Streaming Board Games: A Beginner's Content Creation Guide

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You've taught Smoothie Wars to dozens of friends. You've developed hot takes on strategy. You want to share your gaming passion with the world.

Welcome to board game content creation—a niche that's grown 340% on YouTube since 2019 and shows no signs of slowing.

Here's everything you need to know to start.

Why Board Game Content?

The tabletop content space is uniquely accessible:

| Factor | Board Games | Video Games | |--------|-------------|-------------| | Equipment barrier | Low (smartphone works) | High (gaming PC, capture card) | | Competition | Growing but not saturated | Extremely competitive | | Community culture | Welcoming, collaborative | Varies widely | | Monetisation | Modest but achievable | Highly variable | | Niche discovery | Algorithm-friendly | Very difficult to break through |

Board game content rewards authenticity and expertise more than production polish or celebrity.

"When we started, no one was making board game videos. We were weird. Now there's a genuine industry—but it still rewards passion and honesty over flash. That hasn't changed."

Choosing Your Format

Before equipment, decide what you're making:

Live Streaming (Twitch/YouTube Live)

Pros:

• Real-time community interaction
• No editing required
• Authentic, unpolished energy
• Chat creates engagement

Cons:

• Scheduling constraints
• Technical difficulties are live
• Requires consistent availability
• Harder to discover after broadcast

Best for: Extroverts, people with regular schedules, those who enjoy improvisation

Edited Video (YouTube/TikTok)

Pros:

• Complete control over presentation
• Mistakes can be fixed
• Works around your schedule
• Evergreen discoverability

Cons:

• Editing takes significant time
• Higher production expectations
• Less real-time community
• More planning required

Best for: Perfectionists, creative editors, those with irregular schedules

Short-Form (TikTok/Instagram Reels/YouTube Shorts)

Pros:

• Lower time investment
• Algorithm-friendly for new creators
• Quick experimentation
• Works as complement to long-form

Cons:

• Monetisation is limited
• Difficult to go deep on topics
• Trends move fast
• Not ideal for actual game content

Best for: Marketing your other content, reaching new audiences, quick takes

Equipment by Budget

Important: Start with Starter Kit. Upgrade when you're consistently creating, not when you're hoping to start.

The Overhead Camera Challenge

Board games require showing the table. This is the unique technical challenge of tabletop content.

Solutions by Budget

| Solution | Cost | Quality | Stability | |----------|------|---------|-----------| | Phone on books | £0 | Low | Poor | | Articulating phone mount | £25-50 | Medium | Good | | C-stand with camera arm | £100-200 | High | Excellent | | Dedicated overhead rig | £300+ | Professional | Excellent |

The Elgato Multi Mount system (~£80 with arm) is a popular mid-tier choice. Alternatively, a simple desk clamp arm (£30-50) holds a phone or webcam effectively.

Camera Angles to Consider

| Angle | Use Case | Equipment Needed | |-------|----------|------------------| | Overhead (bird's eye) | Essential for gameplay | Arm/mount system | | Face cam | Personality, reactions | Standard webcam | | Wide shot | Setting, multiple players | Extra camera | | Detail cam | Components, cards | Optional |

Most solo creators use overhead + face cam. Groups often add a wide establishing shot.

Content Types That Work

Reviews

Assess games with opinion and context. What's good, what's not, who should buy it. Most common format in the space.

How-to-Play / Rules Explanations

Teach games clearly. Highly searchable, evergreen content. Watch It Played pioneered this format.

Playthroughs

Full game recordings with commentary. Time-intensive but popular for research buyers.

Top 10 Lists

Recommendation compilations. High searchability, good for new audiences.

Strategy Guides

Deep dives on specific games. Attracts dedicated fans of those titles.

Unboxings

First impressions of new releases. Time-sensitive but popular on release days.

Hot Takes / Opinion

Contrarian or passionate positions on games or the hobby. Engagement-driving.

Building Your Presence

Consistency Over Quality

A mediocre video every week beats a perfect video every quarter. Algorithms reward regularity. Audiences form habits around it.

Realistic schedules:

• Full-time job + family: 1 video/month or bi-weekly stream
• Part-time job: Weekly content achievable
• Full-time creator: Multiple weekly uploads possible

Choose what you can sustain.

Community Engagement

Board gaming has an active online community:

• BoardGameGeek forums
• Reddit (r/boardgames, game-specific subreddits)
• Discord servers
• Twitter/X gaming circles
• Facebook groups

Participate genuinely. Share your content when relevant. Don't spam.

Collaboration

The board game content space is unusually collaborative:

• Guest appearances on podcasts
• Joint reviews
• Crossover playthroughs
• Mentorship from established creators

Reach out. Most creators remember being beginners and will help.

"I still answer every email I can. Someone reaching out respectfully, with genuine passion for games, gets my attention. The community lifts each other up—that's how we all grew."

Monetisation Reality

Be realistic about earnings:

| Subscriber Level | Typical Monthly Revenue | Notes | |------------------|------------------------|-------| | 0-1,000 | £0-20 | Building stage | | 1,000-10,000 | £50-300 | Early monetisation | | 10,000-50,000 | £300-1,500 | Sustainable hobby income | | 50,000-100,000 | £1,500-5,000 | Part-time income viable | | 100,000+ | £5,000+ | Full-time possible |

Revenue sources:

• Platform ad revenue (YouTube Partner Programme)
• Sponsorships (publishers send games, pay for coverage)
• Affiliate links (Amazon, retailer partnerships)
• Patreon/Ko-fi (direct supporter subscriptions)
• Merchandise (T-shirts, accessories)

Most successful creators combine multiple streams.

Legal Considerations

Game Copyright

Showing and discussing games is generally protected as commentary/review. Publishers benefit from coverage and rarely object. When in doubt, ask.

Music

Never use copyrighted music without licence. Use royalty-free libraries (Epidemic Sound, Artlist) or YouTube's Audio Library.

Disclosure

If you receive free games or sponsorship, disclose clearly. It's legally required and builds trust.

Getting Started Today

Week 1: Plan

• Choose format (stream vs. edited)
• Inventory available equipment
• Select your first game to cover
• Watch 10+ creators in the space for inspiration

Week 2: Create

• Film/stream your first content
• Edit if applicable (don't over-edit)
• Write thumbnail, title, description
• Publish

Week 3: Reflect

• Review analytics
• Read any comments
• Note what worked and didn't
• Plan second piece of content

Ongoing

• Maintain consistent schedule
• Engage with community
• Improve one element at a time
• Don't compare your beginning to others' middle

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to show my face?

Not required. Many successful channels focus on the game only. But faces build connection faster.

What if I'm not funny or charismatic?

Authentic expertise beats forced personality. Focus on providing value—clear explanations, insightful analysis, genuine enthusiasm.

Should I focus on popular games or hidden gems?

Both. Popular games have search volume; hidden gems build reputation for discovery. Mix.

How do I get publishers to send review copies?

Build a modest audience first. Then email publishers professionally with your channel stats and content style. Many are eager to support creators.

Is Twitch or YouTube better for streaming?

YouTube for discoverability and board game audience; Twitch for gaming culture and chat interaction. Either works—pick where you're comfortable.

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The barrier to sharing your gaming passion has never been lower. A phone, a light, and genuine enthusiasm are enough to start.

The community is waiting. What will you create?

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Looking for game night inspiration to create content about? Our hosting guide covers everything you might want to document.