GameGrumps is an American Let's Play web series hosted by Arin Hanson (2012–present) and Dan Avidan (2013–present). The series was created in 2012 by Arin Hanson and Jon Jafari. It focuses on the hosts playing video games. Jon Jafari left the show in 2013 to work on his own YouTube series, JonTron, and Dan Avidan took over his role.
After Jon Jafari left, the channel added more hosts who have joined and left over time as part of related shows. These hosts include Ross O'Donovan, Barry Kramer, Suzy Berhow, and Brian Wecht, along with guest hosts. As of September 27, 2025, GameGrumps has more than 5.44 million subscribers and more than 7.05 billion total video views. The series has also created and published three video games: Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator, Soviet Jump Game, and Homebody. Additionally, GameGrumps has written two young adult novels: Ghost Hunters Adventure Club and the Secret of the Grande Chateau and Ghost Hunters Adventure Club and the Express Train to Nowhere.
Format
Each episode typically includes two or more hosts playing a video game. They share their thoughts about the game, add funny comments, and discuss various topics, including stories from their lives. Sometimes, the hosts act out voices, especially Hanson and Avidan. Many of the games shown in these episodes are sent to The Grumps' post office box in Glendale, California, by fans.
Another part of the show is called the Ten Minute Power Hour. During this segment, The Grumps often complete tasks, play classic children's games, or interact with toys that share a common theme. These activities are usually done without knowing what they will be doing beforehand. Occasionally, the focus of an episode is food, and the hosts may eat large amounts of different foods, some of which have unusual or unpleasant tastes. These food-related segments are usually shown on another channel called The Grumps.
History
GameGrumps was started by Jon "JonTron" Jafari and Arin "Egoraptor" Hanson on July 10, 2012. The first video, which showed them playing Kirby Super Star, was posted on YouTube on July 18, 2012. Jafari and Hanson said the idea for the show came from an argument they had about whether the character Wolf from Super Smash Bros. Brawl had a fighting style similar to the character Fox. After animator Ross O'Donovan mentioned that they often got upset with each other over video games, Hanson suggested making a podcast about this. However, the show became a YouTube video series instead. In September 2012, Barry Kramer joined the team as an editor. Jafari and Hanson worked together until June 25, 2013, when Jafari left to focus on his own project. Many fans were upset about this, especially because the channel also announced the start of a new show called Steam Train on the same day. After Jafari left, Dan Avidan, the lead singer of Ninja Sex Party, became a co-host. Avidan also joined Ross O'Donovan as a co-host for Steam Train, where they play PC games. This change increased the channel's daily content to three videos: two GameGrumps episodes and one Steam Train episode. Later, Steam Train sometimes included Hanson and Barry Kramer, as well as Hanson's wife, Suzy Berhow.
In December 2013, Kramer and Berhow started a new show called Table Flip. For this series, they wore clothing from the Victorian and 19th century American periods and played tabletop games like card games, board games, and tile-based games with other YouTube creators. The show was professionally produced by Polaris, using seven cameras and detailed editing to fit the 45- to 60-minute format on Polaris's website instead of YouTube. The last episode of Table Flip aired on October 14, 2016. In November 2014, Kevin Abernathy was hired to help with video editing and production. Although Abernathy handled most of the editing, Kramer continued editing Steam Train. After Abernathy left in mid-2016, Kramer, Ryan Magee, and Matt Watson took over editing duties.
In January 2015, the channel launched a new show called Grumpcade to celebrate reaching two million subscribers. This show features co-hosts playing console games and sometimes includes guest YouTubers like ProJared, The Completionist, and Markiplier. In February 2015, a new channel called GrumpOut was created, focusing on live-action and recreational video projects. In November 2015, Brian Wecht, a bandmate of Dan Avidan in Ninja Sex Party, joined the team. Wecht left his career as a theoretical physicist to work on the channel.
In February 2016, Avidan and Hanson announced they would perform GameGrumps Live at Hollywood Improv on March 30 and 31. Later that year, they also performed at Levity Live in Nyack, New York, on April 29 and 30.
On January 6, 2017, the channel announced that the middle slot of its schedule would no longer be updated regularly. While Steam Train and Grumpcade continued, they were released less frequently. New shows like Doodle Doods, hosted by O'Donovan and Chris O'Neill, The G Club, a podcast, and Dragons in Places, an audio-only podcast, were created to fill the schedule.
In December 2017, Kramer announced he would leave the channel to pursue other projects. He was replaced by Ryan Magee and Matt Watson.
Since 2015, GameGrumps has also been working on an animated series called Gameoverse, created by Ross O'Donovan. By June 21, 2017, the team had grown to include writer Chad Quandt, concept artist Ashley Swaby, and story artist Krooked_Glasses.
Personnel
Over time, GameGrumps has added many hosts, editors, and other team members after Jon Jafari left in 2013. Some team members are not listed below. All members have taken on different roles in shows outside their main jobs.
Main Hosts of the GameGrumps Series
- Arin Hanson – Main host (2012–present); host of Steam Rolled (2013–2016); host of 10 Minute Power Hour (2018–present)
- Dan Avidan – Main host (2013–present); host of Steam Train (2013–2014); host of Steam Rolled (2013); host of 10 Minute Power Hour (2018–present)
- Jon Jafari – Main host (2012–2013); primary editor (2012)
Official Members Listed in GameGrumps Videos
These members have hosted their own shows or appeared in Grumpcade, Steam Train, and other series.
- Suzanne (Suzy) Berhow – Host of Steam Rolled (2013–2016); host of Table Flip (2013–2016); took on various roles (2013–present)
- Brian Wecht – Took on various roles (2015–present)
- Ross O'Donovan – Host of Steam Train (2013–2018); host of Steam Rolled (2013–2016); took on various roles (2013–2020); Mario Maker level producer (2015–2020)
- Barry Kramer – Primary editor (2012–2015); host of Steam Rolled (2013–2016); host of Table Flip (2013–2016); host of The G Club (2017); took on various roles (2012–2017)
- Allie Jean – Public relations manager, producer, and occasional guest on GameGrumps episodes (2018–2023)
In addition to Jon Jafari and Barry Kramer, GameGrumps has had other editors who were not listed as official members but occasionally appeared in videos.
- Ben Perry – Primary editor (2019–present); took on various roles (2019–present)
- Kevin Abernathy – Primary editor (2015–2016); took on various roles (2015–2016)
- Ryan Magee – Primary editor (2016–2019); took on various roles (2016–2019)
- Matt Watson – Primary editor (2016–2019); took on various roles (2016–2019)
Other ventures
In recent years, Game Grumps have created content that is only slightly related or not related at all to video games. This includes live-action comedy shows called 10 Minute Power Hour and Good Content, a YouTube Premium exclusive show, and two books published by Game Grumps: Ghost Hunters Adventure Club and the Secret of the Grande Chateau and Ghost Hunters Adventure Club and the Express Train to Nowhere. These books are said to be written by Hanson's estranged uncle, Dr. Cecil H. H. Mills, who is portrayed by Hanson in "old man" makeup. The first book was released on March 10, 2020, by Permuted Press. The audiobook version of Ghost Hunters Adventure Club and the Secret of the Grande Chateau was released on Audible on August 19, 2020, with Hanson narrating as Dr. Cecil H. H. Mills. The second book, Ghost Hunters Adventure Club and the Express Train to Nowhere, was published on June 7, 2022, and included its own theme song.
In late 2013, GameGrumps sold multiple copies of video games they received on eBay. All the money raised from the sales went to the children's charity Child's Play. After the auctions ended, they raised more than $7,000.
In June 2015, a 5-episode miniseries called Guild Grumps was released. O'Donovan helped Hanson, Avidan, Kramer, and Berhow complete a 5-day challenge in the video game World of Warcraft, moving from Level 90 to Level 100. Each participant had $1,000 to donate to a charity if they reached the goal. If they failed, their donation would be split among those who succeeded. O'Donovan was the only winner and, along with the other participants' contributions, donated $5,000 to cancer research.
By 2015, GameGrumps had raised over $70,000 through charity livestreams on Twitch.
On February 17, 2018, GameGrumps held a 6-hour livestream on Twitch, playing games like Mad Max, Half-Life 2, Fallout, and Overwatch. They raised about $77,000 for the Crisis Text Line. Later that year, they held another 6-hour livestream, raising over $37,000 for Camp Kesem.
On June 4, 2020, GameGrumps announced they had donated $20,000 to charities supporting Black-owned businesses, Black LGBTQ+ groups, and bail funds for arrested protesters, following the George Floyd protests and the Black Lives Matter movement.
In 2013, before Jafari left to work on his own JonTron series, Jafari and Hanson appeared in a promotional video for the Warner Bros. movie Pacific Rim. The video also included other internet personalities and featured them as trainees being trained by an actor named Robert Kazinsky.
In 2015, GameGrumps were shown in the official reveal trailer for the Shovel Knight Amiibo figure.
On June 13, 2017, GameGrumps announced on their X account that they were making their own video game. A teaser trailer titled Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator was released on June 18, 2017. After delays, the game was released on Steam on July 20, 2017, for Windows and Mac. It later appeared on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. On the day of its release, Hanson said GameGrumps had become a video game development studio.
In November 2019, the channel posted videos about games for the Dendy video game console. On December 3, 2019, Arin Hanson "discovered" a multiplayer battle royale game for the console. The next day, it was revealed to be a promotion for Soviet Jump Game, the second video game published by GameGrumps. A trailer for the game was released the same day, and it was made free on Steam on July 17, 2020.
On June 1, 2023, GameGrumps released their third video game, Homebody, a psychological horror game published by Rogue Games, on Steam.
Legacy and influence
The show and its hosts have been mentioned in several video games, including DLC Quest and The Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures. Digital characters based on Hanson and Avidan appear in House Party and are voiced by the hosts themselves.
In the third issue of the 2016 Doctor Who Ninth Doctor comic series, an alien girl is shown wearing a shirt with the message "Hey I'm Grump! I'm Not So Grump!"
A special version of the demo for The Stanley Parable was played on the channel's side show Steam Train. This version included references to the show's hosts, Dan Avidan and Ross O'Donovan.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Olympic swimmer Tom Shields said that GameGrumps was one of his favorite shows and that he watched it "almost daily." He noted that the show's hosts "helped him normalize a lot of things. It's kind of a new phenomenon in his life."
In 2021, GameGrumps was mentioned as an example of a "comfort creator" in an article from The New York Times.
Guest Grumps is a spin-off series where each episode includes a special guest star. The following list shows the order of their first appearances on the show.
Date
GameGrumps is an American Let's Play web series hosted by Arin Hanson (2012–present) and Dan Avidan (2013–present). The series was created in 2012 by Arin Hanson and Jon Jafari. It focuses on the hosts playing video games. Jon Jafari left the show in 2013 to work on his own YouTube series, JonTron, and Dan Avidan took over his role.
After Jon Jafari left, the channel added more hosts who have joined and left over time as part of related shows. These hosts include Ross O'Donovan, Barry Kramer, Suzy Berhow, and Brian Wecht, along with guest hosts. As of September 27, 2025, GameGrumps has more than 5.44 million subscribers and more than 7.05 billion total video views. The series has also created and published three video games: Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator, Soviet Jump Game, and Homebody. Additionally, GameGrumps has written two young adult novels: Ghost Hunters Adventure Club and the Secret of the Grande Chateau and Ghost Hunters Adventure Club and the Express Train to Nowhere.
Format
Each episode typically includes two or more hosts playing a video game. They share their thoughts about the game, add funny comments, and discuss various topics, including stories from their lives. Sometimes, the hosts act out voices, especially Hanson and Avidan. Many of the games shown in these episodes are sent to The Grumps' post office box in Glendale, California, by fans.
Another part of the show is called the Ten Minute Power Hour. During this segment, The Grumps often complete tasks, play classic children's games, or interact with toys that share a common theme. These activities are usually done without knowing what they will be doing beforehand. Occasionally, the focus of an episode is food, and the hosts may eat large amounts of different foods, some of which have unusual or unpleasant tastes. These food-related segments are usually shown on another channel called The Grumps.
History
GameGrumps was started by Jon "JonTron" Jafari and Arin "Egoraptor" Hanson on July 10, 2012. The first video, which showed them playing Kirby Super Star, was posted on YouTube on July 18, 2012. Jafari and Hanson said the idea for the show came from an argument they had about whether the character Wolf from Super Smash Bros. Brawl had a fighting style similar to the character Fox. After animator Ross O'Donovan mentioned that they often got upset with each other over video games, Hanson suggested making a podcast about this. However, the show became a YouTube video series instead. In September 2012, Barry Kramer joined the team as an editor. Jafari and Hanson worked together until June 25, 2013, when Jafari left to focus on his own project. Many fans were upset about this, especially because the channel also announced the start of a new show called Steam Train on the same day. After Jafari left, Dan Avidan, the lead singer of Ninja Sex Party, became a co-host. Avidan also joined Ross O'Donovan as a co-host for Steam Train, where they play PC games. This change increased the channel's daily content to three videos: two GameGrumps episodes and one Steam Train episode. Later, Steam Train sometimes included Hanson and Barry Kramer, as well as Hanson's wife, Suzy Berhow.
In December 2013, Kramer and Berhow started a new show called Table Flip. For this series, they wore clothing from the Victorian and 19th century American periods and played tabletop games like card games, board games, and tile-based games with other YouTube creators. The show was professionally produced by Polaris, using seven cameras and detailed editing to fit the 45- to 60-minute format on Polaris's website instead of YouTube. The last episode of Table Flip aired on October 14, 2016. In November 2014, Kevin Abernathy was hired to help with video editing and production. Although Abernathy handled most of the editing, Kramer continued editing Steam Train. After Abernathy left in mid-2016, Kramer, Ryan Magee, and Matt Watson took over editing duties.
In January 2015, the channel launched a new show called Grumpcade to celebrate reaching two million subscribers. This show features co-hosts playing console games and sometimes includes guest YouTubers like ProJared, The Completionist, and Markiplier. In February 2015, a new channel called GrumpOut was created, focusing on live-action and recreational video projects. In November 2015, Brian Wecht, a bandmate of Dan Avidan in Ninja Sex Party, joined the team. Wecht left his career as a theoretical physicist to work on the channel.
In February 2016, Avidan and Hanson announced they would perform GameGrumps Live at Hollywood Improv on March 30 and 31. Later that year, they also performed at Levity Live in Nyack, New York, on April 29 and 30.
On January 6, 2017, the channel announced that the middle slot of its schedule would no longer be updated regularly. While Steam Train and Grumpcade continued, they were released less frequently. New shows like Doodle Doods, hosted by O'Donovan and Chris O'Neill, The G Club, a podcast, and Dragons in Places, an audio-only podcast, were created to fill the schedule.
In December 2017, Kramer announced he would leave the channel to pursue other projects. He was replaced by Ryan Magee and Matt Watson.
Since 2015, GameGrumps has also been working on an animated series called Gameoverse, created by Ross O'Donovan. By June 21, 2017, the team had grown to include writer Chad Quandt, concept artist Ashley Swaby, and story artist Krooked_Glasses.
Personnel
Over time, GameGrumps has added many hosts, editors, and other team members after Jon Jafari left in 2013. Some team members are not listed below. All members have taken on different roles in shows outside their main jobs.
Main Hosts of the GameGrumps Series
Official Members Listed in GameGrumps Videos
These members have hosted their own shows or appeared in Grumpcade, Steam Train, and other series.
In addition to Jon Jafari and Barry Kramer, GameGrumps has had other editors who were not listed as official members but occasionally appeared in videos.
Other ventures
In recent years, Game Grumps have created content that is only slightly related or not related at all to video games. This includes live-action comedy shows called 10 Minute Power Hour and Good Content, a YouTube Premium exclusive show, and two books published by Game Grumps: Ghost Hunters Adventure Club and the Secret of the Grande Chateau and Ghost Hunters Adventure Club and the Express Train to Nowhere. These books are said to be written by Hanson's estranged uncle, Dr. Cecil H. H. Mills, who is portrayed by Hanson in "old man" makeup. The first book was released on March 10, 2020, by Permuted Press. The audiobook version of Ghost Hunters Adventure Club and the Secret of the Grande Chateau was released on Audible on August 19, 2020, with Hanson narrating as Dr. Cecil H. H. Mills. The second book, Ghost Hunters Adventure Club and the Express Train to Nowhere, was published on June 7, 2022, and included its own theme song.
In late 2013, GameGrumps sold multiple copies of video games they received on eBay. All the money raised from the sales went to the children's charity Child's Play. After the auctions ended, they raised more than $7,000.
In June 2015, a 5-episode miniseries called Guild Grumps was released. O'Donovan helped Hanson, Avidan, Kramer, and Berhow complete a 5-day challenge in the video game World of Warcraft, moving from Level 90 to Level 100. Each participant had $1,000 to donate to a charity if they reached the goal. If they failed, their donation would be split among those who succeeded. O'Donovan was the only winner and, along with the other participants' contributions, donated $5,000 to cancer research.
By 2015, GameGrumps had raised over $70,000 through charity livestreams on Twitch.
On February 17, 2018, GameGrumps held a 6-hour livestream on Twitch, playing games like Mad Max, Half-Life 2, Fallout, and Overwatch. They raised about $77,000 for the Crisis Text Line. Later that year, they held another 6-hour livestream, raising over $37,000 for Camp Kesem.
On June 4, 2020, GameGrumps announced they had donated $20,000 to charities supporting Black-owned businesses, Black LGBTQ+ groups, and bail funds for arrested protesters, following the George Floyd protests and the Black Lives Matter movement.
In 2013, before Jafari left to work on his own JonTron series, Jafari and Hanson appeared in a promotional video for the Warner Bros. movie Pacific Rim. The video also included other internet personalities and featured them as trainees being trained by an actor named Robert Kazinsky.
In 2015, GameGrumps were shown in the official reveal trailer for the Shovel Knight Amiibo figure.
On June 13, 2017, GameGrumps announced on their X account that they were making their own video game. A teaser trailer titled Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator was released on June 18, 2017. After delays, the game was released on Steam on July 20, 2017, for Windows and Mac. It later appeared on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. On the day of its release, Hanson said GameGrumps had become a video game development studio.
In November 2019, the channel posted videos about games for the Dendy video game console. On December 3, 2019, Arin Hanson "discovered" a multiplayer battle royale game for the console. The next day, it was revealed to be a promotion for Soviet Jump Game, the second video game published by GameGrumps. A trailer for the game was released the same day, and it was made free on Steam on July 17, 2020.
On June 1, 2023, GameGrumps released their third video game, Homebody, a psychological horror game published by Rogue Games, on Steam.
Legacy and influence
The show and its hosts have been mentioned in several video games, including DLC Quest and The Angry Video Game Nerd Adventures. Digital characters based on Hanson and Avidan appear in House Party and are voiced by the hosts themselves.
In the third issue of the 2016 Doctor Who Ninth Doctor comic series, an alien girl is shown wearing a shirt with the message "Hey I'm Grump! I'm Not So Grump!"
A special version of the demo for The Stanley Parable was played on the channel's side show Steam Train. This version included references to the show's hosts, Dan Avidan and Ross O'Donovan.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Olympic swimmer Tom Shields said that GameGrumps was one of his favorite shows and that he watched it "almost daily." He noted that the show's hosts "helped him normalize a lot of things. It's kind of a new phenomenon in his life."
In 2021, GameGrumps was mentioned as an example of a "comfort creator" in an article from The New York Times.
Guest Grumps is a spin-off series where each episode includes a special guest star. The following list shows the order of their first appearances on the show.
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