Smosh Games

Channel Overview and Statistics

Smosh Games stands as one of YouTube's most successful gaming channels, boasting impressive metrics that reflect its significant influence in the digital entertainment space. As of July 2025, the channel has accumulated 8.17 million subscribers and over 3.55 billion total video views^[1]. The channel maintains an active publishing schedule with new videos every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, generating approximately 85,900 to 257,800 dollars in estimated monthly earnings^[1]. The channel's consistent performance demonstrates remarkable staying power in the competitive gaming content landscape. With an average video length of 40.68 minutes, Smosh Games produces longer-form content than many similar channels, contributing to strong engagement metrics with a 6.01% engagement rate^[1]. Recent performance data shows the channel gaining approximately 40,000 new subscribers per month and maintaining steady daily viewership ranging from 1.3 million to 2.6 million views^[2].

History and Evolution

Smosh Games officially launched on September 25, 2012, as a collaborative venture between the sketch comedy collective Smosh and the gaming channel ClevverGames^[3]. The channel's origins trace back to acquisitions by media company Alloy Digital, which had purchased both the Smosh brand in 2011 and Clevver Media in 2012. The original cast consisted of Smosh founders Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox, alongside Mari Takahashi from Smosh Pit, and David "Lasercorn" Moss, Joshua "Jovenshire" Ovenshire, and Matt Sohinki from ClevverGames^[3]. The channel experienced rapid growth following its launch, becoming one of the fastest-growing channels on YouTube and reaching 1 million subscribers shortly after its debut^[3]. Between 2014 and 2018, Smosh Games expanded its cast to include additional members such as Amra "Flitz" Ricketts, Wes Johnson, Ericka "Boze" Bozeman, and Damien Haas^[4]. The channel faced significant transitions during the 2017-2018 period, experiencing cast departures and the abrupt shutdown of parent company Defy Media^[4]. Following Smosh's acquisition by Mythical Entertainment in 2019, and the subsequent return to independence when Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox bought back the company in 2023, Smosh Games has continued to evolve while maintaining its core gaming focus^[5].

Content and Popular Series

Smosh Games has built its reputation through a diverse array of gaming content that spans multiple formats and genres. The channel's output includes gaming commentary videos, reviews, scripted web series, and board game-focused content^[3]. Their content strategy balances video game content with tabletop gaming, creating a unique niche that appeals to both digital and analog gaming enthusiasts.

Board AF

One of the channel's flagship series, Board AF premiered on October 16, 2016, and airs weekly on Sundays^[10]. The series features cast members playing various board games and card games, often resulting in chaotic and entertaining gameplay sessions. Popular episodes have included legacy campaigns and collaborative storytelling games that showcase the cast's improvisational skills^[6].

Don't Win/Try Not To Win Series

The "Try Not To Win" series, which debuted on November 22, 2022, presents a unique twist on competitive gaming where participants attempt to achieve last place rather than first^[8]. The series frequently features Mario Party games, with specific rules requiring players to move toward stars and purchase them when possible, creating comedic situations as cast members try to avoid winning^[9]. The series has become particularly popular for its subversion of traditional gaming objectives and the resulting chaotic gameplay^[7].

Current Cast and Personnel

The current Smosh Games roster includes a mix of longtime Smosh members and newer additions who regularly appear across the channel's content. Key recurring cast members include Shayne Topp, Courtney Miller, Damien Haas, Angela Giarratana, Chanse McCrary, Amanda Lehan-Canto, and Arasha Lalani^[4]. Spencer Agnew serves as Director of Programming for Smosh Games while also appearing as a cast member^[4]. The channel benefits from the broader Smosh collective's ensemble approach, with cast members frequently crossing between different Smosh channels and series. This collaborative structure allows for diverse chemistry combinations and keeps content fresh through varying group dynamics^[19].

Awards and Recognition

Smosh Games has received significant industry recognition for its contributions to gaming content on YouTube. The channel won the Streamy Award for Best Gaming Channel, Show or Series in 2014^[12]^[14], and successfully defended this title by winning the Gaming category again at the 2017 Streamy Awards^[11]^[15]. These awards recognize the channel's excellence in gaming-focused content creation and its influence within the YouTube gaming community^[13]. The recognition extends beyond individual awards, as Smosh Games has been acknowledged as a key component in Smosh's overall online popularity and success^[3]. The channel's consistent quality and innovative approach to gaming content have established it as a benchmark for comedy-gaming hybrid channels on the platform.

Business Model and Partnerships

Smosh Games operates through multiple revenue streams typical of successful YouTube channels, including advertising revenue, sponsorships, merchandise sales, and branded content partnerships. The channel's estimated monthly earnings of $85,900 to $257,800 reflect its strong commercial viability^[1]. Notable partnerships have included collaborations with major gaming companies. In 2017, Smosh Games partnered with Ubisoft to create a three-episode web series promoting Assassin's Creed Origins, marking Ubisoft's primary influencer promotion for the game's launch^[18]. The channel has also maintained partnerships with television networks, including a 2022 agreement with G4 for talent collaborations, content development, and library IP distribution^[16].

Industry Impact and Influence

Since its establishment, Smosh Games has significantly influenced the gaming content landscape on YouTube. The channel helped pioneer the integration of comedy and gaming content, creating a template that many subsequent creators have followed. Its success demonstrated the viability of ensemble cast gaming content, moving beyond the single-creator model that dominated early YouTube gaming^[17]. The channel's longevity and consistent performance have made it a case study in sustainable content creation. Despite changes in YouTube's algorithm and shifts in viewer preferences, Smosh Games has maintained relevance through format innovation and cast evolution^[17]. The channel's approach to balancing scripted and unscripted content has influenced how gaming channels structure their programming to maximize both entertainment value and audience retention.