Despite the wealth of misinformation, constant, vicious harassment, and the sheer onslaught of trend after trend, the Internet still has its good moments. Sure, those negatives can be tough to look past, and there is no shame in logging off occasionally. But the simple truth is that the Internet is full of opportunities too… if you know where to find them.
Take, for instance, the meteoric rise of YouTube stars such as PewDiePie, MrBeast, Markiplier, and many more. Without the Internet, there is no doubt that these personalities – eccentric though they may be – would be working regular jobs with a regular income and living a perfectly regular life.
Despite their differing interests and styles, most Internet personalities – TikTok stars aside – got their start playing games. Before the advent of the Adpocalypse and the increasingly high levels for entry, this was a viable career choice for many. Now, things are different.
But that does not mean you cannot earn money from your gaming habit. Here we will take a look at how to make money online by playing games, allowing you to supplement your income or grow to make it your main income source.
Earning Money Online in 2022 and Beyond
Of course, it is increasingly difficult for Regular Joes such as you and I to break into the YouTube and Twitch scenes. It is not impossible, mind you, but it requires a certain level of dedication that is not easily attainable without plenty of sacrifices (of your free time, the time spent with friends and loved ones, et cetera).
Additionally, even the best content has the potential to be overlooked and go unnoticed. This can cast shades of disillusionment over even the most optimistic of individuals.
Fortunately, although you may not be able to make a career of it just yet, it is still possible for regular people with regular jobs and regular lives to earn some good cash playing games online, outside the realms of YouTube and Twitch.
Best Sites to Earn Money From
YouTube and Twitch are the go-to platforms for avid gamers to share their gameplay, opinions, and vapid commentary, but there are other sites for game-lovers to earn money. Each of these sites pays their users directly and has specific rates, unlike the Big Two, where views and sponsorships typically determine the money you earn.
Granted, the amount of money you can earn is significantly lower than that of the likes of PewDiePie or MrBeast – as mentioned, it is unlikely you will be able to make a career out of it just yet.
However, each of these sites can offer a decent supplementary income if you engage with them frequently enough.
StartPlaying
StartPlaying should be the first site you visit if you are into role-playing games (of the tabletop variety). The site connects players with experienced game-masters who create maps, explain the rules, and direct the flow of action.
Naturally, GMs are not expected to provide a certificate from the Royal School of Dungeon Masters (bonus points if you do, however), but they are expected to have a good deal of experience. Additionally, experience with Dungeons and Dragons or Pathfinder is key, as most players are more likely to flock to those than, say, Ars Magica.
GMs can set their own rates from $5 to $30 – with a full party of six players, it is possible to earn up to $180 in an hour. We recommend that you start small and work your way up.
PlayTestCloud
If you are hoping to make some money off of your Call of Duty or Fortnite addictions, PlayTestCloud may be the ideal place for you. The site’s primary focus is helping developers improve their games. Like website-testing services, playtesters will have to download a piece of software (provided by the site) that will record their reactions to the game(s).
These tests typically only last around 15 minutes and pay $9 each. Unfortunately, the tests are too infrequent for you to earn $36 an hour. However, upon completion of a test, that money will reflect in your bank account within a week, making this a great supplementary income source.
Conclusion
These are only two sites you can earn money from, but they have proven to be the most popular and thus the most lucrative. Still, there are plenty more opportunities for you to earn some good cheddar – Swagbucks is another great site with plenty of enthusiastic users and is worth a look for gamers. Additionally, YouTube and Twitch should not be written off just yet – they just require more dedication and persistence than most people have time for.
The key to all of this, however, is managing your expectations – playing games online is unlikely to replace your current occupation, but it could be a decent way to earn extra cash in your free time.
