Video games have come a long way since Pong and Atari. We now have immersive games that incorporate augmented reality into the gaming experience. Some games introduce the digital versions of physical games to those who want to try them out before spending money—like board games (Dungeons & Dragons) and trading cards (Magic: The Gathering and Pokemon). As gaming hardware becomes more accessible, there is a near-endless source of gaming available to all.
A recent trend in gaming is the rise of the so-called streamer games. This is not a unique genre of video games, as streamer games have common features. In this article, we'll list the 10 best streamer games you can play solo or with a party.
Ten Best Streamer Games to Play
From serving burgers for intergalactic space cats to paranormal encounters that will make you scream, here are the ten best streamer games to play solo or with friends.
Galaxy Burger
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+ 6This is one of the games that surprisingly got me hooked on cooking simulation. While it is not as realistic as 2019's Cooking Simulator (another streamer game), Galaxy Burger makes it up for its character design, calming background music, and intergalactic robot cats as one of the regular customers.
The game has linear progression: serve up your customers and gain reputation points and money to unlock upgrades (including ingredients) and new planets. Unlocking planets like the Earth will also increase its base difficulty. Unlocking the special burgers for each planet like the Mercurian Burger (Mercury) is one of the goals of the game. This can be played by up to 8 players in co-op mode.
PowerWash Simulator
There's a certain type of relaxation in cleaning things. Moreso if the task is cleaning up a huge area with water and soap. PowerWash Simulator is one of the many simulation games that gained a following during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of the game is simple: clean up the course using water and soap, and a variety of hose attachments to get rid of those pesky mud and dirt that can't be removed using the default attachment. This is an enjoyable game to play solo.
Vampire Survivors
click to enlarge + 6This roguelike game took the world by storm. While it is not the first one in the genre, it was the one that streamers picked up and rose to popularity. During its early days, players could "cheat" the game by accessing the text file containing the game's code; which added to its initial charm among "hardcore" gamers.
That feature was removed when development switched to a game engine (Unity). At the time of writing, Vampire Survivors has collaborated with Konami (Contra and Castlevania) and Innersloth (Among Us) by adding new characters and storylines to the game. A local co-op feature is also available for a party of 4, while Steam Remote Play is the unofficial solution for online co-op.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
click to enlarge + 6While Nintendo stopped releasing updates for Animal Crossing: New Horizons, it remains a popular streamer game exclusively for consoles. Some Twitch streamers dedicate their channel to helping players get Bells and other collectibles like animals and insects for Blathers, furniture and decor for the home, and K.K. Slider music.
Players can visit each other on one island or visit other players' islands via a "dream" sequence where islands uploaded into the Nintendo server have a unique "dream address" that can be accessed by players around the world, or at random if the dream address is not possible to input.
Hollow Knight
This popular Metroidvania game represents the more serious side of streamer games. You control a solitary character (the "Knight") wandering the depths of Hallownest, defeating bosses and gaining new abilities along the way. The eerie atmosphere, haunting sound design, and nice story make this one of the best streamer games to play solo.
Phasmophobia
I have to give credit to Kinetic Games for this game. It made me scream numerous times and doesn't hold any punches when it comes to scaring the whole party. The objective of Phasmophobia is to investigate paranormal activities in a given location by identifying the entities roaming within its premises. Clues are given in a "classified folder" in the group van, as the party stocks up on equipment and does basic intel gathering. Tip: Don't play this alone. Always play with a maximum party of 4.
Trombone Champ
click to enlarge + 6If you're into music, this is the game for you. And, no, it isn't exactly educational. This comical take on trombone renditions of classical and popular music is challenging. You control the notes using your mouse and you can adjust the sensitivity accordingly. Songs can get chaotic at higher mouse sensitivity. Entering the notes can be done using the keyboard or mouse, with the option to disable the keyboard entirely. What makes this a fun game is the possibility of making and breaking the song while playing it in one go.
Idol Showdown
click to enlarge + 6For those interested in fighting games, but do not have the money to get serious about playing them, Idol Showdown is the perfect choice. This free-to-play game features characters from Hololive like Usada Pekora, and was even promoted by the real VTuber characters in their respective streams. Many features have been added since its release like a proper training mode and a comprehensive tutorial mode that teaches new players to do basic combos. Idol Showdown is now one of the main games in tournaments like Community Effort Orlando (CEO).
Portal Series
One of the recent pick-ups of VTubers and new streamers is the now-classic game, Portal. This game is more than the memes it generated. It is fun and quite frustrating to play. The main objective of Portal is to get through a course (often a room) using the "Portal Gun" that shoots an entry and exit portal to get you out of obstacles or change the dynamics of the course. Portal 2 can be played with another player in co-op mode.
Roblox
click to enlarge + 6I'm going to finish this list with arguably one of the most influential games (and gaming platforms) in the world. Roblox allows players to choose different games or "experiences", created by the Roblox community. A lot of these experiences have been featured in streams by content creators. Popular among streamers is Dress to Impress—a fashion-themed game, and Blox Fruits—a hack-and-slash action game inspired by the anime One Piece.
Conclusion
These ten games are the ones I recommend among the many games being streamed on different streaming platforms. While I did not include popular titles like Monster Hunter, Ninja Gaiden, and Street Fighter, the games in this list represent them too.