The Australian gaming content creator scene is bigger than most people realise. We don’t have anyone at the Markiplier or xQc scale, but there’s a healthy ecosystem of creators doing excellent work. Here are eight that I think deserve a bigger audience.

1. SkillUp (Ralph Panebianco, Sydney)

You probably already know SkillUp, but if you don’t, fix that immediately. Ralph produces some of the most thoughtful, well-researched game reviews on YouTube. His reviews are long-form, detailed, and genuinely help you decide whether a game is worth your time and money. He doesn’t chase trends or publish hot takes for clicks — he plays the game properly and gives you an honest opinion.

What makes him stand out: the depth of analysis. A SkillUp review isn’t “the graphics are good, 8/10.” It’s a genuine examination of design choices, mechanics, and how the game feels to play.

2. Spawntaneous (Perth)

A content creator who’s built a following around social experiments and communication in online games. Her videos explore how people interact in gaming spaces — gender dynamics, community behaviour, and the social psychology of online play. It’s unique content that nobody else is making at this level.

What makes her stand out: she turns everyday gaming experiences into genuine social commentary without being preachy.

3. Chedda Cheese (Melbourne)

A smaller channel doing excellent work covering the Australian esports scene. Match analysis, player interviews, and tournament recaps — all focused on Oceanic competitive gaming. If you follow OCE esports and want content that isn’t just clips and highlights, this is your channel.

What makes him stand out: consistent, focused coverage of a scene that deserves more attention.

4. Under The Mayo (Brisbane)

Long-form, deeply researched video essays about game design. Under The Mayo takes a single game or design concept and explores it for 30 to 60 minutes with a level of detail that rivals academic analysis. His video on the design philosophy of FromSoftware games is one of the best pieces of gaming criticism on YouTube, full stop.

What makes him stand out: the production quality and intellectual rigour. These aren’t off-the-cuff opinions — they’re proper essays.

5. Chloe Lock (Melbourne)

A variety streamer who’s built one of the most positive communities on Twitch. Chloe covers indie games, cosy titles, and the occasional competitive game with a warmth and authenticity that’s refreshing in a space full of performative rage. Her community is genuinely supportive, which in 2026 Twitch is rarer than it should be.

What makes her stand out: proof that you don’t need to be toxic or hyper-competitive to build a successful streaming career.

6. Aussie Indie Showcase (Melbourne)

A channel dedicated entirely to Australian indie games. Gameplay videos, developer interviews, and spotlight features on local studios. It’s doing important work for the visibility of Australian game development, and the creator clearly loves the local scene.

What makes it stand out: pure signal, no noise. If you want to know what Australian indie developers are working on, this is the single best source on YouTube.

7. The Fourth Player (Sydney)

A podcast-format YouTube channel with four hosts who cover gaming news, reviews, and culture from an Australian perspective. The chemistry between the hosts is natural, the discussions are substantive, and they’re not afraid to disagree with each other on camera. It’s the kind of gaming roundtable that’s easy to put on while doing other things.

What makes them stand out: genuine conversation rather than scripted content. The disagreements are real, and that makes the agreements more meaningful.

8. Retro Gamer AU (Adelaide)

A channel about retro gaming from an Australian perspective — covering how games were marketed, sold, and experienced in Australia during the 80s and 90s. The research is meticulous. Episodes about the Australian PAL gaming market, local game stores, and how arcade culture differed here compared to Japan and the US are genuinely fascinating.

What makes it stand out: Australian gaming history told by someone who clearly lived through it and has the receipts to prove it.

Why local creators matter

Following Australian gaming creators isn’t just about national pride. It’s about perspective. Global gaming media is dominated by American and European voices. Australian creators bring different reference points, different concerns, and different enthusiasm.

They also cover the Australian gaming scene specifically — local esports, local developers, local events — in a way that international outlets never will. If you care about gaming in Australia, supporting local creators is the best way to ensure that coverage exists.

Give these channels a look. Subscribe to the ones you like. The Australian gaming content scene is growing, and it deserves the audience.