No longer are video games a mere hobby—it’s an entertainment industry juggernaut. In fact, it’s the biggest sector in the entertainment industry, with the video game market being valued at $282 billion in 2024. That’s more than the TV, music, and movie industries combined.
And so it follows that there are tons of money-making opportunities in the world of online video games (including many jobs that your average person may not be aware of).
Here are the top 10 underrated ways to make money with video games.
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In-Game Item Trading and Virtual Economies
Gamers value their in-game possessions. These digital assets consist of things like armor sets, cosmetic skins, weapons, and other collectibles. And around them, games like Counter-Strike, World of Warcraft, and Fortnite actually have vibrant virtual economies.
People trade, collect, and auction off these goodies for up to thousands of dollars at a time. Smart traders (like traders in real life) scour the market for good deals and wait for opportune times to sell them at higher prices.
These trades are conducted on official platforms (like the Steam Marketplace) or even third-party trading websites.
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Play-to-Earn (P2E) and Blockchain Gaming
Aside from cryptocurrency, blockchain technology has introduced a revolutionary concept in gaming: play-to-earn (P2E).
Games like Axie Infinity, Gods Unchained, and Decentraland reward players with cryptocurrency coins and NFTs (non-fungible tokens) that can hold real-world value and are often traded on cryptocurrency exchanges, much like the collectibles mentioned above.
By investing time in these games (and even better, being good at them), players can accumulate these digital assets and trade them for money.
However, research and due diligence are crucial before investing, as there are numerous scams in the blockchain space.
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Streaming and Content Creation
Platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok have allowed people to be independent entertainers in the video game space, where they can:
- Streaming gameplay;
- Creating tutorial videos;
- Cover video game news;
- Performing video game reviews, analysis, and commentary.
If their content is engaging enough and gathers enough viewers, these creators can make money from subscriptions, viewership revenue, ads, sponsorships, merch sales, and even direct fan donations.
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Modding and Custom Content Creation
Many popular games, such as Minecraft, Skyrim, The Sims, and Civilization support extensive modding communities. “Mods”, short for modifications, refer to custom content created by players designed to change up the official gameplay of these games.
Some modders sell their custom content on platforms like Patreon and Nexus Mods or receive donations. However, some games don’t allow this, as they break the terms of service.
Game developers can sometimes hire creators of particularly high-quality mods, so modding may be your path to being a game developer!
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Gaming Journalism and Writing
If you consider yourself a competent writer, you can become a video game journalist for publications like Kotaku, IGN, Gameranx, and Polygon. They have both in-house full-time writers and freelance writers creating reviews, news articles, and opinion pieces about all things gaming.
Another option is to start your own blog and post your articles there. If it gets big enough, you can get noticed by the aforementioned publications, or generate your own income through ads and sponsorships.
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Esports and Professional Competitive Gaming
Competitive gaming, often dubbed “esports”, is a huge entertainment phenomenon. And if you’re one of the very best players in the following games, you can have a lucrative, full-time career as a pro gamer:
- League of Legends;
- Dota 2;
- Counter-Strike;
- Valorant;
- Fortnite;
- Apex Legends.
These games host tournaments where prizepools can reach tens of millions of dollars from viewership and sponsorships. However, pro players are also often paid regular salaries by their team organizations.
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Game Coaching and Boosting Services
But even at lower, more amateur levels, esports players are still keen on improving (even as a casual hobby). And so many experienced gamers, who believe they are also capable teachers, often offer coaching services to newer or less-skilled players.
Coaches do this by analyzing replays of their students’ past games, pointing out mistakes and giving them tips for improvement. Alternatively, they can even coach them in real-time during the games themselves.
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Buying or Renting Out Gaming Accounts and Assets
Some players are willing to pay for accounts that are high-ranking in competitive games. Because of this, some players have made it a side hustle to create multiple accounts, get them to a high rank, and then sell them to buyers.
Another reason people buy or sell accounts is to get access to premium in-game items that can no longer be obtained. However, this practice is not always allowed depending on the game.
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Affiliate Marketing and Sponsorships
Many gaming companies, including hardware manufacturers, VPN services, and gaming accessory brands, offer affiliate programs. They’ll ask you to promote their products and services on your blogs, social media, and websites, and you can earn commissions.
For example, even if you’re not a gaming YouTube channel, companies may reach out to you for sponsorships and ask you to mention their product as the VPN download.
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Virtual Assistance and Adjacent Jobs
As these jobs have become more professionalized, many content creators, pro teams, and other gaming groups require assistance from other professions.
For example, a pro team may require a team manager to handle their logistics. A gaming YouTube channel may need a video editor. Or a game streamer may need a moderator for their chat.
Conclusion
Gaming has become an entire business, and with it, there are now countless ways to make money from your passion for video games.
Like any industry, polish up your skills, connect with the right people, and work hard and consistently, and you’ll be able to create a great career for yourself in the world of video games.