SlapStik Comedy By Yasmin Makara
Introduction
Video games are a fascinating technology. Since the ’80s, computer nerds everywhere have spent countless hours competing for the highest score, trying to reach the end of that super-hard level no one else can beat. Gaming allows people to travel to new worlds, expand their imagination, and even boost their intelligence. But if there’s one thing gamers inexplicably love more than playing, it’s watching someone else fumble through it—often while screaming into a headset.
Enter the Let’s Play: a video where a creator records themselves playing a game while providing often hilarious, unfiltered commentary. The name “Let’s Play” is more than just a title—it’s an invitation: “Let’s play a game.” The comedy comes from their off-the-cuff remarks and the chaos that unfolds onscreen. It’s a new frontier of improvisational comedy, born from digital spontaneity.
Thanks to YouTube and Twitch, anyone can now set up their own channel to build a community around gameplay. But you’re probably asking: When did Let’s Plays become so popular, and what makes them so dang entertaining? The answer lies in their blend of game-fueled unpredictability, relatable reactions, and improvisational humor that makes every jump scare or rage quit an opportunity for a punchline.
The History
Most historians of Internet shenanigans trace the earliest Let’s Plays to the forums of the comedy site SomethingAwful, where users posted screenshot walkthroughs annotated with snark. In 2005, online user Michael Sawyer—a.k.a. Slowbeef—uploaded a playthrough of the NES game The Immortal, quickly capturing the attention of fellow gamers. His videos marked the shift from image-based walkthroughs to full-on comedic video commentary, and Sawyer is widely credited as the pioneer of the format.
With the Internet evolving faster than a speedrun, platforms like YouTube and Twitch quickly became the stomping grounds for gamers with a funny bone. Creators like Markiplier, CoryxKenshin, and Jacksepticeye exploded in popularity thanks to their laid-back, often chaotic humor. Today, CoryxKenshin boasts around 21.5 million subscribers, with Mark and Jack at roughly 37.4 million and 30.9 million, respectively. But like any video game, even Let’s Playing has its boss battles.
Tough Parts of the Job
Being a Let’s Player is more than just booting up a game and yelling at the screen. YouTube’s rules around copyright, age restrictions, and demonetization mean creators are constantly dodging policy pitfalls. You want to drop a five-second Michael Jackson track to spice up a joke? That’s a copyright banana peel—and you just slipped on it. Make a quick, three-second sex joke? Sorry, that’s a no-go. Swear in the first 15 seconds? You’re demonetized faster than Mario falls in a pit.
Beyond YouTube’s rulebook, Let’s Players also face relentless pressure from viewers and critics alike. Maintaining comedic energy while producing high-quality content isn’t easy. It takes vocal warm-ups, constant engagement, and serious stamina to act goofy on camera consistently. Then there’s the business side: managing merch, navigating conventions, and juggling brand deals. All that can lead to burnout, which, spoiler alert, is not great for comedy. Yet despite these challenges, Let’s Players are still cracking jokes—because much like stand-up comedians, the show must go on.
What’s the Big Deal?
There’s a seemingly endless library of games for Let’s Players to explore, which opens the door to a galaxy of comedic setups. Just look at Steam—a treasure trove of genres ranging from action-adventure to murder-mystery visual novels to cozy farming simulators where the biggest threat is forgetting to water your pixelated pumpkins.
Let’s Players don’t need a TV studio; they just need a loyal fanbase willing to fund their pixelated adventures—via merch, memberships, and the occasional Venmo’d pizza.
Live streams are another comedic goldmine. When players mess up spectacularly, fans in the live chat are right there to roast them in real time, creating banter and bits that can’t be replicated in scripted media. And if live content isn’t their jam, Let’s Players connect with fans at conventions or through online communities, spreading laughs and gaming knowledge to folks who may not have the time, money, or gear to play themselves.
And let’s not forget editing—the unsung hero of Let’s Play comedy. YouTubers like Markiplier work with editors like Lixian, who add everything from wacky sound effects to animated versions of themselves that argue with the on-screen player. It’s editing on Red Bull. Blink and you’ll miss a banana fart sound effect layered under a sudden zoom-in on a character’s shocked face. You’d be hard-pressed to find this brand of chaotic comedy on a prime-time sitcom.
Conclusion
The internet is a wild and untamed land of comedy. YouTubers like CoryxKenshin, Markiplier, and Jacksepticeye have helped define what happens when gaming and improv collide, creating a comedic genre where no two playthroughs are ever the same. Sure, there’s no shortage of cringe-worthy YouTubers out there, but that doesn’t overshadow the sheer talent and timing that goes into making people laugh while dodging digital zombies.
There’s always a new indie game, awkward livestream moment, or sound effect of someone getting slapped with a trout—and it’s all fair game for comedy. Let’s Plays are more than just entertainment. They’re the digital stage where gamers become comedians, all while trying to remember which button jumps.
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