GameMakersToolkit
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My Favourite YouTube Channels
🕑 Added 2017-05-11 08:31:27 +0000 UTC Hey!One question that I get asked a lot is "are there any other channels like Game Maker's Toolkit?" and I always answer "no. I invented the idea of making video essays about games, and no one else is doing it. Please don't search YouTube, just watch me forever".
But because you're my Patrons, I'll let you in on a secret: there are loads of people talking about games on YouTube! And I subscribe to a whole bunch of them.
These are my favourites, in some loose categories. Check them out, subscribe to them, etc. Or if you can't be bothered, just wait for me to pick out the best videos each month in my reading list!
Short-form essays
Extra Credits - Covers all aspects of Game production (though mostly design) with a chipmunk voice, cartoon art, and a more abstract, academic approach than me.
Errant Signal - Chris goes deep in his critical analysis of new games, with a narrative-heavy slant. He's mostly into indie games these days, which is fine by me.
TheGamingBritShow - Charlie is a good lad, with funny and insightful videos on lots of topics. Mostly Japanese (character action) games, but a real mix.
Turbo Button - Very good videos on all sorts of topics. Jon deserves way more subs.
Writing on Games - Well-made video essays on the latest games. And some other bits, too. Prolific!
Cool Ghosts - Matt Lees and Quintin Smith talk about good games, and also play each other's nostalgic childhood monstrosities.
[game array] - All sorts of game design stuff. With a bit of TV stuff now I guess.
Super Bunnyhop - Interesting videos on all-things games, every single week. Not sure how he manages it, to be honest.
hbomberguy - Zig zags between long-form Dark Souls analysis and cultural stuff. Always interesting and wacky.
MrBtongue - This guy makes great videos, but doesn't upload often. Watch all his old stuff and then subscribe in case he makes something new.
PushingUpRoses - All sorts of games stuff, but I especially like her videos on point and click adventures.
snomanGaming - Snoman's Good Game Design series is always worth watching.
Honourable Mentions: Cagey Videos, Draz, HeavyEyed, Mr Wendal, razbuten, Sunder, Dan Root, RagnarRox, What's With Games.
Long-form essays
Joseph Anderson - Lots of big games, like Uncharted and Fallout 4.
KingK - He's started doing shorter videos, but I discovered him during his Zelda analysis series.
Matthewmatosis - The original long-form analysis guy. It's Matthewmatosis! I don't know what to add.
Noah Caldwell-Gervais - He lives in a bus. But he somehow also makes a nearly two-hour analysis of the Mafia games. Go figure. Largely narrative based.
Specialty subject essays
Core-A Gaming - All about fighting game design. I like very focused channels, and this is one of them.
TheHappieCat - This channel talks a lot about programming and most of it goes over my head but I like the pretty pictures.
Games as Literature - Does what is says on the tin. Literary analysis of games and discussing storytelling methods. Sometimes intersects with Game design.
Game Score Fanfare - My new favourite channel. Talks about music in games, but in a very approachable way. You don't need to know music theory to enjoy this channel.
FeministFrequency - Covers games with a feminist lens - though, their game-specific series has now ended. Still, devour the archive.
Game industry, culture, and history
Innuendo Studios - Ian does lovely, sporadic videos about games, art, storytelling, media personalities, and more. Can't-not-click a new video when they appear.
CrowbCat - This guy makes collages about games, using bits of footage to tell a narrative. Sometimes. Hit or miss I find.
Ahoy - Game history, with snazzy vector graphics. Sultry British tones that puts my squeaky voice to shame.
Noclip - Interviews with Game designers. Highly polished, always interesting.
Gaming Historian - History! Of Game stuff! Who invented the d-pad, why did the ESRB form, what was the Famicom disk system. Beautifully made, too.
Summoning Salt - These speed-running world record progression videos are a blast. I love them.
Reviews and comedy
Adam McDermott - Adam's Platinum Journey series is engrossing stuff. Watch a man go insane playing games on absurd difficulty settings.
Lazy Game Reviews - Talks about old-ass PC games, weird hardware, and stuff you vaguely remember from your childhood (Lego Island!). His LGR Thrifts thing is a blast, too.
NakeyJakey - Funny guy. Games, rapping, silly goofs. Dog bless.
Shammy - Another funny dude. Owl fetish?
SuperButterBuns - A very funny lady. I don't even like JRPGs that much but I always watch her stuff.
videogamedunkey - The funniest dude on YouTube. Every video is a gas.
Movie stuff
Every Frame a Painting - You've heard of this. It influenced a billion video essayists, myself included. Hurry up Tony, make something new!
Chainsawsuit Original - Just here for Movies with Mikey, a bunch of funny and heartfelt love letters to his favourite films.
Channel Criswell - Movie analysis stuff. I like his music choices.
Chez Lindsay - Proper essay-style movie analysis. But funny and interesting. Loose Canon series follows a character through different adaptations / depictions.
kaptainkristian - Movie stuff, and other stuff, in visual love letters. Very fancy editing, must take forever.
Georg Rockall-Schmidt - Just discovered this chap. Talks about movies with dry British humour. Also, what a barmy name. Double barrelled, and weirdly spelt!
Now You See It - Just some good-ol fashioned movie analysis stuff.
Folding Ideas - A bit all over the place, but his stuff on editing is really interesting. Set up and payoff, cuts, the incomprehensible Suicide Squad, etc.
History Buffs - Looks at period piece movies, and decides whether they're historically accurate.
Lessons from the Screenplay - Looks at screenwriting, by breaking down popular movies and TV shows (and their scripts).
Honourable Mentions: BobbyBurns, Must See Films, StrucciMovies, The Royal Ocean Film Society
Other stuff
Nerdwriter1 - Lots of movie stuff, but also other stuff. Just stuff stuff. All delivered with style and sharp scripting.
DSLRguide - That sounds like a boring channel. But it's actually an interesting series of vids about making movies and being creative. So, not boring!
Cheers! Feel free to share your favourites in the comments below.
Comments
Alex
No austinmcconnell or DigiBro? Tsk tsk tsk.
OSW Review
I remember him from ScrewAttack! Does he still do the 1 minute reviews or has he branched out into more substantial stuff? Any vids you'd recommend?
OSW Review
Awesome list man, I'll start making my way through them! Has Extra Credits maintained it's technical side? I got squeezed out watching it ages ago as it was too game developer-centric (and not for just gamers in general). Can I pitch "Game Sack"? Roughly a half-hour vid every fortnight covering retro games with a theme (eg 'left in Japan' or console vs). Great lads! <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXTcV5aNq_8" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXTcV5aNq_8</a>
Nick DeWitt
In risk of facing skepticism, I'm geeking out a little because this is some wacky worlds colliding nonsense. My brother is actually one of the artists at Extra Credits and they recently plugged your channel too. I totally agree with Sunder. I really enjoyed his video on why Oblivion is an objectively bad game that he also enjoys thoroughly. It helped me appreciate games more that aren't necessarily of the same quality as your typical super polished nintendo release, but still have interesting ideas worth exploring or experiencing and possibly expanding on.
Luke Sandstrom
Mathewwmatosis is awesome! I'm going to check some of these out. Thanks
Josh Foreman
Great list. A few I haven't heard of. Delightful! Mark, if you haven't seen them, I highly recommend Sunder's Level Head series. Videos that do a breakdown of a specific level from various games. I support his work on Patreon as well, as I find it valuable continuing education; the same thing I consider your work to be. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHKJTKyEfjmGegraWzCJYjbJYnIbOHi-y" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHKJTKyEfjmGegraWzCJYjbJYnIbOHi-y</a>
Nolen Murphy
That's a really long list! Though that makes sense, considering your monthly reading list is always filled with so much content! Just curious, but have you been enjoying the PC? It's been a while since you've built it, and it'd be cool to hear how you like it after spending some time with it.
Felipe Lins
WOW, thanks, Mark, for so many good references! I'd like to suggest also ProJared, he's a tremendously good reviewer. I would recommend, my favorite, but can't, cuz it's...well...Mark Brown. LOL!
Matthew N. Eakins
ERMAHGERD! This a list I have always wanted! Shout out to Extra Credits who were the ones who clued me in to GMTK.
David Rodríguez Madriñán
Dang, not only are there I think most of the channels I follow here but also a ton more. One I can remember now that's not here is It's a dog and game, he doesn't upload too often but the fully animated pixel art is a treat. Also I'd love to watch a debate between you and Hbomberguy about YookaLaylee. Glad to see Anita here as well. Cheers!
Gabriel Henrique Dalposso
Id also mention Sideways (youtube.com/channel/UCi7l9chXMljpUft67vw78qw) that talk about music in games and movies (and culture); and Matthew Palaje (youtube.com/channel/UCqPKRjVm36xmxu1OiegTWWg) who does a wonderful set of tutorials for beginners.
Steve Fiori
I quite like Ethos. Average of 10 mins a video I think, commentary/thoughts on current games and short essay type content: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/GamingEthos" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/user/GamingEthos</a>
Tommy Cifelli
When I want to spend ten minutes exploring a topic in game design, I watch Game Maker's Toolkit. When I want to kill an afternoon, I watch Joseph Anderson. Awesome list Mark.
Nyuu3
Nice, this is gonna keep me busy forever. Incidentally though, if you do know music theory: Ongaku concept <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAa1ld_G99694y8a3N68opg" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAa1ld_G99694y8a3N68opg</a> This one's quite accessible and also does anime. 8-bit music theory <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeZLO2VgbZHeDcongKzzfOw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeZLO2VgbZHeDcongKzzfOw</a> Easily one of my favourite youtube channels. It's a more advanced, but totally worth it. Maybe check out the BOTW series. Maybe part 3.
Kimmo Heinonen
DUDE. I was supposed to be productive today and then this happens. No, really, thank you so much! New quality content is always very welcome.
Game Maker's Toolkit
Not at all. Feminist literary criticism is a very valid way of looking at games and boy does this medium need it! I think her videos do a great job of pointing out some of the more pernicious tropes that more gamers, critics, and designers should be wary of.
Nekyo
There are some pretty good names on this List, but is feminist frequency entry just ironic? I thought that woman is pretty much just in there for the money and attention, since she was mostly stealing the gameplay and the few times she played live it pretty much looked like her first time playing games. Also, after looking her up for a bit, a lot of her points seem weird to me.
Lorenzo Hulzebos
Aw man, this is great! This is exactly what I needed last week after I finally caught up on my podcasts and thought to myself "but what do I watch/listen to now?". Instead, I am still going through your Reading Lists, again, (such a great concept, I love those things) picking out interesting channels. I found Turbo Button and Game Array that way, but this list is going to be a great help. One I already followed I'd like to add is Jeremy Parish's channel at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrIttXi0WgLXHI1poCk0D6g" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrIttXi0WgLXHI1poCk0D6g</a> - He does retrospectives on the American NES library, American SNES library, and the worldwide library of the OG Game Boy. He also occasionally streams games in a segment called Gintendo, where he'll (often) drink gin and play Nintendo. Because dad jokes.
Turbo Button
Thanks for the channel shout-out, Mark. I'll have to check some of these other peeps out.
lassulus
here some channels I missed from your post: Accursed Farms - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ6KZTTnkE-s2XFJJmoTAkw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ6KZTTnkE-s2XFJJmoTAkw</a> - The Guy from Freemans Mind, Has now a Series called Ross's Game Dungeon where he rev iews old obscure Games with his own style. Killian Experience - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjdQaSJCYS4o2eG93MvIwqg" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjdQaSJCYS4o2eG93MvIwqg</a> - The actually funniest Guy on Youtube
Mathew Dyason
My new favourite is NakeyJakey. He's so funny, whatever he does it just makes me laugh. But his videos always have such a clear point to them as well. His delivery is the perfect blend of comedy and light analysis. And Movies with Mikey, uuugh that guy just has a way of cutting through and getting to the meat. His takes are always interesting. Also, thank you. :)
Giles Armstrong
You legend - I was hoping for exactly such a list. ^_^ Some of my faves, not covered above: Rossatron -- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxUR9wLuzgsvA6mpgKtiqGw" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxUR9wLuzgsvA6mpgKtiqGw</a> -- great analysis of action movies. I think you recommended one of his videos before, Mark. Bad Lip Reading -- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC67f2Qf7FYhtoUIF4Sf29cA" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC67f2Qf7FYhtoUIF4Sf29cA</a> -- I think this is a love-it or hate-it thing, but it is precisely my kind of ridiculous humour. Clips from films, TV, music videos redubbed perfectly and ludicrously. Gamer's Little Playground -- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiZVMOinTQGb8HQu53VbV4Q" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiZVMOinTQGb8HQu53VbV4Q</a> -- because there are some games I will never get around to, or don't own the console, but would still like to see its story. These guys also include relevant gameplay moments, rather than only showing cutscenes, so their videos usually feel as 'complete' as possible. GDC -- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0JB7TSe49lg56u6qH8y_MQ" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0JB7TSe49lg56u6qH8y_MQ</a> -- videos from previous Game Developer Conferences, where game makers aim to pass on their learnings. Plenty of great narrative talks, but depending on how charismatic the speaker is, or how insightful their talk is, your mileage might vary. Easy Allies -- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZrxXp1reP8E353rZsB3jaA" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZrxXp1reP8E353rZsB3jaA</a> -- also Patreon-funded, this is made by many folks who used to do Game Trailers. I can't vouch for it all, but their reviews are great. Highlight Reel (Kotaku) -- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsiJPoHlPqEFx_CNxEYpaAWIPnGYRFMNv" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsiJPoHlPqEFx_CNxEYpaAWIPnGYRFMNv</a> -- while I can't vouch for anything else of Kotaku's, HIGHLIGHT REEL is utter genius, and my go-to if I need a good laugh. Bugs, glitches, amazing plays - it's a great series.
