To get into gamer coaching:
- Build a personal brand built on your skills and achievements
- Market yourself well
- Share educational content that builds your reputation and credibility.
- Niche to specific game modes or roles to sharpen your messaging.
Typical earnings are $15 to $100+ per hour, depending on the platform. For example:
Level 8: Develop your own games
If you’re creative and have coding skills, make money playing video games and design your own mods or new titles.
Learn Unity or Unreal Engine and begin with mods for mainstream games like Minecraft. Upload them to Nexus Mods or Steam Workshop.
Monetize your work through Patreon support and donations, or by selling games on Steam or itch.io.
Side Quest: Get paid to play video games as a tester
Wondering about jobs that pay you to play video games? Become a game tester and provide feedback on new titles for money.
Make some flexible side gig income on the side, or consider a full-time career. Game testing is a great foot into the gaming development industry.
Payscale reports the average hourly income from game testing is $13 to $35. Entry-level work is easy to do. Provide feedback on the UI, gameplay, and broader experience. Great communication skills and attention to detail will set you apart.
Take it to the next level by becoming a professional tester and delivering detailed testing protocols. Glassdoor reports average annual salaries of $53,697. These are typical earnings by platform:
Earnings by game testing platform
To be paid to play video games before they’re released, look at:
- PlaytestCloud – testing for mobile games
- BetaFamily – as above.
- UserTesting – general website testing platform, including game tests.
- uTest – freelance test gig and QA site for apps and games.
- Upwork – posts freelance game testing and dev jobs.
- Developer job boards, such as Ubisoft Careers and Epic Games.
Make Money Playing Video Games: Skills and Tools to Get Started
To make money playing video games, you’ll need game launch and streamer software, paired with hardware such as:
- A computer or console (PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, or Xbox)
- A quality monitor with a high refresh rate
- A gaming keyboard, trackpad and/or mouse
- A headset with a good microphone for multiplayer games.
Plus gaming skills such as:
- Swift reflexes and muscle memory
- Problem-solving
- Strategic thinking
- Game knowledge
- Communication and teamwork skills
- Commitment to practice
- Community involvement.
The last point is important. Gaming is more than just a way to make money by playing video games. It offers community, fun, teamwork, and a sense of inclusion.
Success Stories: Real Gamers Who Made It
The idea of getting paid to play video games used to sound like pie in the sky. But today, it’s an easy way to make extra cash, and for some professional gamers, it’s a lucrative career.
With streaming platforms, gig economy platforms, blockchain gaming, competitive esports, and ‘play to earn’ games, there are many options for gamers to turn their skills into $$$.
Some of the biggest gamers get paid to play video games while creating content.
- Doha 2 player, Johan “N0tail” Sundstein, has won over $7.1 million in esports tournaments.
- Kyle "Bugha" Giersdorf has earned the most from Fortnite at around $3.73 million.
- Sasha "Scarlett" Hostyn has amassed $271,559.33 as a professional Starcraft II player.
Risks and Challenges to Consider
Deciding the best way to get paid to play video games? Factor in risks and challenges, as well as the potential earnings from different platforms and gaming types.
Risks of getting paid to play video games
- Competitive gaming can become addictive, and in-game purchases can encourage compulsive behavior. This can escalate into gambling, especially in young people.
- Excessive spending on esports bets or in-game purchases can negatively impact personal finances
- If gaming becomes addictive, it can lead to depression, anxiety, or low self-esteem, especially if financial strain becomes an issue.
- Online gaming environments can expose players to scams, harassment, and cyberbullying.
- Money laundering is a risk with in-game virtual economies.
- Cybersecurity threats include identity theft and data breaches
- Players may be exposed to violent or sexually inappropriate content
- Professional gaming is high-pressure, requiring long hours and sacrifices in other areas of life.
Mitigating the risks of playing video games for money
It’s certainly possible to make money playing video games, but understand the risks and mitigate them with responsible gaming and spending habits. For example, set limits for in-game purchases.
Parents
- Monitor under-18s in online gaming environments and understand the risks.
- Ensure young gamers maintain a healthy balance of social, gaming, and study time, combined with healthy pursuits, outdoor activities, and a balanced diet.
Gamers
- Seek help if gaming becomes addictive or interferes with daily life.
- Follow a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
- Above all, if you are seeking to make money playing video games, remember the ‘everything in moderation’ rule, and stop when it ceases to be fun.
Inspired to Make Money Playing Video Games?
Making money playing video games is enjoyable and rewarding if you do it right. So start small, build your skills, enjoy the community, and see if your passion translates into bonus earnings!
Which route will you take to monetizing your gaming passion?
