The objective of streamer modes is to make life easier for streamers and turn a game into an entertainer’s tool. Most games aren’t made with streaming in mind, and streamer modes are their way to adapt. There are two kinds of streamer modes in video games: the first aims to protect the streamer during play, muting licensed music, or hiding personal data; the second enables unique mechanics that enhance the audience’s interactions with the game.
Twitch integration is a form of streamer mode that uses the Twitch website to alter the game. They often rely on chat messages, voting, and donations to trigger in-game effects, turning the audience into active participants. Streamer modes and even Twitch integration aren’t just for content creators, as even an audience of one can benefit from the enhanced interactions.
10 I Just Want To Be Single!!
Anti-dating sim I Just Want to Be Single!! is a great example of how simple a great streamer mode can be. This mode lets streamers place themselves in the art box where the game avatar would usually be, turning them into the real protagonists of the game.
The streamer mode in I Just Want to Be Single!! can be activated through the main menu through the dedicated window. This includes many different options for placing the frame right around the streamer’s camera feed or avatar. The menu is also designed to keep viewers entertained during the process, though the specifics are better left as a surprise.
9 Marbles On Steam
Marbles on Steam is an extremely simple game where players make a marble and see it roll down a track, hoping it will be the first to reach the goal. There isn’t much to do in Marbles on Steam besides hoping, but that’s exactly what streamers need sometimes.
The streamer mode in Marbles on Steam is as simple as they come. Since there isn’t really anything to do during the race, each viewer can participate with a marble of their own. One issue many streamers have with the game is the price: Marbles is free, but creating and unlocking custom tracks is quite expensive, and so are most cosmetic items.
8 Words On Stream
Words on Stream is a puzzle game about finding anagrams among scrambled letters before time runs out. The twist is that the viewers can play too, proposing words directly into the Twitch chat. The game even tracks and showcases the best players during each round and promotes cooperation with group challenges.
Words on Stream is the work of prolific streamer games developer Onrizon. But Words on Stream is a great party game for group gatherings, too. The game is just the same, as every player contributes equally to finding new anagrams, without the need for someone to put their face on camera.
7 Streets Of Rogue
Roguelite/Action/RPG/Immersive Sim hybrid Streets of Rogue has been a popular choice for streamers for a few years. With its plug-and-play sensibilities and an incredible amount of content, Streets of Rogue could single-handedly sustain a whole streamer’s output for months.
Streamer integration in Streets of Rogue comes in the way of audience-chosen power-ups and modifiers. The chat can also vote on which items the streamer will find in the next level and which additional difficulties they will encounter, from hidden bombs to a zombie invasion.
6 Party Hard 2
Party pooper simulator/murder machineParty Hard 2 isn’t a staple of most streamers’ game rotations, but perhaps it should be. The gameplay loop is simple enough: the protagonist enters a party with a list of objectives, destroying everything in his way.
The Twitch integration in Party Hard 2 is at the core of the game. Viewers can set up additional objectives and control NPCs. They collect points by making the game harder for the streamer and spend those points to make things easier. Those points stick between games and even across different streamers.
5 Emote Search
From streamer games developer Onrizon comes Emote Search. Although intended as a sequel of sorts to the much more famous Words on Stream, the two are very different beasts. The game is a twist on classic Word Search puzzles, using emotes instead of letters.
Compared to other dedicated streamer games, Emote Search is certainly more complex, but not by much. Players have to compare a series of emote patterns with those on a grid until they find a pattern. To guess a pattern, viewers have to write the correct coordinates directly in the chat and are rewarded for each pattern found.
4 Jackbox Party Packs
The Jackbox Party Packs are collections of party games and, more recently, streaming games. Most of the games are meant to be played with a group of people, but some have dedicated streamer modes that allow just one streamer and their audience to play.
Jackbox Party Pack 3 is probably the best of the bunch for streamers. It includes witty words maker Quiplash 2, the horror trivia game Trivia Murder Party, and fan-favorite crass shirt maker Tee K.O. All those games have robust streamer modes that let viewers into the fun, but some do require multiple active participants.
3 Among Us
Among Us needs no introduction. It’s the biggest indie game of the last decade, one of the most popular mobile games ever, and is extremely popular among streamers. Yet not many know that since April 2022 Among Us has its own streamer mode.
The streamer mode for Among Us is extremely simple but essential: it hides the code to the streamer’s game. The code itself can still be shared by copying and pasting. This avoids the issue of viewers entering the streamer’s game uninvited.
2 Warhammer: Vermintide 2
Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is a 4-player co-op survival action game in the vein of Left 4 Dead. Unlike Left 4 Dead, the game is still being updated and has an active and dedicated community.
While the streamer mode for Warhammer: Vermintide 2 doesn’t remove the need for 3 friends to play the game with, it can make viewers feel more involved. This mode lets the streamer’s chat influence the next level, spawning monsters or gifting items. The chat always chooses one of two options, so as to not overwhelm new viewers.
1 Dead Cells
Dead Cells is an award-winning roguelike that became quite popular with streamers. While the powerful Twitch Integration certainly played a role, the game itself is an excellent choice for streaming, thanks to its repetitive roguelike nature.
In Dead Cells viewers can, among other things, add gameplay modifiers to a level, decide what biome the next level will be in, and offer hints about nearby secrets. All this is handled through the chat, right on Twitch. Even setting up the Twitch integration is as simple as it comes.