Curious about what Twitch users are watching? We are also! The platform is synonymous with livestream gaming, but other categories (Just Chatting, anyone?) have recently gained popularity. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular games and non-gaming categories that will dominate Twitch in 2022 now that we’re halfway through the year.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that League of Legends has attracted a greater number of players since a popular animated series premiered on Netflix in the fall. Over 1.8 billion hours of viewing time were spent on League last year, and it has received over 150 million views in the last 30 days alone.
With an astonishing 2.1 billion views in 2021, Grand Theft Auto V was the most played game. With over 534 million views this year, the morally ambiguous action-adventure romp is one of the most watched games on Twitch.
One of Twitch’s busiest categories is this first-person shooter from Riot Games, which received almost one billion views last year. Over 95 million people have viewed Valorant in the last thirty days alone.
Strike Force: Global Offensive: Are you not a gamer but still want to participate in some good-old-fashioned live stream entertainment? For your enjoyment, Twitch offers a wide range of categories unrelated to games. Take a look at the most popular non-gaming categories on Twitch—you might be surprised by some of them!
Just Chatting The majority of streamers enjoy talking, and fortunately, many people enjoy listening. According to a recent industry report on live streaming, the most popular Twitch category is “Just Chatting.” The category had over 500k viewers on a random weekday afternoon, with 100k of those viewers coming from Twitch star Asmongold.
What topics do people enjoy discussing? Basically, anything and everything. Before moving on to a game, some streamers will engage with their viewers in the “Just Chatting” category, while others may host story time, co-working, or “body doubling” streams, among other activities. Antphrodite, our favorite medium, even offers individualized tarot readings live on stream!
Music After the pandemic, live music was out of the question. However, thanks to Twitch, musicians from all over the world can stream their music from their bedrooms. Live music streamers can entertain their viewers by singing, playing instruments, and even creating digital music. Even song requests can be exchanged for channel points by some streamers. Not only does Trivium Lead Singer Matthew Heafy stream from home, but he also takes viewers to the band’s concerts and soundchecks.
ASMR The autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) craze that swept YouTube a few years ago has remained popular ever since. The sounds of streamers whispering, chewing, and tapping on things with their nails are enjoyed by many. Some listeners experience “tingles,” or tickling sensations throughout their spine and head. Tune into one of the many channels on Twitch to see how your body responds to ASMR if you are unsure whether it is right for you.
Art For those of us who aren’t good at drawing or painting, it’s fascinating to watch an artist make a piece live. On the Streamlabs Twitch channel, you’ll frequently see Streamlabs team members creating bespoke artwork for creators. Our guide on streaming art will teach you everything you need to know if you want to try your hand at streaming art but aren’t sure how to get started.
Pools, hot tubs, and beaches This category consists primarily of people lounging around in bathing suits—typically tiny bikinis—and hot tubs. It is evident that many Twitch viewers adore this category with over 400K followers. Yoga classes are also held on the beach, and if you’re lucky, you might even see seals and otters playing.
Sports Almost every sport is included in the “Sports” category. Baseball, basketball, and soccer are among the most common sports, as are fishing, beach volleyball, and cheerleading. In this fascinating category, there truly is something for every sports fan to enjoy.
Podcasts and talk shows This category pretty much states itself. People will talk about everything from religion to sports to relationship advice. Listening practice on “Talk Shows and Podcasts” is especially helpful if you’re learning a second language. While streams with multiple hosts typically fall under this category, there are occasions when they overlap with “Just Chatting.”
The most important thing is to concentrate on what you enjoy, despite the fact that there is a great deal of debate regarding how to strategically select certain categories in order to attract more viewers. If you choose a game or genre you don’t really care about, you won’t have fun streaming and your viewers will be able to feel your emotions. Instead, stream what you enjoy, whether it comes from an “empty” or “oversaturated” category, and believe that viewers will come.