The top 20 gaming bloggers from Russia on YouTube

Brand Analytics provides a monthly list of the top 50 Russian-language YouTube channels based on user engagement, in addition to the number of subscribers.

The key metrics used in this rating are the sum of user reactions, such as likes and comments. Unlike other ratings based on the number of subscribers and reach, Brand Analytics ratings may differ due to the high engagement of many million-plus accounts. However, this metric is essential because it indicates that a blogger is not only being watched but also supported.

Bloggers who create content related to games are becoming increasingly popular, and games continue to be a leading theme in the engagement rating. Out of the top 50 channels covering various topics, 19 are dedicated to let’s players, reviewers, and streamers, which received a total of almost 24 million comments and likes in March 2019.

In this article, we will focus on the Russian-language YouTube gaming channels that made it to the top 50 by engagement.

Aid, a Minecraft let’s player, is the leader of the ratings with more than 6 million subscribers and over 2 billion video views on his channel. He uploads 2-3 videos per day, each receiving at least half a million views. Interestingly, the second position is also held by a Minecraft enthusiast, Demaster. Although he creates 2-4 videos per day, the number of views he receives is on average 2-3 times less than the leading channel. Additionally, the channels of MrLololoshka, Compot, and ShadowPriestok are also dedicated to playing Minecraft.

One distinctive aspect of the Marmok channel’s videos is the author’s unique sense of humor and his passion for discovering various game bugs. According to users, “Marmok will find a bug even in Tetris.” Videos are posted once a week and receive 4-5 million views, hundreds of thousands of likes, and tens of thousands of comments. Although every video starts with an ad, it is brief and unobtrusive, which does not seem to elicit negativity from users and subscribers.

Quantum Games, the eleventh-ranked channel in the ratings, shares a similar style with Marmok by documenting bugs and comical moments in games such as GTA 5, GTA Online, and CS:GO, as well as featuring funny let’s plays and walkthroughs. Additionally, the channel offers various compilations, such as “Top 10 hell bugs” and “Top 10 games for slow PC.”

Bulkin stands out for his love of cars. The blogger uploads videos featuring virtual test drives, races, and real-life driving experiences during his walkthroughs.

Pozzi specializes in reviewing games created on the platform Roblox. The channel features daily uploads of 2-3 reviews, and users request certain games for walkthroughs in the comments.

Coffi Channel, Kuplinov Play, Hard Play, Dmitriy Landstop, windy31, SHIMOROSHOW, and Frost cover a range of games from GTA to Mortal Combat without focusing on a particular one.

Similarly, Amway921WOT features walkthroughs of various games, with a focus on tank reviews and streams of one of the leading PC games in the Russian market, World of Tanks.

Dumbazz channel offers a mix of trolling and CS:GO videos that resonate with their subscribers and viewers.

On the other end of the spectrum, PROTanks, as its name suggests, offers daily educational and entertaining videos featuring reviews, guides, streams, and walkthroughs of iconic games, including WOT and many others.

Who holds the twentieth position?

As you may have noticed, our list only includes 19 channels instead of the promised 20. However, we have identified one more channel that deserves a mention.

Children’s channels on YouTube are currently a hot new trend. As kids grow up, they start playing games and creating their own channels. One such channel that makes it to the Top 20 of our list is a popular project from an equally popular channel, Viki Show (with 5.1 million subscribers to the main channel) – Viki Show PLAY. Although the number of subscribers to her gaming review channel is currently just over 600,000, the number of views is comparable to those of channels with over a million subscribers.

Why are child bloggers typically not on the Brand Analytics engagement list? It’s simple – most videos have restricted comments, and engagement can only be estimated by likes. For example, Victoria’s Minecraft video has received over 4 million views and 42,000 likes (compared to leader Aid’s video with nearly 5 million views and just a bit more likes – 44,000).

What makes streamers so popular?

There are multiple theories behind the surging popularity of streamers.

Firstly, not everyone can attain the level of expertise required to excel in e-sports, so viewers turn to streams to watch skilled players. After all, people watch traditional sports like football, so why not e-sports?

Secondly, upgrading one’s PC to a level suitable for professional gaming can be costly and out of reach for many. Streams offer an accessible way for everyone to enjoy the game. It’s no wonder that live streams are rapidly gaining popularity.

We have previously mentioned that the Russian online gaming market has immense potential for expansion and growth. If you want to promote your game in one of the world’s largest markets, the experts at Quarter Billion Agency Group can help you develop a strategy to capture the hearts of Russian gamers.

To learn more about the Russian video game market, download our “Guide to Online Games Promotion in the Russian Market.”