How to Hire a Gaming Video Editor: Your Complete Guide

Key Takeaways

The best gaming video editors bring deep industry-specific knowledge and specialized editing skills that generalists often lack, making your content sharper, more engaging, and platform-ready.
You can find a gaming video editor on freelance platforms for flexibility, via job boards for direct vetting and control, or through recruitment and staffing partners who offer access to pre-screened talent.
Go with a freelance gaming video editor for one-off projects or short-term needs, but choose a full-time gaming video editor if you're building a consistent channel or brand that demands long-term creative alignment.

Let's say you're a content creator juggling Twitch streams and a growing Discord community. Or perhaps you run a gaming channel that wants to turn gameplay footage into high-impact, engaging content. Either way, you need a reliable gaming video editor.

While any video editor can do the basics, what you really need is a specialist who understands gaming content. Your video editor job description should highlight specifics like the need for familiarity with game pacing and relevant humor to find the right fit.

Knowing what to look for in a video gaming editor and how to hire one ensures you’ll choose an editor who can help you level up your content and keep your viewers hooked. In this article, we'll go over reasons to hire a video editor experienced in gaming content and key skills to look for as well as where to find one and how to choose the right video editor that fits your needs and budget.

Why You Should Hire a Gaming Video Editor (Not Just a Generalist)

The power of gaming content can't be overstated. In the 2023 Global Gamer Study, 54% of the online population reported watching video game content that year. From esports recaps to Twitch highlights and YouTube montages, gaming videos are now a major source of entertainment.

A gaming video editor can help you stand out in the scene. Unlike generalist editors who edit marketing promos, interviews, or B2B explainers, gaming video editors are often gamers themselves or have a deep passion for and strong understanding of the gaming world. They know what makes gaming content engaging and what keeps viewers coming back for more.

Here are some reasons to hire gaming video editors:

Understanding the pacing of highlight reels and montages: Gaming video editors know how to keep the energy high, cut out the boring parts, and highlight the best plays without overdoing it.
Familiarity with a game's visuals, sound design, and rhythm: Every game has its own feel. A professional gaming editor knows how to edit a clutch play in Valorant differently from a Minecraft build video.
Know how to appeal to specific audiences: These skilled editors know that platform expectations also vary, like how Twitch viewers like raw, long-form reactions and TikTok thrives on punchy vertical edits.
Sync action with music, memes, or commentary: Expert editors bring humor, hype, or narrative to your content by matching gameplay moments with popular memes or audio cues.
Editing expertise in reaction content or esports recaps: They know how to structure and enhance post-game analysis, team strategy recaps, and influencer reaction content.

Knowing how to hire a great video editor without wasting time or money starts with being specific about what kind of content you produce. A generalist might cut the footage well, but a gaming editor knows how to turn it into a hit.

Key Skills to Look for in a Great Gaming Video Editor

The must-have skills for a gaming video editor include technical and creative know-how and the ability to keep up with trends in a fast-paced niche. Let's go over a few important hard and soft skills in more detail.

Hard skills

Hard skills are the measurable, technical abilities that allow a video game editor to produce polished videos that are optimized for various platforms. These are essential for efficiency, consistency, and compatibility with your current tools and workflow.

The hard skills to look for in a video game editor include:

Expertise using industry-standard tools: Gaming video editors should be competent in software like Adobe Premiere, After Effects, and DaVinci Resolve and be capable of basic timeline edits, advanced transitions, motion graphics, animations, and post-production effects like sound effects.
Audio syncing and balancing in fast-paced scenes: Audio plays a huge role in viewer engagement. Editors must be able to precisely align commentary, background music, and in-game audio, especially in moments of action or humor.
Familiarity with screen capture and game overlays: Many gaming creators use OBS or similar tools to capture gameplay. Gaming video editors who understand overlays, webcam placements, and stream setups can better manage raw footage and enhance the final output.
Understanding of aspect ratios and platform formats: Whether it's 16:9 for YouTube or 9:16 vertical for TikTok, editors need to prep content that looks great on different platforms, optimizing visuals for scroll-stopping moments and viewer retention.

Soft skills

While hard skills are vital, soft skills matter just as much. A candidate who's technically strong but lacks creative instinct or adaptability might struggle to meet your target audience's unique demands.

According to recent workplace trends, 58% of HR managers agree that soft skills will become even more important as AI tools become more widely used, including throughout the creative industry.

While AI can handle some gaming content creation tasks, it can’t replicate the human touch needed for emotional timing, humor, or cultural nuance in editing. That’s where an expert gaming video editor with strong soft skills makes all the difference.

Some soft skills to look for in a video game editor include:

Strong visual storytelling: The best gaming video editors know how to build a story arc, like building up suspense before a boss fight or jumpscare, or establishing narrative throughout a Let's Play.
Editing for humor, suspense, or hype: Tone makes or breaks the story. Creative video editors who know when to add a beat for comedic effect or speed things up for high-energy moments help drive engagement and make your content stand out.
Fast turnaround times and adaptability: Video editors who can adapt quickly, meet tight deadlines, and make revisions efficiently keep your content relevant.
Awareness of gaming culture and internet trends: Gaming industry trends change fast. Video game editors who are plugged in can naturally align their edits with your audience's expectations.

Some gaming editors also have skills like animation, VFX, or motion design expertise, which can be a strong value-add, especially for creators aiming for a distinct visual identity.

Where to Find Gaming Video Editors to Hire

Where you source talent from is a major factor in determining the cost of hiring a video editor. Your location choice affects not only price but also quality, availability, and the editor’s ability to align with your specific needs.

There are generally three main options: freelance platforms, job boards, and recruitment/staffing agencies. Each has its own approach and works best for different gaming video editing needs. Let's break them down.

Freelance platforms

Freelance platforms are online marketplaces where you can post a job, browse profiles, and hire talented editors, often on a project or hourly basis. With 38% of the US workforce (around 64 million people) now freelancing, it’s a vast pool of talent you don't want to overlook.

Sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and PeoplePerHour offer a wide range of freelance editors ready to jump in quickly, from passionate hobbyists to seasoned editors who work full-time with creators and streamers.

Pros

Large talent pool at various price points
Quick to hire and start
Flexibility for one-off or seasonal gaming projects
No long-term commitment required

Cons

Wide variation in quality
Time-consuming vetting
Potential overcommitment to multiple clients
Limited brand familiarity or consistency

Before hiring, review demo reels carefully, check platform ratings, and consider running a paid test project to gauge fit and skill level.

Job boards

Job boards let you post listings for freelance, part-time, or full-time gaming video editors. They're especially helpful when you want more direct control over the hiring process.

Popular job boards include We Work Remotely, Hitmarker (which focuses on gaming and esports), and Reddit forums like r/forhire or r/videography. These platforms attract editors who are actively looking for work and are open to ongoing gigs.

Pros

Access to niche or gaming-specific talent
Control over direct vetting process
Lower fees compared to agencies
Ability to attract full-time editors, not just gig workers

Cons

Time-intensive screening
Requires a solid job description and outreach
Lack of platform protections (like Upwork's mediation)
Risk of receiving too few or too many applications

Use a job board if you’re willing to spend time hiring directly and are comfortable managing payroll or contracts yourself. Be clear in your job listing, mentioning gaming genres, platform needs, and editing style to draw the right applicants.

Recruitment and staffing partners

A specialized staffing agency helps companies fill creative roles, often on a contract basis, more efficiently than traditional hiring. On the other hand, a recruitment agency focuses on sourcing qualified candidates for long-term or permanent positions.

If you're working on a tight deadline and don’t have time to vet or onboard a full-time hire, outsourcing professional video editing is often the go-to route. This option is ideal for those who run a YouTube channel, studio, or esports brand or need a steady stream of high-quality video content.

These agencies source, vet, and often manage logistics like contracts and compensation benchmarking, with some offering both staffing and recruitment services for more flexibility.

Pros

Access to pre-vetted, professional talent
Support with onboarding, pay, and compliance
Better overall alignment and collaboration
Lower time investment on your end

Cons

Higher upfront fees typically
Longer timeline than hiring independently
Quality that depends on the agency's talent network

If you're seeking stability and need a dedicated video editor to join your team or want to avoid the turnover of freelancers, working with a recruitment partner is often the smartest choice.

Freelance or Full-Time? How to Decide

Choosing between hiring a freelance video editor or bringing someone on full-time depends on the type of content you're creating and how often you need video editing services.

The following questions will help you figure out what works best for you.

Do you need regular weekly videos?

If yes, a full-time gaming video editor offers stability and efficiency. They'll get familiar with your content flow and reduce ramp-up time. Freelancers, on the other hand, are more ideal for occasional or seasonal uploads.

Is your brand style consistent or evolving?

A consistent style benefits from a full-time hire who can keep everything on-brand. But if you're still experimenting with your look, a freelancer gives you more room to test and adapt as you go.

Are you building an internal media/content team?

If so, a full-time hire helps you scale. They can collaborate across departments, participate in planning, and grow with the team. Freelancers tend to work independently and are less integrated.

Do you want this person to grow with your channel or brand?

If yes, hire full-time. A dedicated gaming video editor will learn your voice, audience, and goals over time. That's hard to replicate with rotating freelance talent.

If budget is the main reason you're considering a freelancer, it's worth looking beyond your local area. Many top companies that help businesses hire creative professionals tap into offshore markets to access high-quality talent at more affordable rates.

In regions like Latin America (LatAm) or Eastern Europe, you can often hire a full-time gaming video editor at the same or lower cost than a US-based freelancer. That means you don't have to give up consistency to stay on budget.

As an example, here's a quick look at how hiring LatAm video editors stacks up against hiring US-based video editors.

The rule of thumb is that if you're producing content here and there or just need help on a single campaign, hiring a freelancer is likely your best bet. But for consistent output and sustained creative alignment, a full-time hire will pay off in quality, speed, and collaboration.

Final Thoughts

The right video editor can transform your content from decent to unforgettable. Choosing a specialist in making gaming video content over a generalist means getting someone who truly understands pacing, audience expectations, and the nuances of the medium.

If you produce content regularly, hiring full-time makes sense. And if budget is a concern, hiring offshore can make that possible.

At Near, we connect businesses with top LatAm talent. Our remote LatAm video editors deliver high-quality work at competitive rates and have experience working across a wide range of platforms and industries. Our comprehensive, tailored hiring process ensures that you’re matched with the right candidate.

Book a free consultation call to discover how to boost your team with top-tier talent and unlock up to 70% in cost savings.