Every day on r/Games, thousands of gamers gather in a recurring thread with one simple purpose: finding their next gaming obsession. These daily suggestion threads have become virtual water coolers where players ask strangers to recommend games based on vague descriptions like “something with good vibes” or “a game that makes me feel like I’m actually good at something.” But this Reddit tradition represents just one piece of a massive shift in how gamers discover what to play in 2024.
YouTube Crushes Everything Else
According to research from TIGA published in May 2024, YouTube dominates game discovery at 64%, absolutely demolishing every other platform. The video-first approach resonates because gamers want to see gameplay footage, not read about it. TikTok comes in second at 36%, followed by Instagram at 35% and Facebook at 34%. Word of mouth recommendations barely edge out social platforms at 34%, showing how digital communities have replaced traditional friend circles for gaming advice.
The generational divide tells an even more interesting story. Among 18-24 year olds, TikTok usage for game discovery hits 58% compared to just 29% for the 34-44 age group. That’s a 29% difference showing how younger gamers consume information through short-form vertical video while older players stick to longer YouTube content and written reviews.
Trust matters just as much as reach. YouTube ranks as the most trusted source at 52%, while X (formerly Twitter) and online ads sit at the bottom with 19% and 17% trust respectively. This explains why influencer marketing has exploded – a trusted YouTuber’s recommendation carries more weight than a million dollars in banner ads.
Reddit’s Daily Suggestion Threads Work Differently
The r/Games community runs daily discussion threads specifically for game suggestions, creating a judgement-free space where players can ask for recommendations without starting individual posts. These threads work because they tap into collective gaming knowledge accumulated across thousands of players with diverse tastes and experiences.
What makes Reddit recommendations special is specificity. Instead of algorithmic suggestions based on purchase history, you get human curators who understand nuance. Someone asking for “games like Dark Souls but less punishing” will get responses ranging from Code Vein to Hollow Knight to Elden Ring with Spirit Ash summons, each with detailed explanations about why they fit.
Other gaming subreddits serve similar functions:
- r/gamingsuggestions – Dedicated entirely to recommendation requests with over 2 million members
- r/ShouldIbuythisgame – Focused on helping players decide if specific titles match their preferences
- r/patientgamers – Recommending older titles that have aged well and dropped in price
- r/IndieGaming – Spotlighting hidden gems from independent developers
The average gamer uses between four and five different discovery channels according to TIGA research, meaning Reddit users also check YouTube, browse Steam’s discovery queue, and listen to friend recommendations before committing to purchases.
Traditional Reviews Are Basically Dead
Here’s the brutal truth professional critics don’t want to admit: Metacritic professional reviews ranked as the least popular discovery source at just 3% usage. Metacritic user reviews fared barely better at 4%, while print magazines limped in at 5%. The era of waiting for IGN’s verdict before buying a game has ended.
Why the collapse? Review embargoes, inconsistent scoring systems, and perceived conflicts of interest have eroded trust. Players would rather watch 20 minutes of raw gameplay footage from a mid-tier streamer than read a 2,000-word review from a major publication. User reviews on Steam carry more weight despite being vulnerable to review bombing because they come from verified purchasers who actually played the game.
What does influence purchase decisions? User reviews hit 30%, the reputation of known developers reaches 28%, and word-of-mouth recommendations land at 32%. These factors all share one trait – they come from people with skin in the game rather than professional critics maintaining arm’s length objectivity.
Steam’s Hidden Discovery Tools
While everyone complains about Steam’s discovery queue showing random garbage, the platform actually offers sophisticated recommendation tools most players never use. The Interactive Recommender allows customization of popularity bias, letting you surface hidden gems instead of just blockbusters everyone already knows about.
Reddit users on r/Steam report success with several methods:
- Checking tags on games you love and browsing similar titles
- Exploring the “More Like This” section on store pages
- Following specific developers and publishers to see their full catalogs
- Using the “Because you played” recommendations that appear after significant playtime
- Refreshing the discovery queue repeatedly until something interesting appears
The key difference between Steam’s automated recommendations and human suggestions is context. Steam knows you played 100 hours of Stardew Valley but can’t understand you were stressed at work and needed something calming. A Reddit user can interpret that nuance and suggest Unpacking or A Short Hike instead of just throwing Harvest Moon clones at you.
Why Indie Games Depend on Communities
For independent developers without marketing budgets, community discovery channels represent the difference between success and obscurity. Many indie studios offer free demos or early access at reduced prices specifically to generate word-of-mouth buzz. Channels like Best Indie Gaming on YouTube have become kingmakers, with a single feature potentially generating thousands of wishlists.
The rise of demo festivals on Steam, Game Pass’s indie spotlight features, and Discord communities dedicated to specific genres have created new pathways for small studios to reach players. These channels work because they’re actively curated by people passionate about discovering overlooked titles rather than algorithms optimizing for engagement metrics.
What This Means for Players
Understanding how discovery works helps you find better games faster. Instead of scrolling endlessly through Steam sales or waiting for blockbuster announcements, strategic players combine multiple channels. They follow trusted YouTubers covering specific genres, participate in Reddit suggestion threads, check Discord servers for their favorite games to see what else members play, and use Steam’s tag system to drill into niche categories.
The death of centralized gaming media actually benefits players willing to actively curate their own discovery channels. You’re no longer dependent on a handful of outlets deciding what deserves coverage. Small communities can champion overlooked masterpieces, and those recommendations spread through social platforms until hidden gems become cult classics.
FAQs
What is the best way to discover new games in 2024?
YouTube dominates at 64% usage for game discovery, followed by TikTok (36%), Instagram (35%), and word-of-mouth recommendations (34%). The most effective approach combines multiple channels including trusted content creators, Reddit communities, and Steam’s recommendation tools.
Are gaming reviews still relevant?
Traditional professional reviews have minimal impact, with Metacritic professional reviews at just 3% usage and print magazines at 5%. User reviews (30%), developer reputation (28%), and personal recommendations (32%) carry far more weight in purchase decisions.
What are the best Reddit communities for game recommendations?
The most popular include r/gamingsuggestions with over 2 million members, r/ShouldIbuythisgame for purchase decisions, r/patientgamers for older titles, and r/Games’ daily suggestion threads. Each serves different needs from broad recommendations to specific purchase advice.
How do younger gamers discover games differently?
18-24 year olds use TikTok for game discovery at 58% compared to 29% for 34-44 year olds, a 29% difference. Younger players prefer short-form vertical video content over long-form YouTube reviews or written articles that older generations favor.
What is Steam’s Interactive Recommender?
Steam’s Interactive Recommender is an advanced tool that allows users to customize popularity bias and filter recommendations based on personal preferences. It’s significantly more effective than the standard discovery queue but requires manual tuning to match individual tastes.
Why is YouTube the most trusted source for game discovery?
YouTube ranks as the most trusted source at 52% because it shows actual gameplay footage rather than descriptions, features long-form content allowing detailed analysis, and builds parasocial relationships between creators and audiences that translate to trusted recommendations.
How do indie games get discovered without marketing budgets?
Indie developers rely on demo festivals, early access programs, free trials, YouTube channels dedicated to indie games, Reddit communities, Discord servers, and word-of-mouth marketing. Community-driven discovery has become essential for small studios to reach players.
Conclusion
Game discovery in 2024 looks nothing like it did a decade ago. The death of traditional gaming media has been replaced by a decentralized ecosystem where YouTube creators, Reddit communities, and social platforms shape what players choose next. Daily suggestion threads on r/Games represent just one piece of this puzzle, but they exemplify how human curation beats algorithms when finding games that truly resonate. The average player now uses four to five different discovery channels, combining video content, community recommendations, and platform tools to cut through the noise. For developers, this means marketing has shifted from buying ads to building communities. For players, it means taking control of your own discovery process by actively engaging with multiple channels rather than passively consuming whatever gets promoted loudest. The games you’ll love most are probably waiting in some Reddit thread right now, recommended by a stranger who just gets it.