How to find small YouTubers who will actually play your game
Small YouTubers are easiest to find through the games they already play, not by searching for big names. Search YouTube and Twitch for smaller indie games similar to yours, sort by recent uploads, and judge each channel by its average views per video rather than its subscriber count. A channel with 3,000 subscribers that posts weekly and gets steady views is often a better first contact than a large channel that never answers.
By Bryan, Built With Vibes · Updated
Why start with small channels?
A big channel can bring a big spike, but it is hard to reach. Large creators get many pitches a day, and managers often read their email. Small channels read their own inbox. Many enjoy finding new games before anyone else.
Small channels are also easier to match. A creator who plays a new cozy farming game every week is a clear fit for your cozy farming game. That fit matters more than raw size.
Where do I find small YouTubers who play games like mine?
- Search smaller comparison games. Searching for a huge hit returns huge channels. Search for indie games that are close to yours and less famous. The people playing them are the people looking for more.
- Use YouTube's upload date filter. Set it to “This month” or “This year” so you only see creators who are active now.
- Scroll past the first page. The top results lean towards big channels. Smaller creators show up further down.
- Sort Twitch categories by viewers, low to high. This surfaces streamers who are live with similar games right now.
- Follow the trail. When you find a good fit, look at what else they played recently. Those games lead you to more creators like them.
How do I tell if a small channel is worth contacting?
Look at average views on recent videos. Subscriber counts build up over years and include people who no longer watch. Recent views show who is watching now.
- Recent: they posted in the last month or two.
- Regular: they upload or stream on a steady schedule.
- Indie-friendly: they try new games, not only one big title.
- Reachable: they list a business email, form or Discord.
- A good fit: you can write one honest sentence on why their viewers would like your game.
Leave out channels run by studios or publishers, and channels that only play one large game. They are rarely looking for new indies.
How many creators should I contact?
Start with ten to thirty good matches rather than hundreds of weak ones. Write each email by hand, track who you contacted, and see who replies. Then adjust your comparison games or your pitch for the next batch. Learn from the first batch covers how.
When you are ready to write, how to contact YouTubers and streamers for your indie game has an email template and timing for Steam Next Fest and launch.
A faster way to find them
PlayScout does this search for you. Paste your Steam link or name two or three similar games. It finds YouTube and Twitch creators who recently played them, ranks small reachable channels first, and shows the contact details they list publicly. Results open on a shortlist of creators who posted in the last six months and have a way to reach them.
The top 10 results are free with no account. A full search is $9, or $24 for three.
See your top 10 matches free
No sign-up, no card. Paste your Steam link to start.
Find small creators for my game →Frequently asked questions
What counts as a small YouTuber?
There is no fixed line. For indie outreach, think of channels under about 50,000 subscribers that read their own email and post regularly. What matters more is whether their recent videos get steady views from people who like games like yours.
Why are small YouTubers better for indie games?
They get fewer pitches, so your email stands out. Many look for new indie games because their viewers enjoy discovering them. Their audience is often more engaged per viewer than a large general gaming channel.
How do I see a channel's average views?
Open the channel's Videos tab and look at the view counts on the last ten or so uploads. Skip the oldest and any one-off viral video. On Twitch, look at viewer counts across recent streams or past broadcasts.
Can I find small Twitch streamers for my game?
Yes. Open the Twitch category for a game similar to yours and sort by viewers from low to high. You will see smaller streamers who are live with that game now. Check their panels for a contact email or Discord.
Is there a tool that finds small YouTubers for my indie game?
PlayScout searches YouTube and Twitch for creators who recently played games similar to yours, and ranks smaller reachable channels first. The top 10 results are free with no account.