Livestreaming platforms like Twitch seem to be the kind of thing you get or you don’t. I personally began watching Twitch in 2018 when some YouTubers I enjoyed began streaming, and I loved how I could chat and interact with others who enjoyed their content. I remember being home during the pandemic and watching a friend stream Rocket League on the TV while I was writing in the chat on my phone.
My parents came over, and my dad was so confused; “Do you know this person? And they’re playing this game? And you’re talking to them? Can they see you? And they do this for hours? And some people get paid to do this?” Nearly six years later, he still doesn’t get it.
But millions of other people do: For many, watching streams is a great way to get involved in a community or fandom, engage in real-time communication with creators and other audience members, and feel like you’re part of a community when you’re, say, at home alone with a tiny human while quarantined during a global pandemic. Twitch has historically been known as a gaming space, where audience members can watch people play various games and even play in-game with the streamer. And while gaming makes for great content, there’s more to Twitch than just watching Let’s Plays.
We’re going to cover some of the most popular categories of Twitch streamers, some of the top streamers in these categories, and the kinds of things they stream. So log in, join the chat, and let’s go live.
What are the different types of streamers?
There are many kinds of streamers on Twitch. Some do it as a full-time job and even have sponsorships and merchandise. Others do it casually, just as a way to make friends and engage more socially while gaming or doing something else. Some streamers are more like vloggers or talk show hosts, where the streamer spends most of the time talking directly to the chat. On the other hand, some streamers chat while participating in other activities like a game, meal, performance, craft, or skill. Some streamers show their face and openly share their identity, while others choose to maintain an air of anonymity.
What kind of content is on Twitch?
On the Twitch homepage, you’ll first see a smorgasbord of live streams that you can hop into. Highlighted streams are at the top (usually recommended because of a charity drive or a special event), streams with large audiences are underneath and in the left sidebar, and streams in the most popular category are even further down. Because Twitch is live, these recommendations change constantly; the home page looks different everyday!
If you want to look for something specifically, you can search by a category or tag. The content on Twitch is organized by categories, which you can view either by scrolling further down the home page or by clicking the “Browse” button in the top left. The directory is separated into Games, IRL (In Real Life), Music and DJs, Creative, and Esports, and most of these are further divided into popular subcategories.
What is Just Chatting?
Just Chatting is the next-most popular category of streaming on Twitch, where creators focus primarily on engaging with audience members in the chat, either answering comments and questions directly or speaking about particular topics. At the time of writing, 466k people are watching Just Chatting streams, and 30.9M follow the topic to be notified when their favorite streamers begin a chatting stream. In fact, nearly every streamer starts their livestream as a Just Chatting stream to give their audience members a chance to get into the stream so they don’t miss any important gameplay.
This gives the streamer and audience members a chance to greet each other, reconnect and have small talk, and make any special announcements; and it allows chat members themselves to greet each other and focus on what’s happening in the stream that day. After a while, if the streamer is going to do something else, they can change their category to match whatever the rest of the stream will be about.
Streamers to check out:
- KaiCenat - 16.7M followers
- Quackity - 6.4M followers
- Stableronaldo - 3.7M followers
- Mizkif - 2.1M followers
- Yourragegaming - 1.6M followers
What is VTubing?
VTubers (Virtual YouTubers) are streamers who choose not to show their faces on camera but instead use a motion-tracked avatar to create a character on screen. These are usually animated 2D or 3D personas who may or may not use the streamer's real voice. The content these VTubers create still covers all these other categories, but how they stream is unique and highlights another form of artistic creativity.
Streamers to check out:
- Ironmouse - 2.3M followers; recently streamed Just Chatting, R.E.P.O., and Laundry Store Simulator
- Shylily - 1.5M followers; recently streamed Just Chatting, R.E.P.O., and That’s Not My Neighbor
- Shxtou - 1.3M followers; recently streamed Just Chatting, Art, and The Children of Clay
- Filian - 1.1M followers; recently streamed Just Chatting, VRChat, and Aka Manto
- Vei - 1.1M followers; recently streamed Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Just Chatting, and Monster Hunter Wilds
Gaming Streams
Twitch is most known for gaming and Let’s Plays. When you look into the Games category on Twitch, you can browse by popular game titles or a more general genre. The titles themselves are organized by popularity, based on how many people are currently viewing streams playing that game. At the time of writing this, the most popular games are Counter-Strike (293K viewers), Grand Theft Auto V (155k), World of Warcraft (152K), League of Legends (144K), Valorant (120K), and Fortnite (102K). But, again, these change all the time. If a new game is out, or if there’s an update, there’s an uptick in popularity for that title, for example. The general categories listed under Gaming include FPS (First-Person Shooter), Sports, Party Games, Board Games, MMORPGs (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game), and more.
Streamers to check out:
- Ninja - 19.2M followers; recently streamed Marvel Rivals and Fortnite
- xQc - 12M followers; recently streamed Neighbors: Suburban Warfare and Kerbal Space Program
- Shroud - 11.1M followers; recently streamed Marvel Rivals, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and FragPunk
- Sodapoppin - 9M followers; recently streamed World of Warcraft and Rogue Light Deck Builder
- Clix - 8.1M followers; recently streamed Fortnite and Marvel Rivals
IRL Streams
IRL streams are those that capture interactions “in real life.” This category includes Just Chatting and other topics focused on audience interaction. These may be more vlog-type content, where streamers travel, shop, cook, or have a day-in-the-life stream. ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) is a massive subcategory of IRL streams, where people will provide sound-based content and maybe even roleplay to elicit a specific tingling response on the head, neck, and/or spine of people wearing headphones. Other IRL subcategories include Animals, Podcasts and Talk Shows, Fitness and Health, Sports, and more. IRL as a category has 823k followers, but including all of these subcategories, there are many more. (ASMR alone has 5M people following!)
Streamers to check out:
- Agent00 - 2.3M followers; recently streamed reactions
- SunsetgaiaASMR - 139K followers; recently streamed ASMR for relaxing
- TheThirtyShow - 45.1K followers; recently streamed off-the-grid living in Alaska
- Scottykfitness - 31.2K followers; recently streamed walking for charity
- TruckinRick - 1.5K followers; recently streamed travel
Music Streams
The Music category has 10.6M followers on Twitch. These streamers play music, sing, and essentially busk online. Some offer DJ sets and dance parties while others do karaoke or make up songs for viewers on the spot. Some even host a more relaxed, quiet music stream to keep on in the background for productivity or sleep. Whatever the music is or however it’s performed, Music streams are always full of fun and creativity. Watching them is a great way to unwind and support a musician in their craft.
Streamers to check out:
- The8BitDrummer - 454K followers; recently streamed drumming
- ortoPilot - 307k followers; recently streamed loop-making
- RelaxBeats - 267k followers; recently streamed lofi with trivia
- Matthewkheafy - 261k followers; recently streamed metal guitar
- Lara6683 - 244k followers; recently streamed piano
Creative Streams
Streamers in the creative category typically work on some sort of activity as they’re streaming. Some streamers encourage coworking and maybe even use a pomodoro timer and a task list, while some talk to the chat and share about the process while they’re creating. Some of the most popular subcategories of creative streams are Art (the most popular creative category, with 4.1M followers), Software and Development, Food and Drink, Makers and Crafting, Co-working and Studying, and Writing and Reading.
Streamers to check out:
- Drawfeeshow - 164k followers; recently streamed Art
- Lana_Lux - 86.9k followers; recently streamed Software and Game Development
- Alexotos - 46.8k followers; recently streamed Makers and Crafting
- Chefheidila - 6.7k followers; recently streamed Food and Drink
- Hina - 3.3k followers; recently streamed Writing and Reading
Esports Streams
These streams feature live coverage of tournaments, highlights of past competitions, and professional streamers grinding for their next level-up. There are certain games highlighted in this category, including Fortnite, Dota 2, Counter-Strike, League of Legends, Valorant, and Rocket League.
Streamers to check out:
- ESLCS - 6.5M followers; recently streamed ESL Pro League highlights
- Aydan - 3.2M followers; recently streamed Call of Duty
- Supertf - 703K followers; recently streamed Marvel Rivals
- Shotzzy - 588k followers; recently streamed Call of Duty (plays for OpTicTexas)
- Pikabooirl - 584k followers; recently streamed World of Warcraft
Variety Streams
Variety streamers offer… well, a variety of content. In reality, most streamers are variety streamers to some extent because they diversify their content to draw in a wider audience. As mentioned, nearly every streamer starts their streams as Just Chatting, then changes to another category or game, but variety streamers are consistently inconsistent. Maybe they play games a day or two in the week, then have a reaction stream another day, and go out for an IRL vlog on a different day. These streamers have a lot going on, and the surprising, ever-changing nature of their schedules makes them entertaining.
Streamers to check out:
- Tfue - 11.3M followers; recently streamed IRL and Fortnite
- Pokimane - 9.4M followers; recently streamed IRL, Split Fiction, and Marvel Rivals
- HasanAbi - 2.8M followers; recently streamed Just Chatting, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
- Plaqueboymax - 1.8M followers; recently streamed Just Chatting, R.E.P.O., and Liar’s Bar
- Emiru - 1.7M followers; recently streamed Just Chatting and Dark Souls
And there it is. Whether you’re into high-stakes gameplay, chaotic Just Chatting energy, or full-blown digital personalities, Twitch has something for every kind of viewer. No matter the vibe, someone’s live—and chances are, they’re doing something worth watching.
