YouTube is an odd video platform compared to others, such as Twitch or even Facebook. YouTube is the de-facto place for new game announcement trailers, gameplay footage, and more, but even all of the hyped videos surrounding the video game industry pale in popularity compared to daily content creators playing and enjoying a single game. Such is the case withMinecraft, which remains YouTube’s most-viewed game of 2020, though the difference betweenMinecraftand other games is unbelievable.
According to YouTube’s official Culture & Trends Report for 2020,Minecraftis the most-viewed game on the platform with 201 billion views this year. This is punctuated by the onlyMinecraftvideo to make YouTube’s Top Trending Videos list,YouTube creator Dream’s “MinecraftSpeedrunner VS 3 Hunters GRAND FINALE.” This video alone has over 57 million views and was released in mid-August.
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What makesMinecraft’s 201 billion view total staggering is how it compares to the game that came in second place. The second most-view game on YouTube in 2020 wasRoblox, the free-to-play platform filled with unique mini-games.Robloxaccrued an impressive 76 billion views on YouTube, but that meansMinecraftpulled in more than 2.5 times Robox’s total views in 2020. It’s that popular of a game, even withRobloxbeing played by over half of kids in the US.
The final three games on the list aren’t too far behindRoblox. The biggest surprise isGarena Free Firewith 76 billion views, a game most US-based fans may have never heard of. It’s another battle royale that’s only available on mobile devices, popular in Latin America and Asia. Fourth on the list isGrand Theft Auto 5, which includesGrand Theft Auto Online, with 70 billion views. Fifth place goes toFortnite, with Epic Games pulling in a healthy 68 billion views on YouTube.
Just hearing thatMinecraftis close to overcoming the totals of the next three games on the list combined is one thing, but with the list includingRoblox,Grand Theft Auto 5, andFortnite, makes it much more impressive. These are all incredibly popular games, but each are overwhelmed byMinecraft’s popularity on YouTube.
As for whyMinecraftdoes so well on YouTube, especially compared toother platforms like Twitch, the answer likely has to do with demographics. YouTube is significantly more popular among young audiences, as suggested by the most popular video on YouTube being the Baby Shark Dance kids song. Recorded videos are also more easily policed by parents than streaming content. So long asMinecraftcontinues to be an appealing game to kids and parents, it’s unlikely to be dethroned soon.
Minecraftis available on Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
