12 Best Ways to Earn Money By Playing Games In India 2024

The demand for computer games has only grown in recent years. Almost anyone, from a primary student to an adult IT professional, likes to play games. As per The Economic Times, the gaming industry in India is estimated to reach 3.9 billion dollars by 2035. There are ample ways to earn money if you are a gamer. You can play card games, video games, and even casino games to earn money online. To help you start, we have provided the best ways to earn money by playing games in India.

How Much Can You Earn by Playing Games in India?

According to industry standards, professional gamers can earn anywhere between ₹70 – ₹85 lakhs per annum. You can earn through online earning games, creating video game content, becoming a game journalist, participating in live professional gaming events, and live streaming your gameplay. The amount of money you will earn depends upon the kind of games you play, the gaming content you create, the platforms you use, and the time you invest. You can also participate in tournaments and content that gaming apps encourage to earn additional income. Another report from Glassdoor shows that an average professional gamer’s salary in India is ₹21,418 /month:

List of Top 12 Ways to Earn Money by Playing Games in India

1. Become a Gaming Affiliate Marketer

Game affiliate marketing is the easiest way to earn money online. You don’t have to invest anything and can work in the comfort of your home. As an affiliate marketer, you must promote gaming affiliate programs of popular gaming companies. This includes companies like GameFly, Howzat Fantasy Cricket, Rummy Circle, etc. You will get a commission when a user purchases a gaming product or downloads a game app through your affiliate link.

You can join an affiliate network like EarnKaro to get started and share deals on gaming within your network through social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook and Telegram. Moreover, you can even promote games on youtube to make money on YouTube with affiliate marketing.

Benefits

• Profitable Revenue Streams
• Low Barrier to Entry
• Diverse Affiliate Programs
• Flexible Work Schedule
• Continuous Passive Income Potential
• Networking and Collaboration Opportunities
• Personal and Professional Development

How to Start Gaming Affiliate Marketing?

1. Choose Your Niche: Determine the specific gaming niche you want to focus on, like PC gaming, console gaming, mobile gaming, eSports, game streaming, gaming accessories, etc.

2. Research Affiliate Programs: Identify reputable gaming affiliate programs that offer products or services relevant to your chosen niche. Some well-known gaming affiliate programs include Amazon Associates, Twitch Affiliate Program, and Razer Affiliate Program.

3. Build an Online Presence: Establish your online presence by creating a website or blog centred around gaming. 

4. Create Quality Content: Produce high-quality, engaging content that resonates with your target audience, like game reviews, gameplay videos, tutorials, news articles, and product comparisons. 

5. Join Affiliate Programs: Apply to the gaming affiliate programs you have identified. Or you can join an affiliate network like EarnKaro. 

6. Promote Affiliate Products: Incorporate your affiliate links strategically within your content.

7. Drive Traffic to Your Website: Implement marketing strategies to drive targeted traffic.

8. Track Performance and Optimize: Monitor the performance of your affiliate links using analytics tools provided by the affiliate programs or third-party tracking software. 

2. Become a Live Streamer

Live streaming is one of the popular ways to play to earn money in India. You need a gaming computer, some games that viewers are interested in watching, a fun personality, and streaming software. You would also need high-speed internet for smooth live-streaming sessions. For live streaming, you can start by becoming a YouTuber. Else, you can join Twitch, the largest live streaming platform.

However, it will take you some time to build an audience. The reality is you will need thousands of viewers to get a significant amount of income. Hence, it is important to make yourself stand out from other users. This can be achieved with the help of humour or personality or by being a phenomenal player in the games that no one else is playing. Make sure your content is unique and creative to keep the audience engaged.

Benefits

• Direct Audience Interaction
• Authenticity and Real-Time Feedback
• Monetization Opportunities
• Flexibility and Independence
• Community Building and Networking
• Personal Branding and Career Opportunities
• Global Reach and Exposure

How to Start Live Streaming?

1. Define Your Content and Niche: Determine what content you want to stream and the niche or topic you want to focus on, like gaming, cooking, music, art, talk shows, etc.

2. Choose a Live Streaming Platform: Research and select a live-streaming platform that aligns with your content and goals. Popular platforms include Twitch, YouTube Live, Facebook Gaming, and Mixer.

3. Set Up Your Equipment: Invest in the necessary equipment to ensure a quality streaming experience. 

4. Choose Streaming Software: Select streaming software to capture and broadcast your content to the chosen platform. Popular options include OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software), Streamlabs OBS, and XSplit.

5. Set Up Your Stream: Configure your streaming software settings according to the requirements of your chosen platform. 

6. Create a Channel and Branding: Set up your channel on the chosen live-streaming platform and create a consistent branding identity. 

7. Plan and Schedule Your Streams: Establish a schedule that works for you and your target audience.

8. Engage with Your Audience: Interact with your viewers during live streams to build engagement and a sense of community. 

9. Promote and Grow Your Channel: Promote your live streams and channel through various channels. 

3. Become a Game Writer

Game writing is a competitive niche. Lots of people want to become game writers. If you enjoy writing, it is the best option for you to earn additional income. You can join an existing game site or start your own to write game news, reviews, and interviews. As a game writer, you will be paid per article. You can also become a freelance game writer and look for individuals and companies offering work. 

While looking for work, make sure to carry your sample writing. You can look for open positions at medium-sized gaming companies and start sending out your application. If you don’t have previous experience, you can consider working for smaller companies first.

Benefits

• Creative Expression
• Collaboration and Teamwork
• Impact on Player Experience
• Career Growth and Opportunities
• Opportunities for Innovation
• Industry Recognition and Fanbase

How to Start Game Writing?

1. Understand Game Design: Familiarize yourself with the principles of game design. 

2. Study Game Narratives: Dive into the world of game narratives by playing various games across different genres. 

3. Learn Writing Techniques: Sharpen your writing skills by studying various writing techniques. 

4. Research Game Writing Tools: Familiarize yourself with the tools and software used in game writing.

5. Build a Portfolio: Create a portfolio that showcases your game-writing skills.

6. Network within the Gaming Industry: Connect with professionals in the gaming industry, including game developers, designers, and fellow game writers. 

7. Seek Freelance Opportunities: Start by seeking freelance writing opportunities in the gaming industry.

8. Gain Practical Experience: Look for internships or entry-level positions at game development studios, even if they are not explicitly focused on writing. 

4. Install Game Reward Apps

Want to know how to make money playing games? Install game reward apps. These apps allow you to play everything from poker and casino games to fantasy cricket. For example, Howzat fantasy cricket pays you to play fantasy cricket by building your fantasy cricket team. If you win tournaments, you can expect to earn more. Another example is the Rush app. Here, you can play carrom and Ludo to earn money. 

Other popular options in the best game earning app category include Rewards, Roz, Mistplay, and Gamez. All of these apps are available on PlayStore. You can choose to play the game of your choice in the comfort of your home without any investment. To start earning, download the game reward app that you like. Finally, play games to earn. When you win the game against your opponent, your earnings will be added to your wallet. You can use it as gift vouchers, recharge coupons, or choose to withdraw the money directly from your account.

Benefits

• Earn Rewards for Playing Games
• Incentives for Engagement and Progress
• Discover New Games
• Save Money on In-App Purchases
• Variety of Rewards
• Supplementary Income
• Free Access to Premium Content

5. Create Video Game Guides and Tutorials 

All new gamers read game guides. Particularly when they can’t understand what the game is all about. For example, Multiplayer player versus player or PVP guides are read by many newcomers. If you enjoy writing, you can create video game guides and tutorials. However, it requires intensive research. You will have to understand a game first, then find out the problems most games face, and explain the solution in a detailed manner.

To stand out as a game guide writer, you will need to write dense and comprehensive guides. Nobody likes to read a boring or complex guide. Hence, you will have to make it entertaining as well. You also need to focus on formatting. Then you can publish the content as your ebook or on websites. You can also upload videos and tutorials on YouTube and monetize them through the YouTube Partnership Program, Affiliate Marketing, and Sponsorships.

Benefits

• Help and Support for Gamers
• Establish Expertise and Credibility
• Engage and Connect with the Gaming Community
• Enhance Your Communication and Presentation Skills
• Showcase Your Creativity and Problem-Solving Abilities
• Expand Your Online Presence and Influence
• Monetization Potential
• Continuous Learning and Skill Development

How to Start Creating Video Game Guides and Tutorials?

1. Choose Your Niche: Determine the specific games, genres, or platforms you want to focus on. 

2. Research and Plan: Familiarize yourself with the game(s) you want to create guides for. 

3. Define Your Content Format: Decide on the format of your video content.

4. Prepare Scripts or Outlines: Prepare scripts or outlines for each guide or tutorial before recording your videos.

5. Set up Recording Equipment: Invest in a quality microphone, screen recording software, or game capture card to record your gameplay footage. 

6. Record and Edit Your Videos: Start recording your gameplay footage while following your prepared script or outline.

7. Publish and Share Your Content: Choose a platform to publish your videos, such as YouTube, Twitch, or your website. 

8. Engage with Your Viewers: Encourage viewer interaction by responding to comments, answering questions, and engaging in discussions.

9. Promote Your Content: Share your videos on social media platforms, gaming forums, and relevant communities to reach a wider audience.

6. Get Paid to Test Games

Before games are released, they need to be tested. A game developer needs fresh eyes to find out the user experience. Hence, game testers are hired. As a game tester, you will need to test out even the small bugs in the game. You will need to find out the flaws and report them to the game-developing company, which will pay you for your services. 

Game testing is hard to establish as a full-time career option. This is because it is difficult to land a job with a large development company. Usually, the game testing positions are open for small mobile apps. This can be a completely different experience than testing out PC games. To start, you can look for positions in PlayTestCloud, beta testing, and BetaFamily. When it comes to large development companies, you will have to go to their website, look for vacant positions, fill in applications, and hope for the best.

Benefits

• Play Games Before the Release
• Influence Game Development
• Gain Insight into Game Development
• Develop Critical Analysis Skills
• Build a Network in the Game Industry
• Potential for Career Advancement
• Flexibility
• Monetize Your Passion for Gaming

How to Get Paid to Test Games?

1. Develop Gaming Skills: To become a game tester, it’s essential to have a strong understanding of games and solid gaming skills.

2. Research Game Testing Opportunities: Look for game testing opportunities in various places, such as game development studios, QA companies, or freelance platforms.

3. Build a Portfolio: Create a portfolio showcasing your gaming experience, skills, and any previous game testing work. 

4. Learn about Game Testing Processes: Familiarize yourself with the game testing processes and methodologies used in the industry. 

5. Gain Knowledge of QA Standards: Learn about industry-standard quality assurance (QA) standards and best practices. 

6. Apply for Game Testing Positions: Start applying for positions that align with your skills and interests. 

7. Win Gaming Tournaments and Acquire Sponsorships

PvP titles like fighting games have tournaments that you can participate in. They are a great way to earn money. The more popular the game is, the more competitive it is, but the cash rewards can be huge. When you are consistently on top, you can gain sponsorships. ESports companies even hire highly skilled gamers. If you are an excellent gamer, this is the best option to earn your part-time income. 

You can start by winning small tournaments, practising, and getting better at playing games. Eventually, you can connect with other gamers to get your name out there. However, you cannot rely on tournaments to provide consistent income because no matter how skilled you are, you can lose a game against a good opponent. 

Benefits

• Recognition and Prestige
• Financial Rewards
• Sponsorship Opportunities
• Access to Professional Opportunities
• Networking and Connections
• Professional Growth and Career Opportunities

How to Win Gaming Tournaments and Acquire Sponsorship?

1. Choose Your Game: Select a game you enjoy and are passionate about. 

2. Practice and Improve: Dedicate regular time to practice and improve your skills in the chosen game.

3. Participate in Local Tournaments: Start by participating in local gaming tournaments or events in your area. 

4. Enter Online Tournaments: Expand your reach by participating in online gaming tournaments.

5. Attend Major Gaming Events: Major gaming events, such as gaming conventions, expos, or esports tournaments, attract professional players, sponsors, and industry representatives. 

6. Stream Your Gameplay: Live streaming your gameplay on platforms like Twitch or YouTube can help you gain visibility and attract a dedicated audience.

7. Participate in Online Gaming Leagues: Join online gaming leagues or ladder systems specific to your chosen game. 

8. Sell your Account or Digital Items

Another way to earn money by playing games is to sell digital items such as Steam trading cards. This is the best option for those who are already skilled at games and have reached a level. The amount you earn by selling digital items will be enough to cover your gaming purchases. You can also choose to sell your secondary, or Smurf accounts to other players looking to gain time. If you are good at your game, other players might even pay you to rate them better on the gaming platform.

However, not every game allows its players to sell their digital items. You must read a game’s terms and conditions before trying to sell your digital items. Moreover, playing a game over and over can be daunting to win some cards. This option might not be the best for you unless you are a highly skilled player.

Benefits

• Financial Gain
• Return on Investment
• Access to New Opportunities
• Customization and Personalization
• Collaboration and Trading

How to Start Selling Your Account or Digital Items?

1. Research Platform and Game Policies: Before proceeding, familiarize yourself with the terms of service and policies of the platform and game you’re involved with.

2. Evaluate the Value of Your Account or Items: Assess your gaming account’s or digital items’ value.

3. Prepare Your Account or Items for Sale: Ensure that your gaming account or digital items are in a sellable condition. 

4. Choose a Platform or Marketplace: Select a reliable and reputable platform or marketplace to sell your gaming account or digital items.

5. Create an Attractive Listing: When creating a listing for your gaming account or digital items, include relevant details that potential buyers want.

6. Determine a Payment Method: Decide on a secure and convenient payment method for your transactions. 

9. Become a Video Game Developer

By becoming a video game developer, you can utilize your skills as a game designer. This is an excellent option for those who like to work behind the scenes. You will get to play video games and utilize your creativity. You can launch your own game, offer it for free, and earn through in-app purchases later.

Working for game companies is another option to earn money as a game developer. Getting an online degree in developing games is enough to start. You can then apply for jobs, get hired, design games, and become a part of the video gaming industry. As a game developer, you can earn ₹478,895 per annum on average.

Benefits

• Fulfilling Career in a Growing Industry
• Impact and Influence
• Technical and Problem-Solving Skills
• Constant Learning and Growth
• Entrepreneurial Opportunities
• Global Reach and Cultural Impact

How to Become a Video Game Developer?

1. Define Your Goals: Determine what type of games you want to develop and the specific skills you want to focus on. 

2. Learn the Basics of Game Development: Familiarize yourself with the fundamentals of game development. 

3. Acquire Relevant Skills: Develop a strong foundation in the critical areas of game development.

4. Choose a Game Engine: Select one that suits your needs and the type of games you want to create. 

5. Start with Small Projects: Begin your game development journey by creating small projects or prototypes. 

6. Join Game Development Communities: Engage with online game development communities, forums, and social media groups. 

7. Build a Portfolio: Create a portfolio to showcase your skills and projects. 

8. Iterate and Seek Feedback: Continuously iterate on your game projects and seek feedback from players, fellow developers, or mentors.

10. Host a Gaming Podcast

If you love talking about gaming, starting a podcast could be a fantastic way to share your passion and even make some money! You can dive into topics like gameplay commentary, game reviews, industry news, interviews, and helpful tips. To make money, you can explore options like crowdfunding, selling premium content, ads, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing.

Benefits

• Diverse monetization options
• Engages loyal audience
• Establishes industry authority
• Enhances creative expression
• Expands professional network

How to Host a Gaming Podcast?

1. Plan Your Content: Decide on your podcast focus—game reviews, industry news, or gamer interviews. Plan your episode topics, guest interviews, and release schedule.

2. Set Up Your Equipment: Invest in a quality microphone for clear audio. Use Audacity or Descript to edit, and upload episodes on Buzzsprout or Anchor for easy distribution.

3. Record and Edit: Record in a quiet space to reduce noise. Edit to remove mistakes, add music, and improve sound quality.

4. Publish and Promote: Publish your episode on your podcast platform. Promote it via social media, SEO, and gaming forums to attract listeners.

5. Engage with Your Audience: Engage with listeners through social media, live streams, and Q&As. Encourage feedback to enhance your content and grow your audience.

6. Monetize Your Podcast: With a steady audience, explore monetization through ads, sponsorships, and premium content.

11. Become a Gaming Coach

Becoming a video game coach can be a fun and profitable side hustle where you help players improve their gaming skills with personalized guidance. As a coach, you’ll review game replays, offer strategy tips, and watch live gameplay, working with players of all skill levels.

To succeed, you’ll need gaming experience, up-to-date knowledge, and strong teaching skills. You can market your services through a website, YouTube channel, or platforms like Gamer Sensei, and build on any followers you already have from streaming or video guides.

Benefits

• Earn by coaching gamers
• Work remotely and set hours
• Improve gaming and teaching
• Connect with gaming community
• Help others succeed in gaming
• Expanding demand in eSports

How to Become a Gaming Coach?

1. Develop Expertise: Master one or more games and stay updated with the latest strategies and meta.

2. Build Coaching Skills: Learn to explain strategies clearly and tailor coaching to each player’s needs.

3. Create a Portfolio: Showcase successful coaching with videos, reviews, and testimonials. Start with free or discounted sessions.

4. Market Your Services: Promote yourself through a website, social media, and platforms like Gamer Sensei. Create content to attract clients.

5. Network and Grow: Connect with potential clients on forums and social media. Seek feedback and consider offering group sessions or workshops.

12. Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Gaming

Cryptocurrency and blockchain gaming use blockchain technology to secure in-game assets and unique crypto tokens, allowing players to earn, trade, and own digital items. NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) represent things like game skins and avatars, which can be created and sold if you have graphic design skills. In NFT games, players can claim and sell assets by creating characters, purchasing items, or unlocking rewards, then listing them on platforms like OpenSea.

Benefits

• Own and trade assets
• Transparent and secure transactions
• Earn crypto/NFTs by gaming
• Player-driven economy and control
• Use assets across platforms
• New game models and rewards

How to Start Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Gaming?

1. Research and Choose a Game: Pick a popular blockchain game like Axie Infinity or Decentraland. Learn its rules, economy, and how to earn tokens or NFTs.

2. Set Up a Digital Wallet: Get a wallet like MetaMask or Trust Wallet. Buy cryptocurrency (e.g., Ethereum) for in-game purchases and fees.

3. Create an Account: Sign up for the game and link your digital wallet.

4. Learn About NFTs and Tokens: Understand NFTs and in-game tokens, including their uses for trading, staking, or buying items.

5. Start Playing and Earning: Play the game, focusing on earning tokens or NFTs. Join online communities to stay updated and share tips.

6. Trade or Sell Assets: Trade or sell your earned NFTs or tokens on platforms like OpenSea. Monitor market trends for the best timing.

7. Stay Informed: Keep up with blockchain gaming and cryptocurrency news to adapt your strategy.

In addition to this, do you know that you can use Snapchat to earn passive income online? Check out our guide on how to earn money with Snapchat. You can thank us later for this.

Conclusion

When games are just games, they are fun. When it becomes your job, it might not be that entertaining. However, if you are truly passionate about playing games, you can become a game writer, live streamer, and developer. Game affiliate marketing and installing reward games are the easiest ways to earn money by playing games.  You can choose to work on what you like and earn money while sitting at home.

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