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It’s probably not the career path your mother would have chosen for you, but maybe it’s time for her to reevaluate.

Video games have become a titan in the entertainment industry over the last few decades, with the market peaking at $35.4 billion in 2019 revenue. For context, that’s more than three times the revenue made by the music industry and 83% of the money made by the movie industry in the same year[*].

You’re probably familiar with some of the ways you can make cash playing video games, with major streamers like Ninja making serious cash and eSports being aired on ESPN, but did you know there are ways you can take your favorite hobby and play video games for cash — even outside of a professional context?

While pursuing a professional career is an option, you don’t have to be a major league gamer to pad your savings account while you’re waiting for your next doctor’s appointment or when standing in line at the DMV.

There are so many ways to make money playing video games, but most of them aren’t worth it. We’ve done our research and pulled out the options that are worth considering. We tell you the honest truth — what you choose to do with it is your decision.

Some of these have the chance to be lucrative, most do not. Some follow more traditional career paths, others involve an entrepreneurial spirit. Some pay you immediately, others require content and time investment.

Take a close read through to figure out which option is best for you.

1. User test video games for large video game developers

It’s not surprising once you stop and think about it, but every game ever released needs to be tested. Think of it like writing a book, except that the sentences aren’t linear. Someone has to playtest every aspect of a game before its release, and companies like Blizzard, EA, and Ubisoft all employ full-time and contracted video game testers.

The money can be better than you think. Video game testers can easily earn $50,000+ a year, but keep in mind this is a demanding, full-time position. You aren’t just lazily playing video games. Here’s an idea of what you would be doing:

• Carefully performing “matrix” tests to “break” a game – e.g. exploiting balancing strengths and weaknesses in a MOAB game.
• Writing down articulate and meticulous thoughts around new versions and the issues you encountered. You can’t say, “The game was choppy”. You’d have to say something more along the lines of, “Version 1.32’s load time between cutscenes clocked in at 12 seconds, which is much longer than the 4-second benchmark we established”.
• Attend meetings and relate your findings to the developer team.
• Staying on top of bug fixes and reminding the team to resolve them.

Another common complaint is the lack of upward mobility. Where do you go from being a user tester? Well, the answer is nowhere concrete.

How to get started

Check out some job boards and see if any positions are available.

Here are some companies that offer user-testing positions:

• Nintendo: How cool would this be? The only catch is you have to live in Redmond, Washington since it’s where their American headquarters is.
• Blizzard: User-testing jobs at Blizzard are hard to find, but you may be able to snag one if you keep a close eye on it.
• Rockstar: Same idea here. These jobs don’t come up often at Rockstar but you may be able to pick one up if you’re lucky. And remember these are legitimate jobs and should be treated seriously.

2. User test video games via smaller third-party testing sites

There are also generalized video game sites where you can sign up to test all sorts of games. Some of these require you to take voice and video recordings as you play them, others don’t. It’s essentially a product testing platform and the jobs depend on the various video game designers’ needs.

How to get started

Start enrolling and checking out gigs on a few user-testing sites.

Here are few third-party user testing sites to get you started:

• Beta Testing: Beta Testing was previously known as Erli Bird, and it’s a general platform for businesses to hire users to test their apps, games, and software.
• UserTesting: Similar to Beta Testing, this site has a broad set of user testing opportunities but video game gigs do show up from time to time.
• PlaytestCloud: This is a mobile app testing site, so you can find mobile games to test here. On their site, they mention that pay varies, but they give an example of a $9 test for 15 minutes of playtime.

3. Use Mistplay or other mobile apps

There are a couple of mobile gaming apps that make their cash through ads and user data while paying users for their time. You’ll have to play what they want you to, but if you aren’t too picky then these apps could be good for you. You won’t make more than a few bucks a month, but it’s not a bad way to spend downtime.

How to get started

Download a few mobile gaming apps and see which one you enjoy the most.

Here are a few mobile gaming app options:

• Mistplay: Play games and earn cash. This is best for mobile gamers who don’t mind opting in to play random games. You won’t get more than a couple of bucks a month, though.
• Bananatic: Online platform where you play for points that you can redeem for gift cards and other offers.
• AppNana: A mobile reward app that gives you rewards for completing small tasks and playing games. You can then redeem them for Xbox gift cards and other prizes.

4. Use sites like Swagbucks or InboxDollars

If you aren’t picky about the video games you play and are interested in a generalized approach to spending downtime, then Swagbucks and InboxDollars are two of the “make money online” juggernauts to consider.

Both services are pretty similar. Basically, you create an account, fill out some basic information about yourself, and then there are a wide variety of ways you can collect “bucks” or “cash”. These options include taking surveys, watching ads, playing games, and much more.

You won’t make anywhere near a liveable income from these sites, but they are good options to have around if you’re bored and looking for ways to gamify your discretionary spending.

How to get started

Fill out an account on either Swagbucks or InboxDollars and start playing some games!

Here are few links to “make money online” sites:

• Swagbucks: The biggest player in the “make money online” space. You can do everything from play games to watch movie trailers to fill out surveys and turn earned points into cash.
• InboxDollars: This service is very similar to Swagbucks, and many people mix and match between the two. Take a look at the video game options on both sites and see which ones are more fun.

5. Make a Youtube channel or Twitch stream

This is the most popular way to make money with video games at the moment. Just like your last Los Angeles Uber driver, you could consider starting your own Youtube Channel or Twitch Stream.

Isn’t that extremely difficult? Well, yes. Of course. Being successful as an online video gamer and streamer requires at least one of these three of these skills, if not all:

1. A particularly good knack for video games.
2. A charismatic personality.
3. A unique spin and/or special attention to production value.

Just opening up a streaming account and starting isn’t enough to get people to stick around. You need a hook. That can either be your ability to play, the way you have fun while you play, the way you present the material or any of the above.

How to get started

Take some time to think critically about how to approach your Youtube or Twitch channel by using the advice below:

Take a close look at existing streamers. What could you do differently? How can you make video games entertaining outside of just playing them? What about you can become your unique value proposition? Think carefully before investing your time here, most people don’t make it.

Here are some major streaming sites to think about starting on:

• Twitch: The ultimate video gaming streaming site. The competition here is difficult, but you won’t find a platform with a wider potential audience.
• YouTube Gaming: YouTube’s live streaming is good but not as robust as Twitch’s, but it also allows you to post compilation/other types of video game content and ultimately build a broader channel than Twitch.
• Dlive: A newer blockchain streaming service that focuses on audience building and community rewards. This one is bound to be less saturated than the others.

6. Enter tournaments

One skill-based opportunity is playing in tournaments. Large games like Overwatch, Apex Legends and Fortnite regularly host tournaments.

If you are aiming (wordplay intended), for a skill-based entry into the video game market, then you need to prove to others (and yourself), that you have what it takes to win. Start training and start competing. If you don’t see meaningful progress and aren’t seeing results after a period of pursuit, consider moving on.

My advice on this is two-fold:

1. Choose a game with longevity to invest in. Considering how long StarCraft II has been around, there is a decent chance StarCraft II will fizzle out over the next few years. That means it’s probably not the best time to start skilling up.
2. Choose a game that has existing hype or the potential for growth. Ideally, you will catch a wave like Ninja did with Fortnite.

How to get started

Find an upcoming tournament with players you know are around your level, start practicing, and get to work.

Here are a few video game tournament sites:

• Battlefy: BattleFy hosts a bunch of Rocket League, League of Legends, and Hearthstone tournaments, but it also has a lot of depth with the types of tournaments you can enter in. The competition is tough but the prizes are high!
• Gfinity Esports: Gfinity tournaments are extremely competitive and run by a well-respected company within the gaming world.
• WorldGaming: WorldGaming is a huge network of tournaments that has a variety of smaller and big tournaments you can compete in. If you want to get your feet wet, this is a good choice.

7. Consider becoming a video game coach

If you have some sort of professional record in the video games space, have an entrepreneurial spirit, don’t mind selling yourself, and are a good teacher, then you could look into becoming a video game coach.

The niche is small but growing, and if you can position yourself around certain video games and also build in essential networking and life-skills training apart from the pure “wins” results, then you may have a business opportunity on your hands.

How to get started

Take a hard look at your credentials and see if this path makes sense and if you want to give it a shot. Then, start thinking like an entrepreneur using the advice below.

Your best bet from a marketing perspective is either wealthy college kids or upper-income parents with kids interested in pursuing this full-time. Your approach will need to change according to the demographic you’re pursuing, and always remember whose pocketbook will be paying you.

I’d also pick up some Business 101 books to make sure you understand exactly what you’re getting into.

Here are a few sites you can use to start finding clients:

• Gamer Sensei: You have to apply to be a Sensei and give a bit of your cut to this site, but they will provide you with students if you get accepted.
• Fiverr: Fiverr is a general freelancing site that you can bid for contracts on. Set up your profile and start bidding for jobs!
• Facebook Gaming Groups: After you’ve set up your online site and portfolio via LinkedIn etc., you could join gaming groups, get involved in those communities, and then start making connections with aspiring players.

8. Write video game articles or reviews

This is more of a long play to build an audience, but if you love writing and reviewing games, then you should consider publicizing and monetizing your work. You can do this via two main ways:

• By pitching to existing gaming publications.
• By building up your own channel/brand specifically built around video game reviews.

Each option comes with its own challenges. If you are pitching to publications, you need to send ideas, articles, etc. that are an exact fit for their brand. Remember, people are lazy — the key to networking is to reduce the friction required for anyone to do what you want them to do. If you can pitch an article at the right time that’s perfectly on brand, then you may open some doors and get paid for your article.

To get an idea of how to cold-email journalism sites and land gigs, check out Toby Howell’s incredible cold email sequence, which he used to land a job at one of the most prominent email newsletters out today, Morning Brew. It’s brilliant and well worth the read if you plan on pitching articles to anyone anytime soon.

If you’re looking to build your own channel or audience, whether it’s directly or adjacently related to video games, then there are a few ways to think about it. You either need to:

• Approach video game reviews in a style that feels “fresh” or new. This can involve a certain ploy or brand feature (e.g., always including a video game developer on your reviews) or by having your own video production style.
• Use an approach that’s popular but do it better. This is very difficult to do and requires a lot of expertise or time developing that expertise.

In reality, it’s very difficult to make a significant income writing video game reviews and articles, so your best bet is to look at it as a passionate side hustle.

How to get started

Start writing and reviewing video games publicly and either use them to pitch to existing publications or post them directly on your own platform.

Here are a few publications to pitch to and reviewers to emulate:

• IGN: IGN is a powerhouse player in video games journalism. Remember to make your pitch as specific and actionable as possible. Good luck!
• Polygon: Polygon is an entertainment review and news company that is always up to hear good pitches from freelancers. Use this link to review their submission guidelines.
• Mandalore Gaming: Mandalore Gaming is a great example of a one-person-shop for video game reviews. Check out how well they review games and conduct audience building.
• Gameranx: Gameranx is an even bigger Youtube operation than Mandalore Gaming, and they specialize in compilation and “tips and tricks” videos. Take a look through their top videos to get some inspiration for your own channel.

Bonus: expand your definition of “getting paid to play video games”

What about avenues that don’t directly involve playing video games? As we mentioned, the video games industry is massive, so if you enjoy video games, I encourage you to look beyond strictly playing video games for money.

You could:

• Become a video game story writer
• Edit scripts for video game dialogue
• Conduct research for a team
• Market video games
• Become a video game developer

There are tons of options once you open this angle up. Yes, this doesn’t involve pwning noobs for $100k/year, but on the other hand, the world is your… kirby?

Plus, working alongside your passion instead of in it is often a good way to preserve your joy and love for it. It’s easy to get burned out on something you love once it’s your actual job — just ask any musician after a long touring leg!

The bottom line on getting paid to play video games

If you’re looking to make a few extra bucks in your downtime, then there are definitely options for you to make money playing video games. Check out sites like Swagbucks and Mistplay and use them to pick up some extra cash in time you’d normally be wasting anyway.

Heck, you could even use the money you earn from those to buy major releases you’re really looking forward to playing.

And if you’re looking to make it big in video games, that’s fine to pursue — just make sure you’re strategic about it and recognize that most people aren’t able to make a living playing video games. Fortunately, there are all sorts of fun and interesting ways to build video games into your life.

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How would you like to get paid to test video games?

If you like and play a lot of video games, this is right up your alley.

According to THEESA (The Entertainment Software Association) 75% of Americans have at least one gamer in their household!

And we spend quite a bit of money on games.

$23.5 billion to be exact!

But there are ways to make this a little less expensive habit.

You can even get paid to play games!

There is also another way to make money (and get premium games for free)…

Paid video game testing!

Why would gaming companies pay me to test games?

There are thousands of video games available in today’s market.

And every day, hundreds more are introduced.

Some flop, some succeed, and a few become big hits like Guitar Hero, Halo, Final Fantasy, Wii Fit, Grand Theft Auto, SSX, and Metroid.

Now, designing and production of video games is a long process.

It takes a lot of time, effort and money.

So the software companies behind these games need to eliminate any issues before they release the game to the public.

Imagine how pissed you’d be if you paid $50 for a game only to have to deal with bugs and errors.

Earn Money Playing Games Online

To avoid losing loyal customers (and revenue,) video games companies, like any other smart software company, conduct tests before they actually release the product to the market.

This isn’t limited to just gaming companies, most companies do this. For example, Facebook pays you up to $500 for any bugs you find on their platform.

By having beta testers test the products, companies can find and fix potential bugs and errors before it gets too out of hand.

This is almost like market research and those paid surveys where you get paid to share your opinion about products before they are released to the market.

Of course, you won’t find many video game testers who would do this for free.

To entice gamers to participate, they reward them with money, prizes and free video games, online games and more.

Interested?

Let’s get you familiar with how it all works and how you can become a paid video game tester.

What exactly do you do as a game tester?

As a tester, you have one job and one job only…

Play games and report any bugs, errors, or glitches you come across.

That’s what it comes down to.

Of course, there are a few specific things that they want you to look out for.

Some of the features that testers need to inspect are:

• compatibility
• compliance
• functionality
• localization and beta
• regression load
• locating faults that may cause crashing of console, freezing of games, erasing of programs or distort visuals.

It’s really a fun job.

Sure, you may not always get a testing job for a game you like. but sometimes you may get lucky and get assigned to test play one of your favorite games.

Either way, you play the game!

It’s a simple process that can be broken down into 4 steps.

Here’s how it works:

1. Play the game, looking for bugs and errors.
2. When you find a bug, you’ll have to reproduce (“repro“) it.
3. Type a bug report via the provided form (usually part of a bug-tracking software.)
4. Submit your report to the developers of the game so they can fix it.

In some cases, the game developers may contact you for more details.

Game tester salary: How much money can you make?

The amount of money you can make as a game tester really varies.

You can get paid hourly or an annual salary.

Either way, the pay rate varies based on a few factors like the game company hiring you, your experience, geographical location and so on.

You can expect anywhere from $10 per hour to $100 per hour.

According to Gamasutra Salary Survey, the average annual salary of a tester is about $54,833.

Now here is the interesting part…

According to the same survey, for those with over 6 years of experience, the salary went up to $62,885 a year.

So, just like in most other industries, entry-level workers are paid less than those with more experience.

Sidebar: If you own a lot of games and want to make some fast cash, check out our post on best places to sell video games for cash.

How do you become a video game tester?

Normally, you can find video game tester jobs on third-party platforms that specialize in connecting testers with software companies.

That said, manufacturers of video games – Namco, EA Sports, Sega, PlayStation, Capcom, Sony, Konami, Apple,… – also offer video game testing jobs from time to time.

Most don’t have a dedicated panel where you can sign up year-round, but there are a few that do.

It’s important to note that in most aces you won’t be hired as an employee. Game testing jobs are offered on a contract basis. Meaning, you’ll be working as an interdependent contractor.

Ready to get started?

Here are a few companies offering video game testing jobs:

1. iGameLab

iGameLa is a part of PanelPolls, a market research company.

By joining the panel, you can become a beta tester and get paid to play

• Online games
• Mobile games/apps
• Virtual worlds
• Websites

According to the site, active testers earn $10.00-$15.00 for every month of participation.

• Where to apply:https://community.panelpolls.com/iGamelab.php

2. Nintendo

Working with Nintendo is a gamer’s dream.

We all know Nintendo, one of the biggest names in the gaming industry.

Many of us grew up playing Nintendo games such as Super Mario and Contra.

Nintendo hires testers through two different contractors/temp agencies – Parker Staffing Services and Allegis Group.

Unfortunately, they do not offer off-site beta testing or remote video game testing jobs.

All their current positions are located in Redmond, Washington.

Update: They seem to longer have the game tester position open as of 10/19/2020 but they may bring it back again. So bookmark the page linked below and check back for future openings.

• Where to apply: https://careers.nintendo.com/

3. VMC – Global Beta Test Network

Want to be the first to play big games?

This is the platform for you!

The Global Beta Test Network is a community of hundreds of gamers from all over the world that help gaming companies test their games through the process known as “Stress Testing.”

Through VMC, you get to play and test AAA multiplayer console games.

To qualify, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Sign a non-disclosure agreement
• Be able to focus and follow instruction
• Behave professionally at all times.

These are paid jobs, although they don’t mention how much exactly you get paid (I’m guessing it’s because the pay varies based on the test.)

Compensation is an hourly rate based on where you live.

You receive your payment via PayPal 45 days after the end of the project.

• Where to apply:https://www.vmc.com/join-gbtn/

4. RockStar Games

Even if you’re not a gamer, you’ve provably heard of Grand Theft Auto. RockStar Games is the company behind it and many other top games.

RockStar is looking for “passionate, enthusiastic and self-motivated individuals” to join their QA (Quality Assurance) teams in various cities.

You must be at least 18 years old, and you may be asked to complete a video interview as well.

Keep an eye on their career page for openings in other cities.

• Where to apply:https://www.rockstargames.com/careers/openings/position/4047003003

5. Blizzard

Blizzard is one of the top game designers/developers. Some of their most successful games include World of Warcraft, Diablo, and StarCraft.

They hire game testers as temporary workers.

They don’t have open potions year-round, but they do from time to time.

To get notified, keep an eye on their Careers page.

If you like working in the gaming industry, they have other open positions for Animators, Designers, Character Artist and more.

• Where to apply:https://careers.blizzard.com/global/en

6. UserTesting

UserTesting is a great site for getting paid to test not only games but also websites, apps and other tech products.

You earn $10 for every 20-minute test you complete. They also have interviews for testers that pay much more. They pay via PayPal.

• Where to apply: https://www.usertesting.com/get-paid-to-test

7. Beta Family

If you like playing mobile games, this is a great game testing opportunity. The company rewards you for testing and providing feedback about gaming apps.

• Where to apply:https://betafamily.com/register?r=t–tester

8. BetaTesting (former Erli Bird)

With BetaTesting, you get paid to test websites & hardware and new apps (some of which are gaming apps). You earn $10-$20 for most tests (or more).

• Where to apply:https://betatesting.com/beta-testers

9. Betabound

Betabound is a website that allows you to become a beta game tester without requiring much experience of any kind. You need to be 18 years of age or older.

With Betabound you get to test and provide feedback on products from “some of the biggest names in tech before they are launched to the public.”

Anyone can apply to become a Betabound tester. To start, sign up for a free account and start applying for available tests. Pay varies based on each test and its requirements.

• Where to apply:https://my.betabound.com/welcome/

10. Android Central Forum

Android Central forum is one of the top forums where Android developers can get help, share tips and discuss phones, Android OS and more. The forum has one specific section called “Developer Beta Testing”. Here developers post ads when they are looking for beta testers to test out their apps, games and software. So it’s a great place to check for game testing opportunities.

• Where to apply:https://forums.androidcentral.com/developer-beta-testing/

11. Bananatic

Banantic is another testing site that rewards you for testing online games.

Once you register, you can play free online games as a tester to earn rewards. You can also earn rewards by reviewing games. For every test and review, you earn “Bananas” which is their form of virtual currency. You can then exchange your bananas for real prizes such as games and prepaids, CSGO skins, steam wallets, amazon, paysafecards, etc.

• Where to apply:https://www.bananatic.com/

How to Find More Game Testing Jobs

The companies mentioned above aren’t the only game (pun intended) in town.

Remember we said most game companies don’t have a dedicated panel?

So how do they find testers for their games?

Ads on a job site!

When they need testers, they simply put ads on job search engines.

And that’s where you can find more legitimate game testing jobs.

All you have to do is g to your favorite job site and search for terms like:

• “game tester jobs near me”
• “game tester jobs at home”
• “game tester jobs no experience”
• “entry level game tester jobs”
• …

I found a few dozens of openings on some of the top job search sites.

Here are some of the available game tester jobs on:

• Indeed: Current companies hiring include Big Fish Games and Electronic Arts.
• ZipRecruiter: Current companies hiring include RockStar and Ubisoft.
• GlassDoor: Current companies hiring include Epic Games and Gearbox Software.
• CareerBuilder: Current companies hiring include Steam and Big Fish Games.
• Linkedin: Current companies hiring include Epic Games and RockStar.

In just a few minutes, I was able to find available testing jobs for some of the biggest game development companies like Big Fish Games, C2S Technologies, RockStar North and Blizzard.

If you’re serious about wanting to make money as a game tester, I’d definitely keep an eye on these sites.

Tips for success

Here are a few tips to help you get that dream job.

Location matters

Unfortunately, remote testing jobs are rare. Most companies require you to show up in their studio somewhere and play the game under controlled situations.

So, living in big cities, especially tech and software hubs, like San Francisco, is your best bet for landing a beta tester job.

Reports from Houston Chronicle suggest that major cities like Los Angeles, New York and Seattle offer maximum opportunities for working as a game tester.

Learn to speak the language

Game developers look for people who are passionate and talented about games.

Earn Money Playing Games online, free

You should get familiar with gaming terminology and trends.

If you are already an expert on certain types of games, try some new games.

It will be helpful for you to learn how to write a test report, be aware of the ongoing trends in the industry.

And if you ever find an internship opportunity for a gaming company, do not mess it up!

Experience matters

Some companies don’t require degrees or years of experience. You may be able to find entry level jobs.

That said, having a degree in software development, computer programming or graphic design is a great tool for landing, not just testing, but any other job in this industry.

Scam Alert: Game-Testers.net

Finding legitimate game testing jobs is kind of hard, which is why a lot of people fall for scams.

One of those is Game-Testers.net.

The site claims you can make $50 to $150 an hour playing games from anywhere.

But here is the catch…

You have to actually pay to join the site!

They charge something like $50 for the “membership fee!”

I mean, what legit company that is hiring people, charges you to work for them?

And you know what you get for it?

Nothing!

All you get is a guide on how to get started (just like what you’re reading now, for free!) and links to major game development companies like Microsoft and Activision.

So, please stay away from this one and others like it.

In general, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Resources

When researching for this post, I came across a lot of great resources that I think are very helpful for anyone interested in making money as a game tester.

Here are some of them:

• How to Get a Job as a Video Game Tester: A great guide by Volt that paints a realistic picture of this job and what you can expect.
• Inside the ‘dream job’ of a video game tester: A Business Insider’s interview with a someone who does this for a living.

Good Luck!

Have you ever been paid for testing video games?

Would you do it if you were offered a job?

And if you know of any other company that offers video game testing jobs, please leave a comment below.