Choosing the Right Game for Growing Your Twitch Channel

27 July 2025

Streaming on Twitch isn’t just about hitting that “Go Live” button and hoping viewers will magically flock toward your channel. Nope! It’s a bit more strategic than that—especially if you want to actually grow your audience, build a community, and maybe even turn your passion for gaming into something profitable. One of the most overlooked but crucial decisions you’ll make is this: what game should you stream?

Let’s be real. With thousands of games out there and more popping up every week, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. So today, we’re breaking down how you can choose the right game that fits you, your goals, and your viewers—to give your Twitch channel every opportunity to thrive.

Why Game Choice Matters More Than You Think

It seems simple, right? You love a game, you play it, and people come to watch. If only it were that easy.

Truth is, your game selection can be the deal-breaker for whether your stream grows or stays in Twitch obscurity. Games are your gateway content. They shape your discoverability, affect the type of audience you attract, and influence how long people stick around.

You’re not just playing games on Twitch. You’re selling entertainment—and your choice of game is the opening pitch.

Understanding Your Streaming Goals

Before we can match the right game to your channel, we gotta ask: what’s your goal here?

- Just wanting to casually stream with a few friends?
- Hoping to build a tight-knit community?
- Maybe dreaming of going full-time and making serious income?

Each goal might call for a very different approach in terms of game choice. You wouldn't wear a tux to the beach, right? Same logic here.

If you're in it for growth, you’ll want to target games that offer:

- High discoverability
- Active, engaged communities
- Enough depth to keep content fresh
- Low to moderate competition (especially if you’re just starting out)

Let’s break some of these down.

The Sweet Spot: Finding the Right Level of Popularity

A common mistake new streamers make? Jumping straight into the biggest games on Twitch.

Sure, titles like Call of Duty, Fortnite, or League of Legends bring in massive viewership—but they’re also saturated to the brim with established streamers who already have loyal audiences. Twitch’s directory shows the highest-viewed channels first, meaning newcomers can easily get buried under thousands of other streamers.

So, what should you do?

Go for the "Mid-Tier" Games:

These are games with loyal communities and consistent interest but less cutthroat competition. Think games like:

- Dead by Daylight
- Minecraft modded servers
- Escape from Tarkov
- Path of Exile
- Stardew Valley

These games cater to niche communities that are often super supportive and looking for new creators to follow. Less noise = more chances to be seen.

Viewership vs. Streamer Saturation Ratio (Yes, That’s a Thing)

If you want to geek out a little (don’t worry, it’s fun), look at something called the Viewership-to-Streamer Ratio. It tells you how many viewers there are per active streamer. A high ratio means more eyeballs per content creator—good news for you.

You can use sites like SullyGnome or TwitchTracker to look up these ratios for the games you’re interested in. Ideally, you want a game with a healthy number of viewers but not a massive flood of streamers.

Play What You Love… But Be Strategic

Here’s the tricky balance: stream games you enjoy playing, but also make sure they’ve got growth potential.

Streaming a game you hate just because it’s trending? Fast track to burnout. Plus, viewers can tell when you're not having fun—it’s awkward and it kills your vibe. On the flip side, playing a game you love that no one else watches might not get you anywhere either.

So ask yourself:

- Are others streaming this game successfully?
- Is there an active community around it on Reddit, Discord, or YouTube?
- Is there enough content potential—can I make multiple streams without getting bored?

If the answer is yes across the board, you might be onto something.

When to Ride the Hype Train

Big game releases can give your channel a temporary boost—if you play your cards right.

Games like Elden Ring, Diablo IV, or Hogwarts Legacy created massive buzz during launch windows. If you jump in early, you could catch a wave of new viewers curious about the game.

But beware: once the initial hype fades, so does the traffic. And the competition during peak buzz times? Brutal.

Pro tip: Focus on newer indie releases or niche titles in early access. These often have dedicated player bases and curious viewers but far fewer streamers.

The Power of Community-Driven Games

Community-based games can be absolute goldmines for growth. Why? Because they encourage interaction, collaboration, and replayability.

Games like:

- Among Us
- Jackbox Party Packs
- Raft
- Phasmophobia
- Valheim

These games practically beg for multiplayer action. So you’ve got opportunities to cross-stream with other Twitch creators, engage your viewers more directly, and develop that all-important “community feel” streamers thrive on.

Evergreen Games That Just Keep On Giving

Some games, no matter how old, never seem to go out of style. These “evergreen” titles are fantastic growth tools because they have staying power. Plus, over time, they gain robust modding communities or receive regular updates.

Think:

- The Sims 4
- Skyrim (modded or roleplay builds)
- GTA V RP (Roleplay)
- Terraria
- World of Warcraft (especially during classic expansions)

These games aren’t trendy in a flash-in-the-pan way—they stick around, letting you build long-term content and loyal viewers.

Multiplayer Games vs. Single-Player: What’s Better?

Both have pros and cons, so let’s keep it simple:

Single-Player Games:

- Great for storytelling and personal connection
- Lets you focus entirely on the chat
- Often best for “Let’s Play” style streams

Multiplayer Games:

- Fast-paced, dynamic content
- Good for collaborative streams
- Often attract more competitive or interactive viewers

Mixing both can actually be a solid strategy. Stream single-player games during off-peak hours and multiplayer during primetime when engagement is higher.

Don’t Forget About Twitch Categories Outside of Games

Wanna know a secret? Some of the fastest-growing Twitch categories aren’t even games.

Just Chatting, for example, is perfect for connecting with your audience, discussing gaming topics, or reacting to content. If you can combine games with conversation, you’re golden.

Board games, art streams, game development, and ASMR are all categories that might get less attention but have loyal, active viewers. If you’re multi-talented, lean into that.

Track Trends, But Don’t Chase Every One

Sure, there’s something exciting about hopping on trends—but don’t become a trend chaser. Consistency and authenticity matter more. Build your identity around the type of games you love and your unique personality.

Still, staying updated on what’s popping off in the gaming world can help you pivot smartly.

Set Google alerts, follow game dev accounts on Twitter/X, hang out in Twitch communities related to your genre, and lurk on Reddit’s /r/Twitch and /r/gamestreaming.

Ask Your Existing Viewers What They Want

Even if you’ve only got a few regulars—ask them what they’d love to see. Engaging your chat and giving them a say in your content builds loyalty.

Run polls. Ask for game suggestions. Crowdsource ideas. When viewers feel involved, they’re more likely to stick around.

Bonus: Red Flags to Watch For When Picking a Game

- Too competitive for beginners (especially true for MOBAs and Battle Royales)
- Games with low/no Twitch audience
- Dead or minimal developer support (hello, bugs and bots)
- Games that don’t allow roleplay or creative content (limits personalization)

Remember, you're not just picking a game to play. You're picking a stage to perform on.

Final Word: The Game Might Get Them In, But YOU Keep Them Watching

Let’s not forget the most important piece of this entire puzzle—you.

The game brings them to your stream, but it’s your energy, personality, consistency, and interaction that actually keeps them there. You could literally stream Tetris and grow like crazy if you’re funny, engaging, and consistent.

So yes—put some thought into which game you stream. But don’t stress so hard that you forget the real reason Twitch exists: to bring people together around a shared digital campfire.

Choose the game that fits your style, find your tribe, and let your personality do the rest.