Monsters, duels and Chinese viewers: top games on YouTube and Twitch
The constant release of new games, and constant flow of new videos and streams on YouTube and Twitch, creates a sort of fertile estuary for content: newly successful games are constantly eddying up and becoming popular.
This post is an overview of six of the top games seen during April 2018, across both YouTube and Twitch. Over time, games like these are revealing the elements of success in video, for either games or streamers.
Monster Prom
YouTube: 1.67m views | Twitch: 43,971 views
Monster Prom is an oddball cross between a dating sim and Jack In The Box party games. The game was released on April 27, and got a huge boost in visibility from famous YouTubers like Jacksepticeye, whose videos alone average a million views.
Why does it work? In an unusual turn for any dating sim, you can play with up to 3 other people, making for a fun viewing experience. There are also 20 different endings to find, which number may not seem like a lot until you realize that other players are actively trying to sabotage your chances of getting a date.
The Forest
Youtube: 6.32 million views | Twitch: 124,142 views
Survival games have been trending, but The Forest has sustained interest for four years. The game ratcheted 39 spots up the charts after finally moving out of early access last April 30.
Why does it work? Just like a good horror story, The Forest has stretched out its tricks. With the full release, fans have gotten the much-awaited ending to the story mode, a couple of fun new modes like multiplayer and VR, and an endless freeform mode without quests.
Read Dead Redemption 2
YouTube: 4.43 million views | Twitch: 65 views
Last month, Rockstar Games released new screenshots and video trailers to tease its upcoming title, Red Dead Redemption 2. The sequel to Red Dead Redemption comes nearly 8 years after the original, which has been hailed as a game that defined an era for console gaming.
Why does it work? Rockstar is showing that official trailers are still a big deal. Three official trailers have currently accumulated a total of nearly 50 million views on YouTube.
Bendy and the Ink Machine
YouTube: 29 million views | Twitch: 19,383 views
One of YouTube’s sleeper hits of 2017, this supposed one-off project from developer Mike Mood and TheMeatly has only grown bigger. Last month saw the release of the horror-survival game’s fourth chapter, which placed Mood, TheMeatly, and their small staff under serious crunch to meet the promised deadline. More work lies ahead of the team, as they get Bendy and the Ink Machine ready for consoles later this year.
Why does it work? Let’s Play videos from YouTube superstars like Jacksepticeye and Markiplier keep the view counts high, but Bendy is truly a story of compelling, and compellingly weird, content.
Knives Out
Youtube: 16.74 million views | Twitch: 52,821 views
NetEase is clearly jostling for a permanent spot in the battle royale genre, even hiring a scriptwriter from movie Battle Royale, the cult hit adaptation of Koushun Takami’s novel of the same name that birthed the last man standing format in 1999.
Why does it work? No press is bad press. A lawsuit against NetEase by Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds developer Bluehole, over Knives Out alleged (and seemingly obvious) copying, has helped the game accrue notoriety, especially from Chinese streamers.
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
YouTube: 7.1 million | Twitch: 2,336
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery is still cleaning up the top charts of the app stores since its release last April 25, despite critics decrying price inconsistencies, and the heavy-handed peddling of microtransactions.
Why does it work? The game’s lore, intriguing plot, and wit (where else could you tell Snape he looks like a dusty house elf to his face?) make the game a fun watch. Of course, being part of a media empire helps, too.
Make sure to check out our latest data at Harpeview. And if you’re interested in the world of game marketing on YouTube and Twitch, please ♥ this story — it means the world to us!
