Why we watch others play and what it says about us

Whether it's the thrill of competition or the appeal of community, watching gaming streams has become a global pastime.

It's 3 a.m. and you’re not sleeping. What could cure the insomnia? Reading a book would be optimum, or doubling down on your melatonin dosage. Playing a video game is a bit too feisty – so how about watching someone else play one?

In 2024 alone, Twitch users watched a staggering 1.5 billion hours of live streams every month. Games like Fortnite, League of Legends, and Minecraft make it irresistible for fans to log on, tune in and zone out. That’s not to mention YouTube as there are hours and hours of content available.

But why? Are people like me who ask this question merely curious or are we inadvertently pooh-poohing the practice? Either way, we should check in on this phenomenon.

Gaming has always brought about curiosity. Curiosity killed the cat and cats like to play games. And this community of gamers also enjoys doing things together, as one Reddit user said:

“I just like hanging out with a dope community,” said Lxrdshivatv.

Community, FOMO, and shared rituals

The community aspect is what drives this activity. Shared in-jokes and live chats are the big appeal to fans, just as much as a tribe of football fans will have their own chants and obsessions with stats.

And it seems a legit comparison by gamers when non-believers go in on the offensive:

"It’s about sharing a hobby with people, same with people watching sports on TV. People meet up in pubs or bars to watch a game together. Twitch is basically the same, but online. Socializing, talking, even making plans together, making friends."

Tiaanjiaa.

Then, there’s the parasocial relationships: many gamers are considered role models and they're not necessarily the best gamers. Some are famous for heated outbursts, others for promoting wellness and mental health for example.

A special mention should go out to Brolylegs, a disabled gamer who suffered from arthrogryposis, yet competed in Streetfighter for over fifteen years, winning several titles in the mix. This shows that fans often get attached to a personality in gaming as an influencer.

Throw in the fear of missing out (FOMO), and being part of an ongoing community event can be compelling. There’s the sense of narrative in the creative collaboration element of Minecraft.

Players in Minecraft can creatively collaborate by crafting sprawling fantasy worlds, engineering intricate redstone contraptions, roleplaying epic storylines, or building massive community-driven landmarks.

The ritual of watching: how gaming becomes comfort

Watching a game can be like a soothing ritual, much like watching a TV show. Having a vicarious sense of achievement can arise as the gamer wades through forests, deserts and goes on large killing sprees. Furthermore if a viewer feels isolated – like when a virus escapes out of a lab – then the struggling to connect element can be nullified.

Bringing it back to this spectacle factor, watching games is akin to watching professional sports or chess online. When questioning someone watching a game, isn't it a bit strange to then criticize it? Most non-sports fans I know just ignore it and let it be.

Furthermore, the commentary that you experience from the gamer adds a heightened sense of occasion you would get watching a football match as well.

So, what does this phenomenon say about us as a society? Well, it seems that the answer is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, we’re certainly consuming more passive entertainment as a society and watching other gamers is by design quite non-participatory.

Then again, the strong sense of online community forges a strong case for this voyeurism. Plus, I nostalgically remember watching my brother experiencing heaven on a halfpipe in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater on the PlayStation. Maybe I just watched him because I was shit at it. So, not much has changed with today's crowd really.