Are you looking for a fun way to make money? What better way than to earn some quick cash while playing games. Whether you are a hard-core gamer or a casual one who wants to earn a few extra bucks in your spare time, there is something for everyone.
While most people will benefit from starting an online business like print on demand or dropshipping business, many do not have the time and instead prefer monetizing their free time for money. Popular options are filling out surveys, getting paid to read email, or simply walking to earn money.
But none of these are exactly fun activities, and you can quickly get bored of them. It turns out there are applications that pay you for playing games.
Here are 15 legit applications, categorized in four sections that pay you real money for playing games.
Table of Contents
Mobile and Web Applications
The easiest way to make money during your spare time. You can get started today and earn anywhere between $15 – $25 an hour.
Mistplay
Mistplay is an android specific app launched in 2017 as a platform where users are compensated for playing video games. Most game developers subscribe to mistplay to test out their new games for possible bugs and exploits.
Gamers can select games based on a list offered to them. You may earn money by performing basic things like downloading, testing, and playing games. For every 1,500 points you earn, you will receive $5. You can then choose to cash out the money through PayPal or exchange it into various gift cards.
One downside with Mistplay is it’s only available on android, and the creators have no urgency to bring it into Apple’s store yet.
InboxDollars
InboxDollars is a recurring name when it comes to reliable platforms that help you monetize your time. InboxDollars has featured in many of our lists before, and you can also play games on the platform to earn some quick cash.
How inbox dollars work is you create an account and play games from your devices. Different games have different ways to pay you, and typically, spending 15 mins a day playing games will make you an extra $60 to $100 a month. Not too bad if you have to commute to work every day and have nothing better to do.
One small nuance we always had with InboxDollars is the $35 minimum threshold before you can proceed with the cash-out. This is not a big deal if you regularly spend time on the platform.
Swagbucks
Swagbucks is another reliable platform for getting paid to play games. You can earn up to $30 for playing games or answering surveys through the platform.
Although Swagbucks offers a handful of free games, they pay you significantly less than the competition. So, the trick here is to head over to the Discover section, where you will have many offers to reach certain levels of a particular game and earn up to $50 per game. You also have other offers like unlocking certain weapons to get 1000 to 2000 Swagbucks, which can then be converted to cash or gift cards.
Suppose you are serious about gaming and willing to spend time and improve at it. In that case, Swagbucks is definitely worth checking out as it pays significantly more than other similar platforms.
Drop
Drop is another popular app that pays you to play games within their platform. You have to download the Drop app, create a free account, and link your card. You can then immediately start earning points by shopping at your favorite stores, taking surveys, playing games, or participating in special offers.
To exchange points for gift cards at various businesses, you must earn a minimum of 25,000 points. One thousand points earn you $1, and it is possible to earn up to $30 in a day.
Banatic
If you are actually serious about the game you play, Bananatic can be a great platform to get paid to play some of the best games in the market. While other apps in the list offer money to test out relative new games, Bananatic has titles like “World of Tanks” and” Star Trek Online”. They are popular games by themselves and have a huge fan following.
The way you earn money through Bananatic is to complete different quests and take a screenshot which can then be verified by the Bananatic team and award you with banana points. These points can then be converted to gift cards or PayPal cash.
WorldWinner
If you are particularly good at certain games and confident to do well against others, WorldWinner can be an excellent option for you. But WorldWinner is a paid app, and you have to spend money before earning them back.
Before participating in a tournament, you can see how many individuals you’ll be competing against, how large the prize pool is, and how much it costs to enter each event. The prize money will be added to your WorldWinner account balance if you win the competition, which can then be converted into cash via Paypal or check.
Although the prizes for winning a competition is significantly more than anything on this list, WorldWinner is a pay to play model. So only take part if you are sure to do well in the competition; otherwise, you will end up bleeding cash.
Pogo
Pogo is a similar platform to WorldWinner, but instead of entering into a tournament, you pay a monthly fee and get access to participate in unlimited tournaments. Instead of receiving cash, players are placed into daily sweepstakes for a chance to win a prize of up to $500.
Lucky Level
Another app that pays you to play games is Lucky Level. But contrary to other apps in this list, you do not get cash directly. You participate in playing games, and successfully completing a level will win you lucky cards. You can then redeem these cards to win a jackpot of $500.
Trying out luck may not be your cup of tea, but Lucky Level claims they give away multiple jackpots every day, so your chances of winning are relatively high. Still, we see no reason why you should not try out this app and try your luck while enjoying your game.
Coin Pop
This free Android software will not make you wealthy, but it can provide you with some extra cash at the end of the month. Coin Pop is a free reward program software that rewards users for downloading and playing different games. It was published in March 2018 and comes with a bonus of 4,444 coins when you sign up, which is equivalent to 1$. The more you play, the more coins you earn that can later be exchanged for cash.
Cryptocurrency Games
A new genre to build and collect digital assets through gaming that pays you in cryptocurrency. Early Cryptocurrency games cashed huge amounts of money through Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Axie Infinity
Axie Infinity is a Pokemon inspired game where you raise creatures and develop their strength. You can then battle with these creatures in a virtual world, and the more you win, the more Axie you collect. You can then convert the Axie into popular cryptocurrencies like Ethereum. Axie Infinity is a fun and addictive game, and given the current price hike of cryptocurrencies, you can make quite a lot of money using this platform.
Decentraland
Decentraland is a virtual world where people can buy land, construct structures, explore, and communicate with other players. The game is powered by MANA, a cryptocurrency that can be sold or swapped for other cryptocurrencies. Completing quests earn you MANA, which you can convert to any currency you prefer.
It is important to mention how the price of MANA increased last year. The MANA-USD exchange rate has risen from around 3 cents to around 93 cents since the game’s introduction in 2017. In January 2022, the entire market value of all MANA in existence was more than USD 3.8 billion, about double what it was a year earlier. Early investors in the game had their money worth, with many of them pocketing millions in cash. We can’t promise you to have the same luck, but with no risk involved, investing in Decentraland can be a great way to get your feet wet in the magical world of cryptocurrency.
The Sandbox
Like Decentraland, Sandbox also has a virtual world you can interact with and take part in different quests to earn bitcoins. Players can also interact with each other and solve quests together. Given the astronomical price hike bitcoin experienced in the last few years, playing Sandbox games can be a great way to earn money while playing games.
Sorare
Sorare is a fantasy soccer league where players collect different cards. These cards gain value on the player’s real-life performance corresponding to the card. You can then exchange Sorare cards for other cryptocurrencies. If you are a fan of soccer and know how to create a squad with players who are likely to perform well in real life, Sorare is a fun app you must try out.
Competitive Gaming
If gaming is your hobby and you think you have what it takes, consider breaking into the competitive gaming industry.
If you think you are ready to take the next big step and consider taking gaming as a full-time profession, this section is for you.
The gaming industry is a $170 billion dollar venture, and there are a ton of opportunities to make money from it. It is comparable to professional athletes, and if you have a particular skill that makes you better than most in a particular game, you can consider becoming a competitive gamer.
But there is no guarantee for success when it comes to competitive gaming, and the path of becoming a competitive gamer is a long and difficult one. But if you are passionate about the game, this is a career choice you can give a try.
Careers in the Gaming Industry
Turn your passion for playing games into a well-paid full-time job. You do not need a college degree, but programming skills are necessary.
Another way of getting paid to play games is by actually creating the games themselves. Now, creating a game from scratch is not an easy task by itself, but you can collaborate with others to create game mods and assets. Game companies are always looking for game developers who can contribute to making AAA titles.
But it would help if you definitely were skilled for the task, and working in the game industry means long hours under extreme pressure. You often will have deadlines to complete certain tasks, and it can make you feel overwhelmed.
Final Thoughts
There are certainly many opportunities to get paid by playing games. Some of them are geared towards casual gamers who can earn some money besides their regular job by playing games for 20 to 30 mins in a day. Others, however, require training and a different skill set to pull off.
All things considered, if you are someone who is passionate about gaming, you too can create a career out of it.
