Top 10 Gaming Influencers on YouTube
The gaming industry is on a rapid rise, projected to hit nearly $268.8 billion by 2025. Alongside this growth, professional online gamers, gaming influencers, and their fan base are also climbing. Today, platforms are abundant for streaming games online, where millions of videos are viewed daily.
Recognizing this opportunity, prominent brands are taking advantage of the popularity of these platforms to showcase their games to a wider audience and make substantial digital earnings, all thanks to influential figures who have amassed devoted followings in their respective gaming niches.
As a result, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 gaming influencers in 2023 that you should be aware of. These gaming influencers range from skilled gamers to entertaining streamers, all of whom have left a significant mark on the gaming world and are poised to continue doing so in the years ahead.
1- PewDiePie
PewDiePie, whose real name is Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, is a Swedish YouTuber primarily known for his gaming videos, vlogs, comedy sketches, and structured programs.
@PewDiePie channel, with a subscriber count of 11.1cr, is among the oldest on YouTube that regularly uploads videos. His content includes funny commentary, reactions, discussions about internet trends, and sometimes touches on political topics. His unique style of humor has helped him amass a large and dedicated fanbase.
PewDiePie is one of the highest-earning YouTubers globally. He has even been featured in Time Magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world. He has received numerous awards in various categories, including the ‘Starcount Social Star Awards,’ ‘Teen Choice Awards’, and ‘Golden Joystick Awards.’
2- Total Gaming
@TotalGaming093 is a YouTube channel run by a young Indian named Ajay. He’s known for live-streaming the popular battle royale game Garena Free Fire. Ajay, also called Ajju Bhai, is one of the most subscribed Indian gaming YouTubers, with a subscriber count of 3.64cr.
Back in 2015, Ajay kicked off his gaming journey with a mobile game called Clash of Clans. Although it started small, by 2018, it gained significant popularity when he shifted to PC games. Despite not completing his 12th grade and diploma, Ajay earned a decent income through freelancing and software engineering.
After playing and uploading videos on PC, he eventually transitioned back to streaming games on mobile devices. Until 2020, his channel focused solely on Free Fire. Only then did he begin live-streaming the game Grand Theft Auto 5. With time, he broadened the range of games he played on his channel, including titles like Spiderman and Incredible Hulk. This diversification played a crucial role in setting him apart from other gaming content creators.
3- Markiplier
@Markiplier is an American actor, writer, producer, and YouTuber renowned for his impressive sketch comedy and captivating playthrough videos with a subscriber count of 3.56cr. One of his playthrough videos has garnered millions of views.
He decided to leave the University of Cincinnati to pursue his career on YouTube. It was in 2012 that he established his YouTube channel under the name “Markiplier.” His username is a blend of his first name and “multiplier,” reflecting his initial plan to post sketch comedies featuring himself. However, he soon shifted to adding gaming videos to his channel.
In 2014, Mark embarked on a playthrough of the game “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” which gained over 80 million views, becoming his most popular video. Mark has received numerous awards for his remarkable contributions to the streaming world, including the ‘Purpose Award for Social Good’ and ‘The Scripted Series.’ He was also honored as the celebrity of the year at the Make-A-Wish Foundation award ceremony.
4– SSSniperWolf
Born in 1992, Alia Marie “Lia” Shelesh, widely known as @SSSniperWolf, is an English-American YouTuber and actress recognized for her reaction, commentary, DIY, vlogging, and gaming content with a subscriber count of 3.41cr.
She kicked off her career in 2011 on a different channel where she created short vlogs. However, in 2013, she launched her new channel SSSniperWolf. The name “Sniper Wolf” was inspired by her favorite game, Metal Gear Solid, which featured an antagonist by the same name.
Alia also made an appearance in Dhar Mann’s video, playing herself. Before their collaboration, she often reacted to his videos. In 2014, Alia introduced her new channel, “Little Lia,” where she shared challenges, makeup tutorials, baking tips, and arts and crafts content.
5- Jacksepticeye
Seán William McLoughlin, famously known as Jacksepticeye, began his YouTube journey in 2012. He’s an Irish YouTube personality cherished for his ‘let’s play’ videos and game reviews with a subscriber count of 3.4cr.
At the start of his online career, @jacksepticeye gained attention for his voice impressions on YouTube. Today, he’s among the highest-earning YouTubers. He teamed up with fellow YouTuber Markiplier to create the clothing brand Cloak. Additionally, McLoughlin is the founder and owner of the Top of The Mornin’ Coffee company. He’s actively involved in various fundraisers, raising tens of millions for charitable causes.
6- DanTDM
Daniel Robert Middleton, known as DanTDM, is a well-known British YouTuber and gamer with a subscriber count of 2.79cr, celebrated for his commentaries on video games. His YouTube channel features gameplay videos of popular games like Minecraft, Roblox, Pokemon, and Sonic the Hedgehog.
@DanTDM expanded his reach by live-streaming his gaming content on Twitch, a platform where fans can watch their favorite gaming influencers playing games in real-time. This move proved beneficial, allowing him to increase his earnings through endorsements, subscriptions, ads, and donations. He has received numerous prestigious awards, including The Kids Choice Awards and a Guinness World Record for his exceptional gaming skills and dedication to the top-rated game Minecraft.
DanTDM has also been honored with the Golden Play Button and Diamond Play Button for his substantial contributions and large fan base on YouTube. In 2017, he was recognized as the wealthiest YouTuber and was interviewed by the esteemed media outlet BBC News.
7- Ninja
Tyler Blevins, famously known as @Ninja, is an American Twitch streamer, YouTuber, and professional gamer. He’s recognized for his expertise in games like Fortnite, Valorant, and Warzone, as well as for his lively and comical personality, along with his impressive subscriber count of 2.37cr.
Following his father’s gaming footsteps, Tyler elevated his passion to a professional level. Today, he is widely acknowledged as the best Fortnite player globally. Tyler initially began his streaming journey on Twitch. After Mixer shut down, he returned to Twitch and transitioned to full-time streaming. In 2019, he made a notable move by announcing a shift from Twitch to Mixer, though he later returned to Twitch.
Like many prominent streamers and gaming influencers, Ninja boasts a top-notch setup for his streams. It includes two PCs (one for gaming and one for running the stream), high-end gaming equipment, quality microphones, and professional lighting and cameras for a polished stream.
8- Jelly
Jelle van Vucht, known as @Jelly, is a professional streamer and gamer recognized for engaging content on games like Grand Theft Auto V, Minecraft, and Fortnite with a subscriber count of 2.35 cr.
He stands as one of the most highly-watched content creators globally. Before launching his YouTube channel in 2014, Jelly teamed up with fellow YouTubers Aquib and Kwebbelkop, forming the group ‘Robust.’ However, in 2014, Aquib departed from the group, and American YouTuber Slogo stepped in. With this new trio, they started crafting entertaining gaming videos on YouTube.
Jelly’s distinctive sense of humor is a vital element that has contributed to the popularity of his gaming content, leading to a substantial increase in his subscriber count within just a few years. His most renowned YouTube video, “Playing GTA 5 As A POLICE OFFICER!” has accumulated over 68 million views and garnered 1.2 million likes, marking it his most successful upload.
9- FGTeeV
@Fgteev is a prominent gaming channel on YouTube with a subscriber count of 2.25 cr that shares videos encompassing gaming content and sketch art. The family of gaming influencers is composed of FeeGee (the father), FGTEEV Moomy (the mother), and their children: Shawn, Chase, Mike, and Lexi.
They have a presence on various social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, where they connect with their audience. The FGTeeV channel has received sponsorship from many well-known brands. Additionally, they have a series of spin-off novels where they get featured as actual characters. Their contributions to the gaming community were acknowledged when they received the Roblox Video of the Year award in the 8th Annual Bloxy Awards.
10- VanossGaming
VanossGaming is a Canadian internet sensation known for his roles as a video game commentator, music producer, and DJ. His YouTube channel subscriber features montage-style videos where he and fellow creators engage in gameplay of popular titles like Grand Theft Auto V and Garry’s Mod.
Vanoss shares animated videos based on original sketches or previously uploaded gaming content. He experienced a remarkable surge in his YouTube career and subscriber count, gaining nearly 6.6 million subscribers within a year and a million subscribers monthly, surpassing most other YouTubers except for PewDiePie. You’ll discover content related to prominent games like Black Ops II, Grand Theft Auto V, and Dead Realm on his channel.