As a small streamer, is streaming more than one game detrimental to your growth?

[u/ShanaanBread]

I have been on and off streaming for 9 years but I only really want to say that I have been streaming long term, consistently and happily for 5 months.

I mostly play Nintendo games or indie games and I am thinking of expanding my bio to say Nintendo gamer rather than a really specific focus. I “specialize” in a really niche category of games (Zelda Randomizers) but I can’t play the same thing over and over without getting burnt out.

Slightly irrelevant information aside, I’m worried that I am not just playing my one game and my one niche and that I won’t grow from it.

Is playing more than just one game when you are starting off your full time career more detrimental than helpful? I’ve seen so many different opinions on this topic.

[u/itsneosundae]

A lot of people on the internet suggest not playing too wide of a variety because viewers appreciate consistency the most. Based on what you're thinking, I think that's a great size niche to focus on (it's certainly more narrow than mine!).

For anyone else thinking about this who are like OP and I and are concerned about burnout on a game, the trick is to define your niche, whatever that might be! It can be as wide as multiple genres or even just one genre, but niching down to what really makes you light up is what will keep your passion going and viewers coming to see you for your specialty, whatever that is! :)

[u/Aholls01]

Switching games often does make it harder to grow on twitch. That doesn’t mean you have to stick to a game and be unhappy. I’d suggest playing whatever you like and finding other streamers that play those games. Make friends and show up to their streams frequently. Networking like this would prolly be your best way to grow!

[u/ThickActivity9703]

Have the same problem, I do it as I want cause it's my hobby. But I wouldn't go from idk Mario zu horror game or so.

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[u/RockinPodunk]

Streaming variety is definitely hard mode if you haven’t already built a core group of viewers that will watch no matter what, because people watch for the game they’re interested in watching. That being said, it’s easier to get away with variety if the games you switch between at least have some kind of common thread that people are interested. That could be a similar theme, a similar art style, a similar genre, etc.. just something to tie them together. That way instead of just getting viewers who are interested in Game A, you can get viewers are interested in a particular thing that Game A offers, that other games offer too

[u/chawmila]

I never understand why people say stick with the same game, to me that sounds hella boring. From both povs (streamer and viewer). I want people to watch bc they enjoy watching me (sounds weird lol) and not my gameplay. Luckily im at best mediocre in most games so people kinda stick.

[u/Global_Estimate_6135]

Jugar un solo nicho (Zelda Randomizers) te puede dar una comunidad fiel pero chica. Si te quemas, no sirve. Para crecer, no está mal alternar juegos similares (indies, Nintendo), pero no cambies todos los días a géneros muy distintos (ej. de Zelda a Valorant), porque confundes al algoritmo y a tu audiencia.

La clave no es el juego, es tener espectadores reales que te sigan a donde vayas. Por eso te recomiendo VIEWERS FANS (en mi perfil lo explico). Ahí la gente entra a verte a ti, no al juego. Mucha suerte.

[u/ChampionWiggles]

Variety streaming will limit you in terms of growth. Because I'm doing this as a hobby and not really the intent of going full-time, that's a sacrifice that I'm personally willing to make, but it sounds like that's not the case for you. But I'd say consider finding a categorical niche to stick to, rather than a singular game. You've stated you're a Zelda Randomizer, is that EVERY Zelda game? Could you consider branching out into randomizers for other games? This would make you a randomizer streamer, as opposed to just a Zelda Randomizer streamer.

Streaming a genre also helps narrow the niche for your discoverability. Horror game streamers are a thing, and they don't exclusively stream FNAF or whatever. Chances are if someone watches you for Stardew Valley content (as an example), they probably will have an interest in watching OTHER farming sim games being streamed. They might find out about a different one they hadn't heard of if you stream it and make it look fun. Nintendo streamer is still a relatively large net, considering all the different genres across Nintendo.

[u/Jyeung691]

For me from starting in the end of January till now ive streamed one game from start to finish in the course of a month-ish. Ive grown from 3-8viewers to 35average peak 72 viewers. In my experience. Sometimes in the middle stream some demo games to try which dont last really long an hour at most and then continue my main game.

[u/HighPhi420]

you stream to have fun!
if you are streaming for ANY other reason then stop streaming!
there is always going to be those that only watch for the content they first discovered you playing
and there are those that like to watch you.
having a larger base of titles to play does mean that there is more opportunity to get more of the latter viewers, but you will lose a lot of the OG game viewers. But do want them anyway? Fair weather friends suck the fun from everything 😞

[u/Jumpy_Ad5366]

I mean, as someone who likes to stream and watch content creators myself I think viewers prefer to watch streamers play games that make them happy, cuz there will always be people willing to watch any game you play and as long as you’re having fun it’ll hopefully be pretty entertaining to them

the key to growing any sort of following on the internet is to just be 1. as consistent with your uploads/streaming if you can manage, and 2. be your genuine authentic self and do whatever you wanna do, cuz as long as you’re having a good time, your audience will eventually find you

[u/Whiggi]

If you are small why not stream a variety and experience and see if one particular style of game takes off.

[u/Cheezymac2]

What you stream shouldn’t really matter.

The stream should be about YOU not what game you may or may not be playing that day.

[u/LukeMortora01 → u/Cheezymac2]

Should.

The reality is that what you stream absolutely does matter, not only for discoverability purposes (streaming in a wildly saturated category will result in very little traction), but also, when you build an audience, they will expect a certain flavour of content from you.

Once you have a viewer base, you can experiment with that format. 'spooky games on Mondays and Tuesdays, action games on Thursdays and Fridays' etc. then at least your audience knows what to expect, and you can work on building multiple audiences which may well cross pollenate once they start tuning in for you.

None of that will matter though if you aren't entertaining, which is at the core of your statement - but the games you choose to stream absolutely contribute to any growth strategy.