Gamers Are Reportedly More Interested in Watching Games Than Actually Playing Them

I am zero percent interested in watching someone else play games.

I used to watch gameplays when I didn't have the money to buy games, nowadays I don't see let's plays because I don't want spoilers, but I still see gaming related content i.e reviews, video essays, etc.

Watching other people play games doesn’t make you a gamer lol that’s like saying I’m a football player because I watch the NFL 🤦‍♂️

My 11yo son would rather watch some dweeb play an entire game than even touch the PlayStation I gave him with over 800 accessible games on it.. pi**es me off something fierce

Definitely enjoy playing games rather than watching somebody else play.

They aren't Gamers then....

I'll watch retro and tech videos. The only gameplay content I watch is high-level Street Fighter 6, as I learn from it (and it's like a spectator sport in itself).

I watch game related stuff, like trailers and podcasts on YouTube, but I never watch people playing games and I definitely don’t watch Twitch.

@UltimateOtaku91 So the 7.4 hours per week spent gaming is what, exactly?

My family has an interesting take on this. My wife has been watching me play video games for over 25yrs, and she’s played a couple that I watched, and we’ve played a few together. My kids watched me play while they were little, and for the past 5 years or so I’ve been watching them along with my wife.

My wife and I watch a lot of game trailers and shows but not “let’s plays”, my kids have watched a lot of videos of other people gaming. Diamond Dan Minecart guy, Psycho, PPG, and the guy who played all the Xenoblade games (all or most of which are probably in trouble for something 😩).

So yes, I guess, but IRL, not on Twitch. 🤷🏻‍♂️

@MrPeanutbutterz I mean those who would rather watch people play games than play them, not those who do both. I knew people years ago who would watch pewdiepie play horror games and then talk about those game like they played them themselves.

Im not sure if the study looked at only watching gameplay of other people playing or just watching gaming videos in general, like news, reviews and top 10s or whatever. The former i never do, the latter i do.

I watch the occasional review and sometimes the solution to some puzzle that’s got me stuck but other than that, nothing.
Watching other people play games, especially multiplayer shooters or similar Twitch fodder, is a foreign concept to me.

@LogicStrikesAgain exactly, needs to be specific. Is watching trailers and reviews count as the same, to me this is more specifically about watching Twitch/YouTube streamers.

When I still was a student with no money I'd watch Let's Plays of games I'd be interested in because I simply could not afford to buy the game + in some cases the console it's on

Nowadays there's luckily no need for me to do that anymore. I still watch some challenges videos etc every now and then though, but not an entire playthrough

Call me crazy, but isn't the headline a bit of an oxymoron? I enjoy watching YouTube gaming content, but outside of reviews or the occasional I'm stuck moment, I get no enjoyment from watching someone play a game that I have would rather experience first hand. If you fall into the category of preferring to watch other people play games vs actually play them, I'd argue your not a gamer. It's like calling a movie buff a director.

I usually watch content about games I'm currently playing. For builds or tricks to help me understand gameplay better. Mostly applies to multiplayer or rpg games

Gamer or a voyeur? Hmmm.

Im only watch gameplay for performance reviews and to get an idea what the gameplay look alike. And some walkthrough if im stuck at some game puzzle.

I watch people play games for their reactions and how they get on during the game but I'm not just solely watching a whole game being played when I can play it myself

I'm going to to preface this comment by saying that a 'Gamer' is not merely someone that plays games but also someone who is interested in video gaming in general therefore someone who might watch gaming related content, read gaming related content or even purchase a book called 'A Perfect Organism - An Alien Isolation companion' like this nerd/enthusiast did! Also keep in mind that not everyone can afford to buy all the games they want to play or might want to get a' feel' for a game through another person's experience before committing to a purchase.

I like a high quality TV drama or film like anyone else but I'd certainly say as a passionate gamer, I'd rather watch/listen to another passionate gamer talk about our mutual interest in the form of an video essay/critique rather than the mindless and/or mediocre TV being consumed en masse nowadays.

Some years ago I would have said I was firmly in the camp playing more than watching but as a big fan of gaming since the 80's with limited time for either, I've found myself enjoying some extremely well articulated critiques, way beyond the simplistic stuff you get in regular gaming journalism. I do however appreciate Push Square/PureXbox for their quickfire informative articles!

Edit: go to YouTubers - Chris Davis, Noah Calwell-Gervais, Whitelight.

I admit I have been tempted in watching a whole playthrough of games that I think I might not be all that interested, especially when watching someone with high flashy skill at those games, but then I realize that watching it's just not the entire experience until I try it myself.

I only buy a tiny fraction of the games that are released. Time rather than money being the limiting factor.

Therefore in order to pick the 0.1% of games I want to spend my time on, I naturally spend a substantial amount of time watching gaming news and review content.

Fortunately I do that during dead time. Ie time when I can’t actually game e.g. on my lunch walk or whilst eating.

There are also games like Souls titles or even racing games like the Ride/MotoGP series, where I don’t have the time to master them and therefore it’s more fun to watch skilled players do it instead.

I see this trend with younger gamers. Maybe around the 7-15 YO age range. But older gamers have no interest in this. Like, everyone I know who’s an older gamer doesn’t care for streamers and seeing others play. But all my nephews my son love to watch streamers. Hell, I don’t even watch trailers for the movies I’m interested in because I want it all to be new to me. So I’ll definitely not watch someone play a game I want to play myself. But I do know that my experience doesn’t speak for everyone.

I watch a lot of Gaming related videos; I love a good gaming video essay especially on games I’ve played, FPS podcast, Daryl Talks Games etc. I definitely spend more time watching gaming related videos than I do playing games. I however do not watch streamers or any content that involves me watching someone play a game unless it’s a how to or a competition.

First thought was to vote I don't watch but then I remember that I watch Hearthstone on a daily basis. It's as any other video on YouTube so I didn't really acknowledge it. I used to play but it took too much time and cost too much so now I just limit myself to highlight reels. Time spent playing games is far more though. But I don't think watching someone play games is more weird than watching sports, which I find equally uninteresting except maybe highlights

The only game related videos I watch are news updates, a la gameranx, ign, push square, etc. I do not understand the desire to watch someone else play a game on youtube, review videos, or walkthroughs.

I was around on the Something Awful forums when Let's Plays were invented so I feel qualified to say why people love them.

It is the communal evolution of the 4 player couch co-op. And no, I disagree that online multilayer fits this description because half of the players you meet online are nobs, lets be honest about this. But with a Let's Play, there is a massive enjoyment you get put of being part of someone else's game, particularly if it is their first time. They probably account for a lot of my entertainment on a weekly basis.

Watching games and calling yourself a gamer is like looking at pictures of foreign places you wish to go and calling yourself an experienced traveller.

At the end of the day, you didn’t do jack.

@get2sammyb I remember my son playing a game with his friends and them saying “Hey, we’re gonna sign off and watch you play…” I thought it was the dumbest thing ever lol. I’d buy my kid a game and he’d never play it. But he’d watch some YouTubers play the full game. I stopped buying him games for awhile.

Quite a misleading title. "Game related videos" isn't strictly people playing games. That's going to include gaming podcasts, gaming news, trailers, guides, trophy help etc.

I spend literally zero time watching people play games, I've no interest in it whatsoever, however I do spend a significant time on the other stuff mentioned above that may actually qualify me as one of these people that are "more interested in watching than actually playing" despite the fact that couldn't be fuether from the truth.

There's lots of times where people simply can't game but they can have gaming related content on. They might be travelling and cannot game but they can listen to a podcast, or doing something else whilst listening, I regularly even have podcasts on whilst I'm actually playing, I will watch news roundups whilst I'm cooking/eating.

I'll watch streams fairly frequently, often in the background whilst doing other things such as playing games. I choose streams based on which streamers I find entertaining rather than which games they're playing.

I don't agree with the suggestions about publishers "ceding significant revenue opportunities" or that they can "bring video content inside their own ecosystems". People are going to watch on wherever their favourite streamers are, such as Youtube or Twitch. Publishers are going to struggle to entice people into watching video content in their own ecosystems.

I watch a lot of essays, but very few Let's Plays. LPs are massive time sinks - when I did watch some it's more like a podcast vibe, or some kind of incredible display of skill (speedrun etc.)

Absolutely no-one wants videogame publishers to try and monetise this space. And if they did, it would flop hard

There are only three gaming content creators I watch: WumpaLewis who makes Crash vids, TheBacklogs who does Souls Challenge runs and Jrose who does pokemon solo runs and challenges.
Otherwise I use youtube for build guides or if I'm stuck in a metroidvania.
I've stopped the gaming essay crap (Joseph anderson stuff etc)

I used to watch a fair bit of Giant Bomb a lot less nowadays and watch a fair bit of nextlander. I usually watched them to see there thoughts on games and actually got me interested in lots of games I normally wouldnt have tried or even known about like I only found out about Cat Quest through Giant Bomb. But I do play way more then I watch.

To be honest, watching someone else play has always been a thing; it was just a physical when we were younger. Showing my age here but someone would rent a video game for the weekend and we'd go over their house to watch. Sometimes it was only a single player game but we'd watch unless we wanted to rent/buy it ourselves.
Now I'll only watch when it's a game I have a small interest in but have no desire to purchase or seeing if it would push me over the edge to buying. Or, as a youth sports coach, I'll watch a new season of CoD or Fortnite for a little just to stay in the loop when the kids talk about it.

I only watch videos of walkthrough if I need help with a game I’m playing. I also like to spectate people playing fighting games. Other than that, I’m mostly playing games.

I tend to watch / read reviews of games I am thinking of buying, mostly Pushsquare and sometimes 1 other, and at least 1 or 2 Performance reviews (eg DF, NX Gamer etc).
Other than that news articles / videos, and maybe an odd ranking video, if its a subject im interested in, but I definitely spend more time playing games by a long way!

No interest in game streaming videos EXCEPT where there is something im not quite sure of from the reviews (ie whether I would enjoy or not) - then they can be quite useful for a 20min look.

I never did get the appeal of watching other people play video games, or indeed watching other people do other such mundane tasks such as unboxing videos and the like.

Also an average of 7.4 hours a week gaming, that seems low!

I guess it is a bit of a character thing:
There is a big age gap between me and my younger brother. I only time watch gameplay nowadays if I can't figure out a puzzle or well-hided collectable. Or In 2000, when our computer broke down.
But my brother has watched a lot of YouTube videos since he was 10, and then at some point, he plays his games. Especially he does with those games like Minecraft and such.

Update:
I just remembered something.
Back in time, my best friend and I got some videos of how pro gamers play Starcraft. My strategy improved significantly, but it wasn't something we would do all the time.

This is most likely a simple question of accessibility.

It is easy to access a video any time, just about anywhere these days, it also takes very little investment in time.

But the games companies know this, it is why portal exists, it is why MS and Sony are both working on a mew hand held, it is why the Switch is a massive success and why it pretty much powers on instantly into your games.

It is also why both Sony and MS want in on the mobile market.

Really don't see the value in let's plays, especially those with annoying juvenile commentary, but I do love retrospectives and gaming history videos.

I couldn't care less who "deserves" the questionable title of gamer, because it could throw one in a boat with misogynistic, petty, xenophobic, mouth breathing keyboard culture warriors that spend more time ranting and bullying than actually enjoying the hobby. Compared to that watching let's plays seems like a better alternative.

I do watch a lot of Twitch lately but it's because I play competitive fighting games and I watch the competitions (which there is a lot of online).
I do it while gaming (laptop screen with stream running in the background) or when I couldn't be gaming anyway (i.e. on my phone on the subway) though, so I don't think it makes me more interested in watching than playing, even if it technically is more hours (hard to tell, I don't keep stats for myself).

If I have the time to see someone playing a game I have the time for playing the game myself.

@AhmadSumadi “ I see this trend with younger gamers. Maybe around the 7-15 YO age range. But older gamers have no interest in this.”

I would say that age gap is a lot wider than 7-15 YO age, probably more like up to 35… Why? Because that the age range for people who most likely grew up watch early YouTube game content and LP, and still very much do. On top of that, a lot people in this age bracket are struggling financially and can’t afford to buy game due to the rising cost of them and living expenses. So a lot still can really only enjoy gaming through watching the few wealthy enough to purchase them play them.

No wonder some of you have no time for big games RPG's, you too busy watching someone else playing game's 🤣. Something that I see no point in especially after spending money to buy the game, strange behaviour in my opinion.

With how broken games are these days, yeah i watch more content about games than olaying them. Also doesnt help that alot of games released these days aren't to my tastes. Also games are getti g more and more expensive. I've picked up guitar again after a break so free time is limited.

@AverageGamer I guess I’m just speaking in relation to my own bubble. I have a gaming group that consists of family and friends (ages from 17-47) and the only one who watches streamers religiously is my 17 YO son. We older guys are amazed that he’d rather watch games than play them.

As a full time employee, married, father of 3, yea I watch more than I play, but only because it is way easier to put on a video while I work or to put on a video while holding a kid for a nap than it is to play. And I follow a handful of creators who I enjoy the commentary more than the game.

@DanteDevilHunter Depends. I've been known to watch game vids or walkthroughs if it's something on a console I don't own that I am curious about.

The data isn't isolated to games someone may have already purchased so could be 101 reasons for the viewing.

For me it's the above plus the odd puzzle hint and review. I wouldn't say I watch them more than I play them though.

I do watch guides or look for guides and tips for some games I play. But I don't like watching other people play. I prefer to experience it from playing it myself.

I watch some fighting game content during big events like EVO or like the recent balance update on SF6 but I almost never just watch a random person play anything.

Although I did like to watch some of Game Informer's obscure Super Replays back in the day like Overblood and Illbleed. So I guess there is that! 😄

I only watch a few seconds if I want to beat a certain level. Maybe if I want to see gameplay before buying a game (especially a VR game). Other than that, it's a waste of time for me.

I watch quite a lot of gameplay on youtube to make sure I make informed purchases. So in a way the number of titles I watch are larger then the ones I purchase/play. But I certainly spend a lot more time gaming then watching, if that makes sense.

I seldom watch let's plays, unless it has insightful and/or funny commentary. Many a True Nerd is such an example, his videos are always entertaining.

Do old JonTron videos count? Because if so I rewatch those all the time.

I usually listen to gaming related videos at work, but only those that relate to news and goings on. I never watch streamers or YouTubers play games.

@AhmadSumadi Yeah. I probably have 3-4 gaming groups that I jump around to, and most of them range from ages like 22-35, and lot of them watch a lot of streamers religiously especially if they’re of the vtuber or hololive kind.

When we talk about upcoming releases, they’re number one answer “I’ll watch some one stream it”. I’m probably the only one of my friends that don’t care for streamer cause I would rather buy the game and enjoy it myself… But that only cause I still have the luxury of being able to spend a couple thousand a year on games.

I've been gaming daily since 1999 when I was 4 there is literally a handful of days since where I haven't played do to reasons outside my control I skipped 1st grade sometimes to play super smash bros on Nintendo 64 or suikoden on ps2 I'm in this for the long haul 😅

I might watch some gameplay to get a sense of something I'm curious about buying, as with watching reviews, but... no. I'm not here to watch other people play. Isn't that just younger generations, for whom Fortnite is as much a social event as a game to play? And other kids, who can't buy games, so watch videos?

As to why any consenting adult decides to spend more time watching a video of something, than to actually play it... It's like we're becoming the real-life Plato's cave... 😬

How many of the hours spent watching video game content are just people watching VaatiVidya lore videos?

I'll watch gaming videos occasionally because it's better than the rubbish TV and film companies try to pass off as entertainment. I like a good GT7 stream but I couldn't imagine wanting to watch someone play a FPS or something like that.

If you would rather watch more than play wouldn't that mean you are primarily a watcher rather than a gamer?

I watch gaming-related videos on YouTube many times so I don't mind it. Whether it be clips, compilations, or game reviews, I will watch them. Another one is Let's Play commentaries (depending on the person) where I've seen many. I also enjoy watching streamers playing games but if the game doesn't interest me (like I find League boring to watch), then I just watch someone else. And of course, I still enjoy playing them as well despite them being gachas or single-player games.

@get2sammyb Have you ever had that experience where you see someone play a game at a party or arcade or you see two guys in a really fierce game of Street Fighter or Tekken, so you stop and watch, and before you know it a small crowd has formed? I'd say this is the digital, more modern equivalent of that.

Not that I disagree with your point or anything as it isn't really my thing either, but I can see why it's quite popular.

Why on earth would you want to watch someone play a game when you could play one yourself 😭😭😭

Videos can be watched during hands-full activities like meals (healthcare advice against the practice be as heeded as plenty of other healthcare advice in our lives😅), and, if you don't [have a sufficiently portable backlog to] practice commute gaming, in public transport as well. Not exactly shocking to find it so commonplace. That said, I personally find myself reading stuff about games and related news tangibly (if not a good few times) more than watching it.

As a parent with a full time job, there is ample time where I can watch something rather than play something.

I have on average two hours a day to play something, where as some berk pays me to sit in a seat for eight hours a day, during which time I'll often have a streamer playing on my phone as "background noise".

I only see videos when I have doubts about buying a game.

I simply watch gaming-related videos to stay informed and to make an informed decision if I'm interested in buying a game (reviews). I would say that I game around 15-20 hours a week and watch gaming content for 2-3 hours.

Most gamers have life, unfortunately

At most I watch some no-commentary gameplay when I’m unsure about a game, but I’ve never been able to stand watching gameplay while someone talks out loud about something completely unrelated to the game, really can’t understand how those get millions of views.

I’ll never understand why anyone would rather watch someone else playing a game they could be playing themselves.

It depends what you mean by watching, I wouldnt just watch others play games, but things like outsidexbox, whatculture gamin, gameranx, all on my youtube when im too busy to game

By far i play more than i watch. But i do watch some youtube videos. Short 10m stuff and the like. Mostly news and reviews.

Not me. Also that makes me sad.

I work from home, like to have background noise, and music only goes so far. I like using long form video game content as background while I'm working. If there's nothing available, I'll tune in to a Twitch streamer that I like (all 2 of them that I can put up with). So yes, I consume many more hours of video game videos, but it's a function of how I use it.

The only channel I stick around that I watch gaming related content is neebs gaming. They make content like no one else on YouTube which is basically making any game into a bunch of cinematic series. Awesome stuff. Shout out to Neebs Crew

I only watch if it's games I don't plan on playing

Not quite the same thing but I have to say sometimes for myself the excitement of getting a new game and the general build up is quite often a better feeling than actually playing the game.

Is this taking into account when people are watching these videos? Because I work 7.5 hours a day, 5 days a week, and during that time I can't play video games, but I can have a video streaming on a secondary monitor.

When I do have time to play games, I play games.

The only times I pretty much watch anyone else play games is either through preview videos (of upcoming or available games that I want to play) or walkthroughs of "old stuff" (mainly games between early '1990s and late 2000s).

I watch tons of twitch and YouTube vids about gaming content. I’m either watching stuff like fromsoft games challenge runs or no hit runs. Or I’m watching reviews or play throughs.

The reason I’m not gaming myself more is because games very rarely release that actually interest me. Especially this generation!
The next game I plan on buying is gta6 and whatever fromsoft do. Nintendos only game I’m interested in is Zelda and maybe Metroid.
Sony aren’t catching my attention with anything so I’m mostly looking for indie games these days.

It might be a generation thing. Maybe they should expand the research to see which age groups tend to prefer watching rather than playing. I like game trailers and the odd review but can barely stand streamers. Irks me on a fundamental level.

I think here we talk more about games than watch them.

The only time I ever watch someone play a game is when I’m over my brother’s place and he’s in the middle of a single player game. I think watching streams is super boring and I could never get into it.

That said, I do listen to some YouTubers that talk about games as “talking head” videos while I clean, drive, or work. Basically treat them like a podcast.

@Decimateh-xblz are you serious? it’s a bunch of things that people do that others would consider a waste of time.

@SilentBluntman i’ll never understand why people watch others do anything . acting in movies & tv shows , sports , etc . heck, i’ll never understand why people would rather play video games over doing something in real life!

(sarcasm)

It's game related videos. I'm sure the statistics include podcasts like Sacred Symbols, etc. Still like the article mentions, most of the readers here probably excludes enthusiasts.

How do they know those watching are gamers? How did they separated children, watching Youtube because they don't own any gaming device and only entertainment they have is watching videos, from total counts???

Again more questions than answers...

I watch gaming channels like Skillup and Gameranx for reviews and previews, but I've never actually sat down to just watch someone else play a video game.

@nomither6 good for you, I hope you got from that what you were looking for.
It’s always strange when someone feels the need to tell me all about themselves but that’s totally fine, you do what you gotta to get the juicy attention. Need some more, or are you good now?

I think a lot of y'all are lying about not watching people playing games. I watch people play games sometimes on YouTube and on PlayStation live

Maybe that's true for some people but not for me.

When watching "people playing games", i'm mostly watched FGC channels like:

• Capcom Fighters for Capcom Pro Tour / Street Fighter League
• Fighting games guides or combo trials
• JWong playing old fighting games
• Max playing Tekken 8 / MK / whatever he wants to play

Outside that, i watched reviews, trailers, behind the scenes, or gaming history. But i think my playing time still far above compare to watching people playing games.

I spent like 1000+ hours on SF6 alone. Not counting other fighting games or other genre like RPG which can reach 50-80 hours /game.

@SilentBluntman i said i was being sarcastic but whatever .

@nomither6 your comment really didn’t work.