One of the very interesting developments that the popularization of such platforms as Twitch has made possible is the introduction of games that allow viewers to interact directly with content creators. The level of implementation for this interaction may vary across different titles. Still, even the most low-key interaction possibilities create a new way for streamers to build relationships with their audience.
The magic of these games lies in how they can deeply involve viewers. They’re not just watching; they’re part of the action, directly influencing the gameplay. This involvement is key to keeping an audience engaged and invested in the stream. It transforms viewers into active participants, fostering a strong community bond around shared experiences and decisions.
For streamers, interactive games are more than just entertainment; they’re tools for building a lively, engaged community. Every stream becomes a new adventure, not just for the streamer but for the entire audience. This level of engagement is crucial in the streaming world, where keeping viewers involved is the essence of a successful and dynamic channel.
So without further ado, let’s get to the games that allow your viewers to directly affect the gameplay you stream!
Dead Cells
Dead Cells has rightfully earned itself a legendary status among roguelite enjoyers. It’s a thrilling blend of roguelike and metroidvania, where skill and strategy meet in fast-paced, dungeon-crawling action. Players explore ever-shifting environments, facing off against tough adversaries and employing a vast array of weapons and skills. Each run offers new challenges and discoveries, keeping the gameplay fresh and engaging.
Twitch integration: Dead Cells lets your viewers impact your gameplay in a couple of ways in the Streamer Mode.
Vote on Game Modifiers: Viewers can vote on various in-game modifiers that may make a streamer’s walkthrough easier or harder.
Become a Character in the Game: Viewers can become ‘Captain Chicken,’ taking on the role of healing the player or choosing when to use health potions. Chatters can become the character by typing pickme in the chat. Typing @<streamer name> will also make your chat messages appear in the game.
Influence Level Events: The audience can trigger and influence different level events, adding unexpected challenges or assistance to the streamer’s journey.
Community chests and codex: Special chests appear in the game that your viewers can help you open by typing in your chat. It will also introduce scrolls that allow viewers to decide which stat to increase.
There is also a list of some smaller features available in this mode. You can find it on Dead Cells’ wiki.
Cult of the Lamb
While we are on the topic of rogue-likes… Cult of the Lamb is a very meta experience for many streamers. As Lamb, you have to build your following by continually pushing through all the challenges the game has to offer and growing your influence. Does it sound a bit familiar? All jokes aside, Cult of the Lamb is known for its charming yet eerie art style and the intriguing balance between combat and cult management. It has a wicked but endearing sense of humor and a…
Twitch integration that includes a Twitch Totem Bar that your viewers can fill using Channel Points and give you a reward, a chance for your viewer to design a custom follower with their chat name, and Help or Hinder events that will let your chat decide whether to assist you or make your walkthrough a bit more challenging. The game also features some neat integrations for your viewer, like being able to see your in-game followers list. However, to make these integrations work, you need to make sure you’ve set up the Companion of the Lamb extension for Twitch.
Marbles on Stream
This free game is peak Twitch integration. While it is very passive in nature, the streamer's control over the game is restricted to just choosing a track and starting the race; it lets all your viewers get directly involved. Marbles on Stream is essentially a fancy randomization tool that allows viewers to “roll marbles” and watch as they race to the finish line by themselves. Although not very interactive, it’s a nice way to gamify your raffles or give your viewers something to watch while you need a small break from your stream.
Ultimate Chicken Horse
Ultimate Chicken Horse is a party platformer that lets you compete against your friends to beat the levels that you’ve just built together. It’s a balancing act of creating something that would screw your opponents over while not stopping you. This is the embodiment of fun and chaos and can become even more chaotic with an Ultimate Chicken Horse Twitch integration. Now your chat can vote for blocks that appear in the Party Box. The level building has already been chaotic, but with your chat’s involvement, the sky is the limit. Oh, and it also lets you display your chat in-game as a nice bonus.
Vermintide 2
Vermintide 2 is an action-packed, cooperative first-person video game set in the Warhammer Fantasy universe. It focuses on intense melee combat and cooperative gameplay, where players battle against hordes of Skaven and other Chaos enemies. Vermintide 2 is known for its gritty, dark fantasy setting and its emphasis on teamwork and skillful combat. Think Warhammer meets Left for Dead.
Twitch integration: In Vermintide 2, Twitch Mode offers a unique interaction where viewers vote on game modifiers, influencing the streamer’s gameplay. This mode, enabled via the Map Menu, allows stream chats to make decisions on items or challenges, adding an element of unpredictability. Streamers can customize the voting duration and enemy spawn rates for tailored gameplay experiences. This integration brings a dynamic, viewer-influenced layer to each session, enhancing engagement and excitement.
Gartic Show and Gartic on Stream
Many streamers are already aware of Gartic games. They took offline games of pictionary and telephone to our Discord servers. While they are fun to play that way, Gartic Show and Gartic on Stream let you share these party experiences with all the viewers in your chat. Gartic on Stream lets you and your viewers compete in guessing a bunch of pictionary drawings simultaneously right in your Twitch chat. Gartic on Stream is your classic game of pictionary except you are the one drawing and all your viewers… you guessed it… can type their answers in the Twitch chat. This is a simple way to boost your chat’s involvement and interactivity.
Jackbox
The Jackbox Party Packs offer a vibrant collection of party games that stand out for their exceptional viewer engagement during streams. Players can join in using their phones or tablets as controllers, making these games uniquely designed for large groups. The variety includes trivia, drawing, and word games, catering to a broad range of interests and ensuring there’s something for everyone.
In a streaming context, Jackbox games are ideal for audience participation. Viewers can easily join as players or participate as part of the audience, directly influencing the outcome of games. This setup makes Jackbox a hit for streamers looking to host interactive, inclusive, and highly entertaining game sessions that bridge the gap between the stream and the audience, creating a shared and memorable experience.
There are a lot more games with steaming integrations out there! Here are some examples: Borderlands 3, Eco, Streets Of Rogue, Black Future ‘88, Such Art!, Party Hard 1 and 2, Book of Demons, PlateUp!, Killing Room, The Bingo Room, 7 Days To Die, Goose Goose Duck, Move or Die, Stream Animals, Words on Stream, Drawy, Choice Chamber. Try different games to find out what works best for you and your audience.