Top 7 Games That Became Sensations Thanks to YouTube, Ranked

Summary

YouTube can turn indie games into cultural phenomena through scream-filled playthroughs.
Getting Over It’s commentary and rage-fueled challenges made it an immersive YouTube experience.
Fall Guys thrived on YouTube, expanding from wobbly bean-people hilarity to a global sensation.

There’s something enchanting when a game strikes a particular chord on YouTube. It’s not about big marketing dollars or flashy advertisements; instead, it’s those unexpected moments, crazy glitches, frustrating hurdles, and infectious responses from content creators that can cause a game to skyrocket in popularity. With its massive reach, YouTube has the ability to turn unknown indie projects into household names and keep titles long thought forgotten burning brightly in the minds of millions.

These seven games not only gained popularity but also left an indelible mark on our culture due to viral videos, constant memes, and the distinctive sound of a YouTuber’s shout that resonated in your headphones late at night.

7. Slender: The Eight Pages

The Forest Was Never Safe After This

The game titled “Slender: The Eight Pages” essentially consisted of little more than a torch, a woodland setting, and eight randomly placed pages. Remarkably, this straightforward composition proved to be just the right ingredients for stirring up mass hysteria on YouTube.

In this game, players are thrust into a completely dark forest, tasked with gathering eight separate pages while avoiding the ominous presence of Slenderman. There’s no fighting, narrative sequences, or background music; instead, the atmosphere builds with growing unease and occasional static sounds as Slenderman seems to grow ever nearer as more pages are collected. Despite its brevity, lasting under 15 minutes in total, it showcases exceptional skill in creating psychological terror.

The unusual minimalism wasn’t solely responsible for its explosion in popularity; it was the way it played out on screen that truly captured attention. YouTubers such as PewDiePie and Markiplier transformed tense woodland escapades into side-splitting comedy, thanks to their over-the-top reactions. Their content was tailor-made for clicks, but it also authentically conveyed the unsettling atmosphere that the game Slender delivered with startling precision. Audience members weren’t merely observing a game; they were witnessing someone gradually losing control as a faceless figure appeared ominously behind trees.

The game evolved into an initiation ritual for horror YouTubers. Many players who weren’t even keen on the genre felt compelled to play it, simply for the bragging rights of having survived – or not. It led to numerous memes, fan creations, compilation videos of reactions, and ultimately, spin-offs like “Slender: The Arrival“, which attempted to build upon the original’s popularity with a touch more refinement and storyline.

However, it’s those initial eight pages that carry a unique significance in internet lore. Without dialogue, without substantial budget, they simply tapped into raw fear – etching an indelible mark on YouTube history with the echoes of digital screams.

6. Getting Over It With Bennet Foddy

Rage, Philosophy, And A Sledgehammer

Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy” is more than just a physics-based climbing game; it’s a challenging philosophical test in endurance disguised as a game. Launched in 2017 by the creator of QWOP,

The reason that Getting Over It achieved everlasting fame on YouTube wasn’t only due to its gameplay; it was also because of the commentary. More specifically, Bennett Foddy’s soothing voice would deliver stoic quotes and philosophical musings each time a player lost progress after just one misguided swing. He would say things like “To live is to suffer,” as the player character fell from a grill all the way back down to the map’s lowest point, yet again.

This game was exceptional for YouTube due to its unique combination of bizarre aggravation and internal dialogues. It wasn’t just about watching people complete the game; it was about observing them untangle themselves. The struggle, failures, and damaged equipment gave birth to a distinct type of content, with rage compilations, unsuccessful attempts, and broken equipment becoming popular subjects. Influential YouTubers like Markiplier, Jacksepticeye, and others dived into this genre, capturing every challenging moment. And when someone finally conquered it? Those videos served as digital badges of honor.

The game additionally includes an unexpected twist in its meta: players who finish the game are requested to preserve the upcoming events and are granted access to a private chat room if they have footage of their gameplay. This exclusivity sparked a kind of cult-like status among YouTubers eager to join the exclusive group that reached the pinnacle.

5. Goat Simulator

Chaos In Goat Form, Now In 4K Screams

In 2014, no one anticipated or requested a sandbox game featuring a goat, yet Coffee Stain Studios created one regardless. Unknowingly, they sparked one of the most meme-inspiring gaming phenomena on the internet. Goat Simulator, initially developed as a jest during a game jam, rapidly gained popularity due to its unconventional physics, broken animations, and the intriguing possibility that you could indeed ram a gas station until it detonated.

The unexpectedness of the situation is what transformed it from a casual joke into a viral sensation. One moment, you see a goat licking a pedestrian on the street and pulling them down the road. The next, the goat is soaring through the sky after leaping off a trampoline with a jetpack! YouTube personalities such as PewDiePie, DanTDM, and Jacksepticeye immediately jumped on board, making the most of every technical glitch and exaggerated physics-defying movement.

Instead of the usual orderly simulation games, Goat Simulator embraced its chaos wholeheartedly. The developers openly admitted that they wouldn’t be fixing many bugs, as they added to the humor. Essentially, it was a playground designed for destruction, poking fun at open-world themes and incorporating absurd elements such as extended tongue grappling in slow motion and goat cults secretly stashed in basements. One second, players might find themselves hanging off a crane, and the next, they could be summoning Satan using a goat pentagram.

The content not only survived on YouTube, but it flourished there. People didn’t visit for a narrative or even sensible gameplay; they tuned in to witness creators uncover absurd mysteries, modify the game beyond recognition, or simply shatter the physics engine in hilarious ways. It was like a comedy factory, generating its own one-liners.

Over time, the game morphed into elaborate spoofs of various genres. For instance, GoatZ made fun of zombie survival games, while Goat MMO Simulator feigned an epic fantasy setting. Lastly, Goat Simulator 3 (they intentionally skipped number 2) introduced mayhem into the contemporary world, offering more features, more glitches, and a whole lot more screaming goats.

4. Fall Guys

Jelly Beans, Chaos, And A Whole Lot Of Screaming

2020 saw an internet frenzy about 60 jiggly bean-characters dashing through vibrant obstacle courses, leaping into slime and pandemonium, all in pursuit of one crown. The game Fall Guys arrived at a time when the world yearned for something cheerful, and with the help of YouTube, it swiftly turned into an unstoppable cultural sensation overnight.

In the beginning, diving into Mediatonic’s twist on the battle royale genre felt like stepping into a wild, dreamlike version of “Takeshi’s Castle.” As rounds like “Slime Climb” and “Tip Toe” unfolded, it wasn’t just about battling the course, but also each other’s unpredictable moves. The physics were loose, the tension was palpable, and quitting out of frustration became a common occurrence. Yet, it was the viral YouTube content that transformed this quirky curiosity into a worldwide phenomenon.

Shows such as Sidemen, MrBeast, Markiplier, and numerous others made Fall Guys an essential viewing experience. The main allure wasn’t necessarily the competition itself, but rather the utter pandemonium that transpired in each game. Nothing was funnier than seeing someone get eliminated by a massive spinning hammer at the final moment of “Hex-A-Gone.” Moreover, due to the randomly generated obstacle courses and escalating challenges, no two videos were ever repetitive or similar.

The developers also embraced the game’s viral potential. They introduced over-the-top character skins such as Sonic, Godzilla, and Doomguy, and regularly collaborated with others, transforming the game into a meme powerhouse. Charity auctions for custom skins became intense competitions, with popular YouTubers and streamers making significant donations to have their brand showcased in the game.

Despite experiencing a drop in popularity at times, Fall Guys was able to rebound successfully. In 2022, it became free-to-play and expanded its availability on various platforms. This move, along with the addition of new game modes, transformed it from a fleeting phenomenon into something more substantial. The YouTube community played a significant role in maintaining its relevance, sharing everything from intricate speedrun tactics to amusing fails that underscored the game’s unique blend of party game excitement and slapstick humor.

3. Among Us

When Trust Is Just Another Way To Say “You’re Probably Lying”

2020 experienced an unusual phase where accusing friends of murder fostered camaraderie, and this peculiar concept was popularized by the game “Among Us“. Despite its release in 2018 with minimal attention, the independent studio InnerSloth’s social deduction game remained unnoticed until influencers on YouTube pulled it out of obscurity, revitalizing it to unprecedented levels of popularity that even the developers themselves could hardly foresee.

Initially, it began as a soft hum. However, all of a sudden, prominent figures in content creation such as Valkyrae, Disguised Toast, Jacksepticeye, Corpse Husband, Pokimane, and even political personality Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez found themselves embroiled in a heated argument over the term “sus.” This seemingly innocuous word skyrocketed to cultural significance, with YouTube inundated by montages, carefully crafted accusations, and clips of betrayal so intense they were reminiscent of daytime soap operas.

The atmosphere was akin to capturing lightning: ten individuals found themselves aboard a spaceship (or later, a luxurious airship or a questionable research facility), with two concealed as intruders whose goal is eliminating the rest. Discussions ensued whenever a corpse was discovered, and it was then that the actual gameplay commenced. It wasn’t about completing tasks, releasing air, or causing damage – it was all about deceiving one another.

YouTube prospered because of it. Videos weren’t merely gameplay; they became performances. One player could act so convincingly innocent that it was painful to watch them escape unscathed. Another might crash and burn, but at the last second, pull off a desperate button press to expose a traitor. The risks were minimal, yet the drama was incredibly intense. Each round offered a fresh storyline, and viewers tuned in as much for the pandemonium as they did for the voices behind the screams.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but marvel at how flawlessly Among Us synced with the YouTube format. It wasn’t just the game that captured our attention, but its exceptional compatibility with the medium. The concise rounds, the humorous outcomes, and those surreal moments of absurdity – they were tailor-made for montages, eye-catching thumbnails adorned with glowing red arrows, and the iconic “he was the impostor” slow zoom edits that left us on the edge of our seats.

2. Minecraft

Punching Trees Led To Punching Through The Algorithm

It’s quite simple to overlook the fact that at one point, Minecraft wasn’t a world-wide sensation. Initially, it was merely a small-scale sandbox game, barely noticed on indie forums. Then, without warning, it skyrocketed to become the best-selling game of all time and was acquired by Microsoft for $2.5 billion. However, what truly transformed it from a niche hit into a cultural icon was YouTube.

During the 2010s, creators such as CaptainSparklez, AntVenom, BajanCanadian, and The Yogscast transformed Minecraft into a vast, interconnected world. This was marked by Let’s Plays, adventure maps, parkour challenges, and numerous Hunger Games-style matches, which resembled the Battle Royale genre before it became popular. Additionally, they produced music videos, with “Fallen Kingdom” being particularly memorable, as its heartrending story of a blocky monarch and his demise remains etched in the minds of millions to this day.

The bond between Minecraft and YouTube wasn’t limited to videos; it was mutually beneficial. YouTube provided Minecraft with exposure, while Minecraft offered YouTubers an endless supply of content to mold. Redstone tutorials empowered players to construct intricate items ranging from basic doors to sophisticated calculators. Breathtaking builds featured digital recreations of iconic structures like Hogwarts or the USS Enterprise, each block carefully placed over countless hours. Furthermore, machinimas, such as the innovative Shadow of Israphel series, redefined the boundaries between gameplay and storytelling in ways that initially seemed unexpected from a game reminiscent of Lego merged with survival mode.

The impact continued to expand significantly. When PewDiePie revisited Minecraft in 2019, it experienced a remarkable comeback, particularly after a time when many believed the game was losing momentum. His resurgence introduced the public to new in-game characters such as Sven and Joergen. Not long afterward, Dream’s emergence transformed competitive Minecraft content, introducing speedruns and the highly popular Manhunt series that captivated audiences.

1. Five Nights At Freddy’s

When The Animatronics Started Moving, So Did The View Count

In 2014, few would have anticipated that a single-person developed low-budget horror game, Five Nights at Freddy’s, would evolve into an extensive series, generate countless lore theories, cultivate a vast fanbase, and eventually inspire a Hollywood film. However, Five Nights at Freddy’s didn’t merely gain popularity; it erupted, and YouTube played a pivotal role in the ignition.

Scott Cawthon’s unexpected success dropped players into the role of an unlucky night guard trapped within Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, battling against malevolent animatronics craving blood. The gameplay seemed straightforward: watch the security cameras, regulate power, close doors when necessary, and hope that Bonnie wasn’t already lurking behind you. The atmosphere was oppressive, nerve-wracking, and brimming with shocking surprises reminiscent of a freight train collision. However, what truly propelled FNAF to fame was its exceptional ability to capitalize on reactionary content.

When YouTube personalities such as Markiplier, Jacksepticeye, and CoryxKenshin started playing the game FNAF, its popularity skyrocketed like an unstoppable train. In particular, Markiplier played a significant role in launching it into the stratosphere with his playthroughs, self-proclaimed as the “King of FNAF,” and attracting millions of viewers with each terrified shout. Rather than merely recording gameplay, his series fostered a bond between creator and audience, making each new animatronic and game expansion feel like a major community celebration.

However, beneath the chilling ambiance of Chuck E. Cheese and unexpected jumpscares, there was something more captivating: lore. Mysterious, complex, and incredibly engaging lore. From concealed mini-games to enigmatic phone calls, the game FNAF sparked curiosity, speculation, and compulsion in players. This curiosity led to channels like Game Theory, which essentially established a video empire by untangling Scott’s intricate narrative timeline. Even during periods when new games weren’t being released, theories kept the passion burning.

2025-04-20 13:36