#Top5OnTwitch for Nov. 2nd - 8th

Which games are rising on the Twitch charts? Which streamers are dominating the most popular titles? Check out our official rankings!

Note: The following rankings are based on a combination of both gross and percentage change to viewership and total streams. As such, dominant and stable titles near the top of the charts will not always, or often, appear. Check out last week's numbers to compare.

Graphs for Top Rising titles show previous two weeks for context.

Top Five Rising

1. Red Dead Redemption 2

Increase Viewership: 3,584,686 Hours (3128.63%)

Increase Channels: 12,776 Creators (340.69%)

Rockstar could not have been more successful in terms of how they launched and supported Grand Theft Auto V, first released in 2013. Originally a console exclusive, the game eventually made its way to the PC with an impressive graphical overhaul and then remained one of the most viewed games on Twitch, to this day, in part thanks to a constant string of updates and events for its online component. They appear to be hoping the same strategy pays off again for Red Dead Redemption II, which was released on PC through the new Rockstar Game Launcher on November 5th.

Once again, it’s clear that PC players have been chomping at the bit to get their hands on this title, as this new version resulted in an explosion on Twitch, both in terms of viewership and its participating streamers. It’s important to remember that GTAV didn’t really mature into the enormous cash-generating machine it eventually became until after it released onto the PC platform. For a multitude of reasons, streamers often prefer a computer, chief among them being that it gives them much more control over the content and quality of their streams, but the real test as to whether RDR can repeat the success of its predecessor will be in whether this new group of creators become attached to the game’s online component, that they stick around as it matures. The next few weeks and months will be critical. We look forward to seeing how Rockstar attacks this challenge.

2. Internet Cafe Simulator

Increase Viewership: 469,600 Hours (938.62%)

Increase Channels: 635 Creators (512.09%)

Last week, I let me ignorance show when I said the following about Internet Cafe Simulator: “We won’t be seeing this title on our lists again, but it pulled in enough creators to find a spot in this week’s rankings.” I assumed that the hundred or so creators who enjoyed the game upon release would quickly move on, and that they represented the bulk of the game’s potential on Twitch. This week, I admit my failure and eat crow, because the game from developer Cocopo and publisher Cheesecake was only getting started.

In its first full week on the platform, Internet Cafe Simulator was played by big-name streamers like Elraenn (11,474 avg. viewers) , xQcOW (24,244), forsen (18,043), and KendineMuzisyen (13,924). They, along with a substantial number of small-to-medium sized creators, were responsible for pulling in nearly half a million additional hours of viewership, and no doubt helped spread the word about the game, having their hands in the over 600 new streamers as well.

This is a perfect example of how much the interest of popular streamers truly determines what does and does not have an impact in the world of streaming. It’s hard to predict just what titles, particularly those as idiosyncratic as this, will resonate with creators, will give them a platform from which they can tell stories they enjoy. This week, it’s clear that Internet Cafe Simulator has captured some of that energy.

3. Hearthstone

Increase Viewership: 3,863,276 Hours (152.24%)

Increase Channels: 1300 Creators (34.33%)

The team behind Hearthstone has taken a big dive into the world of auto-battlers, launching the early access period of Battlegrounds on November 5th from within the Hearthstone launcher. What currently amounts to a different game mode, much like the original Auto Chess, is available to Blizzcon attendees, both in-person and virtual, and those who pre-ordered bundles of the next Hearthstone card packs, in addition to viewers lucky enough to win access through random Twitch drops.

The auto-battler genre, a novelty only a year ago, is now jam-packed with competition. Riot Games’ Teamfight Tactics leads the pack, but there’s also Dota Underlords and Auto Chess Mobile. This makes it an interesting time to try and carve out a niche in the genre.

Still, there’s clearly interest amongst their fanbase, as the early access alone has led to a large spike in viewership. It remains to be seen how this will develop, and whether or not the game mode itself, like its predecessors, will branch off into its own category on Twitch, something we expect will occur. For now, the attention it’s received has been enough to make it one of the fastest growing titles on Twitch for the week.

4. For Honor

Increase Viewership: 133,174 Hours (199.51%)

Increase Channels: 1007 Creators (54.79%)

For Honor may not be the streaming powerhouse Ubisoft likely envisioned in the early days of development, but it has quietly carved out a substantial community of players, streamers, and viewers who have helped to support the game for what has now been nearly three years. This has been in large part thanks to a steady stream of improvements and updates to the game, highlighted this week through the release of ‘Season 4’ of the game’s ‘Year 3’ content. The big draw is a new playable hero, the Wu Lin warrior Zhanhu.

Games like For Honor show the value of a core community. The title may not have emerged as one of the most popular games on the planet, but it is much beloved by its players and viewers, enough to keep the game alive, releasing content and generating revenue, for much longer than outsiders may have anticipated. This week’s event was enough to make it one of the fastest growing titles on Twitch, again, nearly three years after release. A very impressive accomplishment, indeed.

5. Diablo III: Reaper of Souls

Increase Viewership: 60,935 Hours (45.05%)

Increase Channels: 1417 Creators (92.67%)

With the announcement of Diablo IV at this year’s Blizzcon, fans of the series returned to the most recent main entry in the series, nearly doubling its original number of streamers for one of the top ten largest overall increases on Twitch. We see this feedback loop often, when a new title in a pre-existing series is announced, streamers want to capture that energy, that hype, and they do so by diving back into the franchise. We’re still a long way off from the actual release of the new game - its actual launch date has not yet been set - so it will be interesting to see just how long this boost lasts, and then, whether new announcements about the impending title will make Diablo III rise up the ranks again. For now, though, it was enough to land the title the final spot on our list of the most trending titles on Twitch.

Top Five New Releases

1. Death Stranding

Total Viewership: 6,733,595 Hours (7th Overall)

Total Channels: 13,351 Creators (20th Overall)

Auteur Hideo Kojima’s first title since departing Konami finally hit store shelves this past week, as Death Stranding released as a PS4 exclusive on November 7th, and it should surprise absolutely nobody that it immediately became the fastest rising new title on Twitch, blowing the competition away in spite of only being available for the final two days of our rankings period. The game is absolutely unique, a contemplative and sprawling adventure filled with nuanced gameplay systems and Kojima’s distinctive brand of off-the-wall and mind-blowing storytelling. Streamers, particularly variety streamers, have been thrilled to scoop up the title and experience it with their fans.

The life of a single-player, story-driven experience like Death Stranding on Twitch tends to follow a predictable pattern, particularly when it’s a platform exclusive. After reaching peak viewership in the first week after launch, it then tails off over the next month or so, depending on the length and replayability of a title, as both players and viewers run out of new things to see. The game then repeats this cycle across each successive additional platform, something that’s already in the works for Death Stranding, which is set to hit PCs next year. When a game has been hyped for as long as it has, coming from a name as big as Kojima, it should be the hottest new thing on Twitch. In that respect, the game has stuck the landing. We’ll see how long it hangs around.

2. Planet Zoo

Total Viewership: 1,948,603 Hours (21st Overall)

Total Channels: 4664 Creators (40th Overall)

Planet Zoo is the spiritual successor to Zoo Tycoon, which first released in 2001. Simulation games aren’t the most popular genre on Twitch, but it is one of the most stable. Streamers who play these titles tend to stick to the genre almost exclusively, and the nature of the games make it so that every creator who plays gets a different experience, so audiences can enjoy the same game via multiple creators. This often means that new strategy and simulation games enjoy strong launches in the world of streaming. There have been weeks in the past wherein Planet Zoo’s viewership numbers would have taken the top spot on this list.

It reached these numbers thanks to participation from creators like hanryang1125 (11,853 avg. viewers), alanzoka (18,905), and CohhCarnage (21,719), along with the most viewed creator overall, Mithrain, who pulled in 171,611 hours of viewership across seven streams. It’s the latter, who kept coming back to the game, who represents what the future might hold for Planet Zoo. Dedicated strategy and simulation creators remain dedicated to titles for months, or even years, perfecting large-scale builds and experimenting with smaller ones. If it can retain a significant number of these streamers as a foundation upon which to build moving forward, with updates and expansions, Planet Zoo can remain a fixture on Twitch for a long time.

3. Need For Speed: Heat

Total Viewership: 537,618 Hours (41st Overall)

Total Channels: 6152 Creators (30th Overall)

The Need for Speed first came out in 1994. In the 25 years since, the series has seen 24 additional iterations, including this week’s third fastest growing new title on Twitch, Need for Speed Heat. While it didn’t reach the viewership numbers of our number two title for the week, it actually outpaced Planet Zoo in terms of total streamers, which indicates an even larger potential foundation of players and streamers around which to build a growing community.

Racing titles have a lot of potential in streaming. While they’re not viewed extensively by viewers who regularly consume other genres, their own niche is substantial enough for individual titles to carve out sizable dedicated audiences. iRacing is a perfect example of a title that’s stood the test of time, never becoming a huge crossover sensation, but remaining relevant for a years on Twitch. Need For Speed: Heat doesn’t necessarily cater to the same type of racing fan, but it has similar potential. If a racer less focused on realism can grab on to its audience hard at launch, it can sustain that community for a long time. The weeks ahead will tell the tale.

4. Ratropolis

Total Viewership: 433,348 Hours (55th Overall)

Total Channels: 462 Creators (280th Overall)

Ratropolis, which had the benefit of an entire week to accrue viewership, comes in fourth in our rankings largely thanks to creators from the Pacific region, with only four of the game’s top fifteen creators broadcasting in English. An early access card game, the title has the potential to break out with Western audiences as well, should a large enough streamer get their hands on it. Still, the success it has already enjoyed was enough to make it one of the fastest growing new games in streaming. We look forward to seeing how this title from smaller studio and publisher Cassel Games grows in the weeks and months ahead.

5. Just Dance 2020

Total Viewership: 85,466 Hours (147th Overall)

Total Channels: 384 Creators (316th Overall)

Speaking of niche, Just Dance enjoys a small but stable audience on Twitch, where each successive release is picked up by variety streamers, along with other tangentially related genres of creators like IRL and fitness creators. Like the previous title, it taking a spot in our weekly list of trending new titles speaks to the power of a smaller but dedicated community of creators. Not every title will be Fortnite or League of Legends, but that doesn’t mean they don’t thrive on Twitch. Knowing your community is important, and the developers behind Just Dance have proven again and again that they know how to deliver what their audience wants. This week, that meant a spot in our rankings.

Top Five Most Watched Overall

1. League of Legends

Total Viewership: 25,621,849 Hours (-15.63%)

Total Channels: 90,042 Creators (-2.84%)

Top Creators By Total Viewership

1. Riot Games - 2,834,466 Hours

2. Handongsuk - 1,143,794 Hours

3. LVPes - 985,395 Hours

4. OgamingLoL - 917,749 Hours

5. LCK Korea - 872,943 Hours

2. Fortnite

Total Viewership: 14,487,096 Hours (+4.30%)

Total Channels: 195,115 Creators (-2.91%)

Top Creators By Total Viewership

1. Tfue - 1,068,557 Hours

2. NICKMERCS - 853,355 Hours

3. TheGrefg - 614,088 Hours

4. SolaryFortnite - 458,999 Hours

5. NickEh30 - 383,034 Hours

3. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

Total Viewership: 9,086,254 Hours (-44.29%)

Total Channels: 77,848 Creators (-18.26%)

Top Creators By Total Viewership

1. Scump - 646,847 Hours

2. TimTheTatman - 448,137 Hours

3. DrDisrespect - 434,654 Hours

4. FORMAL - 406,966 Hours

5. Myth - 283,731 Hours

4. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Total Viewership: 7,838,675 Hours (+0.01%)

Total Channels: 53,125 Creators (-1.09%)

Top Creators By Total Viewership

1. Gaules - 850,783 Hours

2. ESL_CSGO - 792,249 Hours

3. BLASTProSeries - 524,541 Hours

4. StarLadder5 - 320,179 Hours

5. CSRuHub - 235,837 Hours

5. Grand Theft Auto V/Online

Total Viewership: 7,076,314 Hours (-3.79%)

Total Channels: 22,771 Creators (-0.04%)

Top Creators By Total Viewership

1. Lord Kebun - 451,403 Hours

2. Vader - 287,780 Hours

3. Koil - 255,261 Hours

4. JLTomy - 202,983 Hours

5. RebirthzTV - 185,524 Hours

Check out last week's numbers, and our rankings of the most watched esports on Twitch for the month of September. Also, be sure follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn for all the latest blogs, announcements, and game marketing news from the team at GAMESIGHT!