Achievement Unlocked: 8 Ways to Get Paid to Play Video Games

For many, video games are more than just a pastime — they're a universe of adventure, a canvas for creativity, and a competitive arena. But what if your hobby could also be a source of income? The gaming industry is expected to reach $205 billion by 2026, and with the rise of streaming, esports, and digital marketplaces, it's easier than ever to get paid to play video games.

But this isn't about becoming a millionaire overnight. Instead, think of it as a side quest. A way to turn your passion into a reliable side hustle that can help cover bills or save for a vacation. We'll explore some realistic ways to do just that, from beginner-friendly options to those that require more skill. Here's how to get paid to play.

8 legit ways to get paid to play video games

1. Stream on Twitch or YouTube Gaming

This is one of the most popular ways to get paid to play video games. Platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming let you broadcast your gameplay to viewers around the world.

How it works: You'll need streaming software (like OBS Studio), a good microphone, and a reliable internet connection. The key is consistency. Stream regularly, engage with your chat, and play games that you're passionate about.
Earning potential: Monetization comes from ads, viewer donations, subscriptions, and sponsorships.
Beginner-friendly? Moderate. It takes time and effort to build an audience. Don't expect to earn a significant income for the first few months.

2. Join esports tournaments

If you're highly skilled, esports can be lucrative. It is a growing field where gamers compete against each other for cash prizes.

How it works: Look for local or online tournaments for games you excel at like Fortnite, Counter-Strike (CS:GO/CS2), Dota 2, or Super Smash Bros. Many communities host smaller events with modest prize pools (think gift cards or a few hundred dollars). As you gain experience, you can work your way up to professional leagues with huge prize pools.
Earning potential: Varies wildly. A community tournament might pay peanuts, while major championships can offer big sums. For example, Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf won $3 million at age 16 in the Fortnite World Cup.
Beginner-friendly? No. This path requires a huge time commitment to master a game. You're competing against the best.

3. Create gaming content

If being on camera isn't your thing, you can still get paid to play video games by creating content about them. This could be anything from detailed guides, reviews, and deep-dives.

How it works: You can write reviews for gaming blogs, create YouTube walkthroughs or commentary, or produce engaging articles on platforms like Imagine Games Network (IGN). One popular example is FightinCowboy, which has about 1.5 million subscribers and is known for helping players get through difficult games.
Earning potential: This includes freelance rates for writers, ad revenue from YouTube, or affiliate income from linking to games or gear you recommend. You can also build an audience and use platforms like Patreon for direct fan support. If you become popular on YouTube, you can monetize your videos through ad revenue and sponsors. One popular streamer, penguinz0, has about 17.2 million subscribers.
Beginner-friendly? High. If you can write or record a decent video, you can start today.

4. Test new games (QA or beta testing)

Companies need to ensure their games are bug-free before they launch. QA (quality assurance) testers are hired to play a game repeatedly, trying to break it and find bugs.

How it works: Companies like Nintendo, Blizzard, or Electronic Arts hire for these roles. It's less about playing for fun and more about a methodical process of following test scripts, documenting bugs, and reproducing errors. You can also sign up for paid beta testing or focus groups through specialized sites.
Earning potential: Varies. As a freelance tester, you might get a flat fee per project or hired full-time with an average salary of about $73,000.
Beginner-friendly? High for beta focus groups. Moderate for QA roles, which may require experience. Sites like PlaytestCloud, BetaFamily, and UserTesting offer paid testing gigs. Some testers earn $10–$30/hour, depending on the project.

5. Play reward-based apps and websites

This is the simplest way to get paid to play games online. But it has the lowest earning potential. Many apps and websites promise rewards for playing mobile or browser games.

How it works: Download an app like Mistplay or Swagbucks, play games on their list, and earn points. These points can then be redeemed for gift cards or small amounts of cash via PayPal.
Earning potential: Low. You can earn a bit of extra money, but it's not a major money source.
Beginner-friendly? Very high. Anyone with a smartphone can start. Just be sure to stick to reputable apps to avoid scams.

6. Sell in-game assets

Some games let you sell in-game assets for real money — meaning skins, mods ›(modifications), or marketplace goods. This isn't crypto or NFTs, just legit digital assets.

How it works: The most famous example is the Steam Community Market, where players of games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Dota 2 can buy and sell weapon skins, keys, trading cards, and more. The value of these items is driven by supply and demand. Some rare skins sell for thousands of dollars.
Earning potential: This depends on the game and your luck. You might spend hours playing to find an item that's only worth a few cents, or you could get a rare drop that's worth a small fortune.
Beginner-friendly? Moderate. You need to understand the market and game mechanics.

7. Offer coaching to other gamers

If you've mastered a game and have a knack for teaching, you can sell your expertise to other players.

How it works: Websites like Gamer Sensei and Fiverr allow you to create a profile and offer your services as a coach. You can also set your hourly rate and schedule sessions with clients to help them level up. This is a good way to leverage your knowledge of a game like League of Legends or Overwatch.
Earning potential: What you make varies based on your expertise. You might start at a modest rate of $10-$20 an hour. But popular coaches earn much more.
Beginner-friendly? Low. This is for expert-level players only. You need to be confident enough in your skills to teach others.

8. Create mods or tools for games

Are you a programmer or a creative designer? Many game communities are built on the creativity of their modders, who create new content and fix bugs.

How it works: Use your coding or design skills to build mods for popular games. The modding community for games like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Minecraft is big. You can then release your mods for free and accept donations, or use a platform like Patreon for support. Some developers hire talented modders to work on official projects. Furthermore, many early game releases need patches upon release. The biggest example in recent years was Cyberpunk 2077, which was unplayable for older-gen consoles. This prompted a major backlash against its creator, CD Projekt RED. The issues were fixed with official patches and contributions from modders.
Earning potential: Income is largely donation-based, so it can be unreliable. However, if your mod becomes popular, you could earn big bucks.
Beginner-friendly? Moderate. This requires technical skills. But if you have a passion for a game and coding skills, it can be rewarding.

Watch out for scams and “too good to be true” offers

The dream of making money from gaming is widespread. But scammers know it, too. Be cautious of any website or app that asks for an upfront fee to "register" or promises guaranteed work with no effort. Here's what to look out for to know whether .

Red flags:

Upfront fees. Legit companies don't charge you to apply or get a job.
Guaranteed payouts. No one can guarantee you'll make a certain amount of money, especially with little effort.
Vague details. If a website is unclear about how you'll be paid or what the work actually entails, it's likely a scam.

Green flags:

Clear policies. The platform's terms of service and payment structures are easy to understand.
Reputable reviews. Search for reviews from other users. Look for complaints about missed payments or hidden fees.
Verified payment methods. They use well-known payment methods like PayPal.

When your gaming payouts don’t line up with bills

Gaming side hustles are fun, but they don’t always pay on your schedule. Some platforms pay weekly, monthly, or only after you hit a threshold. So what happens when the car payment’s due but your gaming cash hasn’t landed yet?

This is when EarnIn's Cash Out¹ feature can help. If you’ve already earned wages at your day job, EarnIn lets you access them. Get up to $150/day, with a max of $750 between paydays, with no interest, no mandatory fees — just optional tips.² With Lightning Speed³, you can get your cash in minutes, starting at $3.99 per transfer. So if your side hustle income is still pending, Cash Out¹ could help you bridge the gap.

Leveling up your side hustle

Getting paid to play video games can be a doable side hustle if you pick the right path. Whether you’re streaming, testing, coaching, or casually earning through apps, there’s a way to turn your gaming time into extra income.

Want more ideas? Check out EarnIn’s blog for even more ways to boost your earnings: 15 of the Best Money Making Apps, Secret Websites to Make Money, and Side Hustles That Pay Daily.

Game on — and get paid while you’re at it.

Please note, the material collected in this post is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon as or construed as advice regarding any specific circumstances. Nor is it an endorsement of any organization or services.

This Blog was sponsored by EarnIn. While the author received compensation, the information shared is grounded in independent research and intended to provide helpful and accurate guidance to readers.

EarnIn is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services are provided by our bank partners on certain products other than Cash Out.

¹
A pay period is the time between your paychecks, such as weekly, biweekly, or monthly. EarnIn determines your daily and pay period limits (“Daily Max” and “Pay Period Max”) based on your income and financial risk factors as outlined in the Cash Out Maxes section of our Cash Out User Agreement. EarnIn reserves the right to adjust the Daily Max and Pay Period Max at its discretion. Your actual Daily Max will be displayed in your EarnIn account before each Cash Out.

EarnIn does not charge interest on Cash Outs or mandatory fees for standard transfers, which usually take 1–2 business days. For faster transfers, you can choose the Lightning Speed option and pay a fee to receive funds within 30 minutes. Lightning Speed may not be available at all times and/or to all customers; see the Lightning Speed Fee Table and Cash Out User Agreement for details and eligibility requirements. Tips are optional and do not affect the quality or availability of services.

²
Tips go to EarnIn and help us provide tools such as Credit Monitoring for free and keep Lightning Speed fees low. Your service quality and availability aren’t affected by whether you tip or not.

³
Lightning Speed is an optional service that allows you to expedite the transfer of funds for a fee. Depending on the product, the fee may be charged by EarnIn or its banking partner. Lightning Speed may not be available to all customers. Actual transfer speeds depend on your bank. See the Lightning Speed Fee Table for details.