Most influential YouTube gaming channels of 2023

Study reveals the most influential YouTube gaming channels of 2023

Markiplier is the most influential YouTube gamer with 34.3 million subscribers and over 19.5 billion total video views.

LankyBox ranked second with 22.6 million subscribers and 30.3 billion total video views.

Chilean YouTuber JuegaGerman ranked third, with 47 million subscribers and 19.5 billion total video views.

Spanish gamer Auron has amassed more followers on social media than his actual YouTube channel.

A new study has revealed the most influential YouTube gaming channels, with American YouTuber, Markiplier, taking the top spot.

The study by Online Casino scored the 100 most subscribed gaming channels on YouTube based on number of subscribers, total video views, channel earnings, social media earning potential, and number of followers on Twitter and Instagram. The Youtubers were then ranked according to their combined score across the three platforms, with YouTube given the highest weighting.

The research revealed that Markiplier is the most influential YouTube gamer, with a total influence score of 31.91 out of 50. The YouTuber, originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, had amassed over 34.3 million subscribers for his reaction and commentary style videos in which he plays through popular games. He has more than 19.5 billion video views across his 5,392 videos and has built a collective audience of 59.3 million across YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. His most recent video series consists of him playing popular horror game remake, Dead Space, with most of these videos clocking millions of views each.

While he doesn’t have the largest audience on this list, he claims the top spot due to his impressive lifetime channel earnings of over £34 million and high engagement rates on Twitter and Instagram, which also allow him to command large sums for any sponsored posts. Given his 14 million followers on Twitter, he could charge brands as much as £115,000 per sponsored tweet.

Lankybox is the second most influential YouTube account on this list, with a total influence score of 30.70 out of 50. This American duo, who specialize in fast-paced and highly energetic videos, have attracted over 22.6 million subscribers and an even more impressive 30.3 billion total views. This is the equivalent of every person on the planet watching four of their videos.

The pair have built a combined audience across YouTube and Instagram of 23.5 million, with 22.6 million coming from YouTube alone. Their videos tend to target a younger audience, hence their reduced following on social media. Through their whopping 6,991 videos they have earned an estimated £51 million through ad revenue alone.

JuegaGerman is the third most influential gaming YouTuber, with a total influence score of 28 out of 50. The Chilean content creator has amassed an audience of over 74.4 million followers across YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter with his gameplay and ‘try not to laugh’ challenge videos. His 47 million YouTube subscribers and 2,017 videos have earned him an impressive 14 billion channel views and an estimated channel earning of over £24 million.

Jacksepticeye is the fourth most influential gaming YouTuber, with a total influence score of 23.68 out of 50. This Irish content creator has attracted over 29 million subscribers on YouTube and a total audience of 44.7 million across YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. With 15 billion video views across his 5,046 videos, he is estimated to have earned more than £27 million overall in ad revenue. 

VEGETTA777 secures fifth place, with a total influence score of 23.14 out of 50. This Spanish YouTube content creator, whose real name is Samuel de Luque, has a combined following of over 49.9 million across YouTube, Twitter and Instagram. His videos feature himself playing various games such as God of War or Minecraft either alone or with his friends. VEGETTA777’s influence has earned him 15 billion views on YouTube and more than 33.6 million subscribers, making him second most subscribed to Spanish YouTube channel.

Coming in sixth place is FGTeeV, with a total influence score of 23.06 out of 50. Also known as the ‘Family Gaming Team’, FGTeeV is considered to be the most popular family gaming channel on YouTube. With over 21.5 million subscribers and more than 23.3 billion channel views, it is estimated that this family has generated over £41 million in ad revenue from their videos alone. 

Much like other gaming channels whose content is aimed at a younger audience, they have not grown a substantial Twitter or Instagram following. They have instead put their energy into maximizing their YouTube audience and providing them with relevant merchandise.

CookieSwirlC is in seventh place, with a total influence score of 22.18 out of 50. This VTuber, or virtual YouTuber, uses a female anime avatar alongside her real voice, rather than showing her face in her videos. Her gaming videos on Roblox and Five Nights at Freddy’s have attracted 19.1 million subscribers and 22.1 billion video views in total.

Auron comes in eight place, with a total influence score of 22.02 out of 50. This Spanish YouTuber, comedian, and Twitch streamer has built an audience of over 51.8 million people across YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. His 14.3 million YouTube subscribers and 3 billion video views, have earned him an estimated £5.3 million in ad revenue. Auron is the world’s second most followed Twitch streamer as well as the third most subscribed to Spanish YouTube channel.

Auron is the only YouTuber on this list to have more followers on Instagram (18.8 million) and Twitter (18.7 million) than he does on YouTube (14.3 million). In fact, his large Twitter audience means he could potentially generate up to £155,591 per sponsored tweet.

DanTDM ranks as the ninth most influential gaming YouTuber, with a total influence score of 21.70 out of 50. The content creator from Aldershot, England grew his following from Minecraft video, has generated over 19 billion video views and earned an estimated £33.3 million in YouTube ad revenue. He has rallied 26.3 million subscribers, making him the most subscribed British YouTube channel, excluding brand accounts and music channels. His combined audience across YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter totals more than 32 million followers.

Rounding off the table and ranking as the tenth most influential gaming YouTube creator is Rubius Z, with a total influence score of 21.30 out of 50. This Spanish-Norwegian YouTuber primarily posts videos playing Minecraft and trending games. Not only has his YouTube channel attracted more than 11.9 million subscribers with fewer than 500 videos, but he has also earned approximately £3.3 million in ad revenue. Furthermore, with his 20.7 million Twitter followers, he could charge around £166,000 per post.

The 10 most influential YouTube gaming channels

Rank	YouTube Username	YouTube Influence/30	Twitter Influence/10	Instagram Influence/10	Total Points / 50
1	Markiplier	19.28	6.74	5.90	31.91
2	LankyBox	30	0	0.70	30.70
3	JuegaGerman	13.99	5.86	8.15	28
4	Jacksepticeye	15.68	3.77	4.23	23.68
5	VEGETTA777	15.02	4.76	3.35	23.14
6	FGTeeV	23.04	0.02	0	23.06
7	CookieSwirlC	21.87	0.01	0.30	22.18
8	Auron	2.99	9.03	10	22.02
9	DanTDM	18.75	1.03	1.92	21.70
10	Rubius Z	1.96	10	9.35	21.30

The 10 most influential YouTube gaming channels – Total video views and subscribers

Rank	Channel Name	YouTube Video Views (billion)	YouTube Subscribers (million)	Twitter Followers (million)	Instagram Followers (Million)	Total Audience (million)
1	Markiplier	19.5	34.3	14	11	59.3
2	LankyBox	30.3	22.6	0	0.9	23.5
3	JuegaGerman	14.1	47	12.1	15.3	74.4
4	jacksepticeye	15.9	29	7.8	7.9	44.7
5	VEGETTA777	15.2	33.6	10	6.3	49.9
6	FGTeeV	23.3	21.5	0	0.5	22
7	CookieSwirlC	22.1	19.1	0	0.4	19.5
8	Auron	3	14.3	18.7	18.8	51.8
9	DanTDM	19	26.3	2.1	3.6	32
10	Rubius Z	2	11.9	20.7	17.6	50.2

A spokesperson from Online.Casino commented on the findings:

“There are so many different types of people creating and growing gaming channels on the platform, from creators that have been around since the early days of YouTube to young families and children. The channels that have seen the most success in an otherwise saturated market are those that have differentiated themselves in some way, be that through their style of editing, video ideas, or unique personality.

“Nowadays, no matter how you play games, whether on a console, phone, or PC, free recording and editing software means that most people already have everything they need to turn their gaming hobby into a career on YouTube.”