How to Get Game Keys as a Small Creator

If you are a smaller creator who focuses on games, you might be wondering how or even if it is possible to get games to play and review. In this post, I want to share my own YouTube journey and how you can get game keys without a large platform.

My YouTube Journey

I uploaded my first YouTube video on May 22nd, 2023. I started with sharing playthroughs of the Nancy Drew PC games, and then I expanded to cozy games and demo playthroughs. After regularly uploading for about 6 months, I received my first gifted game key for Fae Farm through Keymailer on November 2nd, 2023. In 2025, I started sharing short reviews of games I have played. In the reviews, I will talk about my thoughts on the gameplay and the things I liked and did not like to help others decide if the game is right for them. I have been consistent on YouTube, and I have uploaded over 300 videos. I now regularly receive keys for games to play and review on my channel, and I want to share how you can receive games as a small creator.

How to Get Game Keys as a Small Creator

Game Key Request Websites

There are several websites I use to request game keys, including Keymailer, PressEngine, and Lurkit. When you are requesting keys, you should only request games you are interested in playing and creating content on. For example, my niche on YouTube is cozy games. Therefore, I would not request a key for a first-person shooter game as I personally do not like that genre, and the game would not fit with my content. Also, when you request games, there is no guarantee you will receive a key. Your request can be rejected, and a lot of the time, the request will just remain pending.

When your request is accepted, you should create content for the game. If you do not create any content, especially when you say you are 100% likely to create coverage on Keymailer, it can negatively affect your chances of receiving more games in the future. As far as the websites go, I have received the most keys through Keymaiker, a few keys through PressEngine, and only one key through Lurkit.

Gaming PR Mailing Lists

There are numerous marketing and PR companies you can sign up for to receive emails about new games. The emails will often have games you can request and potentially receive keys for. Some marketing companies I have received keys from are Wholesome Games, Pirate PR, Mooncat Games, Team17, and PR Hound. Similarly to when you are requesting keys on a website, there is no guarantee you will receive a key from the PR company.

Direct Outreach

Game developers and PR companies sometimes make posts on social media asking to be messaged or emailed directly if you are interested in receiving a key. The post can also include a link to a form to fill out and express your interest. Even if they do not make a post, you can always try reaching out to them directly. You can look for a marketing or contact email and send a request including information about your channel or blog, what game you are interested in along with the platform (Steam, Nintendo Switch, etc.), and your plans on what you want to do with the key, such as make a long-form or short-form video, do a livestream, share a review, etc.

Lastly, it is important to have an email address listed in the about section of your channel or blog, and also on your social media accounts. I have received direct emails from game developers and PR companies without me contacting them first because I have my email easily available.

Steam Curator

The last way I receive keys is by being a curator on Steam, which is a marketplace for games. The process of becoming a Steam curator is a little tedious, as you first have to create a group on Steam. Once you have a group set up, you will be a curator, and you can recommend or not recommend games. I created a group in 2024 called Karaleecupcake Cozy Games. Since making the group, I have reviewed over 150 games as a curator.

I have been sent and accepted around 10 games by developers through Steam. I have covered some of the games on my YouTube channel and many of them on my blog. As a curator, you are not obligated to accept, play, or review all the games you are sent. I have declined plenty of games as they did not seem like a good fit, or I was simply not interested in playing the game.

Wrapping Up

It is definitely possible to get game keys as a small creator. You do need to be consistent on your chosen platform, as for me personally, it took around 6 months of consistent uploads to receive my first key. Also, when you are requesting keys, make sure you are actually interested in the games, and you are not obligated to accept every key you are sent.