I’ve been toying with the idea for a while now, and I think I’m finally at the point where I’m seriously considering starting a YouTube gaming channel. It’s one of those things that’s been sitting at the back of my mind, quietly tapping me on the shoulder every time I boot up Steam and lose a few hours to a survival game. You know the feeling—you’re playing, something ridiculous or intense happens, and your first thought is that it would’ve made a great video.
Lately, that thought’s been happening more and more.
A big part of it comes down to the kinds of games I’ve been playing. Survival games especially just seem perfect for YouTube. There’s always a story unfolding, even if you didn’t plan one. One minute you’re building a base, feeling quite pleased with yourself, and the next everything’s falling apart because you forgot to reinforce a wall or underestimated a horde. It’s chaos, but it’s good chaos. Although I do love my point-and-click games, so I may have to find a way to fit those in somewhere, too, eventually.
I keep coming back to 7 Days to Die as the one I’d probably start with. It just feels right. There’s so much you can do with it—long-term series, base-building progression, horde nights, starting fresh with different settings. It’s the kind of game where something interesting is always just around the corner, even if that “something” is you panicking while trying to reload with three zombies sprinting at you. Plus, there’s the mods. I have a long list of mods that I want to try. Some I’ve tried on the Steam Deck but would obviously run better on a PC, so I’d love to give them a proper go.
And it’s not just that. I’ve got a whole list of survival games sitting in my Steam library that I’ve either barely touched or keep dipping in and out of. Games like The Forest, The Long Dark, maybe even something like Project Zomboid. They all have that same unpredictable, story-generating feel. It wouldn’t just be one game—I’d have a bit of variety to keep things fresh, both for me and for anyone watching.
That’s the exciting part.
The slightly less exciting part—the bit that’s been holding me back—is the idea of putting myself out there in a different way. I already do it with my books and social media, but this feels like a step beyond that. Writing gives me time to shape things properly—I can choose my words, tweak them, and only share something once it feels right. There’s a layer of control there that makes it feel a bit safer.
Video doesn’t really offer that. Especially with gaming, it’s just me reacting in the moment, talking as things happen. There’s no polishing it beforehand, no carefully structuring how I come across. If I hesitate, ramble, or lose my train of thought, that’s all part of it. And that’s the part that sticks in my head—the lack of a filter, I suppose. Yes, I can edit, but there’s only so much of that you can do.
I have thought about streaming too—Twitch, YouTube Live, even TikTok. It sounds simple enough: load up a game, chat as I play, see who drops in. But the reality of doing it feels a bit daunting. Going live means there’s no fallback at all. If I go quiet or get flustered, that’s it—it’s happening there and then, with no chance to tidy it up afterwards. That immediacy is what makes it feel like such a big leap compared to recording something I can edit later.
It’s odd, because it’s not a massive jump on paper, but it definitely feels like one. It’s a more unfiltered version of putting myself out there, and while that’s the intimidating part, it’s also what makes the whole idea feel worth pushing through.
I think that’s why I keep circling back to the idea of prerecorded videos.
It feels like a good middle ground. A way to ease into it without diving straight into the deep end.
And maybe that’s the key, really—just starting small.
I don’t need to have everything figured out from the beginning. I don’t need fancy editing or a perfect upload schedule or a massive plan. I can just… start. Record a few sessions of 7 Days to Die, see how it feels, maybe upload a couple of videos and go from there. No pressure, no expectations.
If I enjoy it, that’s already a win.
And who knows—maybe after a few videos, once I’m more comfortable talking while I play and putting myself out there a bit, the idea of streaming won’t feel as daunting. Maybe it’ll just feel like the next natural step instead of this big, intimidating thing.
That’s kind of where my head’s at with it all.
It’s equal parts excitement and nerves, which is probably a good sign. If it didn’t matter to me, I wouldn’t feel either. And right now, I think I’d regret not giving it a go more than I would trying and it not quite working out.
So yeah… I think I’m going to do it.
Or at least, I’m going to stop thinking about doing it and actually press record (after some PC gaming practice).
Gareth Ellis - Author 