Among Us is an indie game that was released in 2018. Currently, it is experiencing a huge hype on Twitch. The game, which is actually quite simple, evokes strong emotions in players and viewers. But what the hell is it actually?
This is Among Us: Among Us is a multiplayer game by indie developer Innersloth, in which a group of astronauts has to prepare a spaceship for launch. However, some of the players are impostors trying to sabotage the others.
The goal of the astronauts is to make repairs, clean up, or install vital items like air filters. The impostors must try to stop them and kill them in the process. They can move through ventilation shafts and close doors.
Through the resulting “accidents,” astronauts die, and after a body is found, a vote is held to determine who is at fault. The player with the most votes is thrown into lava and dies. Thus, the principle is similar to the popular game “Werewolves (of Millers Hollow).”
If enough repairs are made, the astronauts win. If all astronauts are dead, the impostors win. The game is played with 4-10 players in a lobby. It was already released in 2018 on Android, iOS and for PC on Steam.
Among Us – The New Hit on Twitch
It is so successful: On Twitch, Among Us is currently ranked 9th among games with the most concurrent viewers over the last 7 days according to sullygnome – ahead of huge titles like Dota 2, Minecraft, and Valorant (as of August 26).
Even in terms of average viewers and total watch time, it ranks 11th. On average, 583 streamers are showing the game on their channels.
The biggest streamer for Among Us is Félix “xQc” Lengyel, who is currently fighting for the title of biggest streamer of 2020. xQc is known for his emotional outbursts and often rude behavior. This is also evident in Among Us:
What makes it so good? Exactly these emotions are likely the reason why the game is so well received on Twitch. As Fall Guys has already proven, we simply love watching others fail.
Among Us offers exactly that in abundance. However, many larger streamers often collaborate and stream together, which makes viewers cheer for their favorites.
xQc, for example, frequently plays Among Us with the well-known WoW streamer Esfand, who is afflicted with Tourette, Sweet Anita, and the rather unknown Ludwig. Interestingly, however, players and the chat usually adhere to the rules and do not reveal who the impostors are, allowing everyone to fully enjoy the game.
Additionally, Among Us has a tactical aspect. Even after death, impostors can still cause problems for the living astronauts by sabotaging them. xQc demonstrates this quite impressively in a victory, where he collaborates with his colleague even after his death:
Where does the hype come from right now? Although the game was released in 2018 and has “very positive” reviews on Steam with 95% positive ratings, it has only recently gained a lot of hype. The reason for this is likely the announcement of Among Us 2.
On August 18, the developers announced that they are working on a sequel that is expected to release in the coming months. However, the servers for Among Us (1) are to remain active. The news has apparently caught the attention of several influencers.
Moreover, the game only costs €3.99 on Steam, making it cheaper than newer AAA titles. Since June 12, all DLCs with new maps to play have been free for all owners of the game.
Another reason could be the current hype surrounding Fall Guys. The party game appears to have ensured that not only shooters and competitive games are at the top, but also simple fun entertainment is finding an audience again. Recently, Fall Guys helped a streamer achieve a new viewer record on Twitch.
