I get this question a lot, so I'll write it here for all eternity: why do we watch other people play video games? I watch both YouTube and Twitch, but the YouTube videos are usually Twitch VODs (it's kind of funny that most of the YT content I watch is not produced for TY): /1

1. To make a purchase decision. I watch new games that people care about to see if I like them. This is done by watching creators that I know their preferences - even if they like different games than I do, I know what those differences are. /2

2. To experience games from genres I don't like to play myself. Examples include horror games; challenge-based games (Dark Souls); Open-world Collectathon games (Batman Arkham series); and some cinematic-story driven games (Life is Strange). /3

3. To experience games from consoles I don't own. Which is every console. I only have a PC, for monetary reasons. I'd like to have a PS4 or Switch, but don't have the money to spend on them. And there are a lot of GREAT console games that are worth watching. /4

4. To see how other people play strategy and management games that I play myself. I've watched as many hours of RimWorld and Cities Skylines as I played them. You learn new strategies, learn how people do things differently than you, how they organise their environment. /5

5. To observe how people play certain prominent games, from a game design standpoint. Watching other people play offer a lot of important insights into the design of a specific game as well as games of the same genre or game mechanics. /6

And on a general note, watching games fall into my "watching television" timeslot. It would be either in the morning before heading to the office; or in the evening, instead of a series or movie. It does not replace playing games myself.

After chatting with @AngeladeFrost_ I was reminded there was a sixth reason: sometimes I watch because I like hearing the broadcaster, and the game doesn't matter. I'm entertained by the on-air personality.