I have limited time, watching certain gaming channels lets me know about games I might be interested in.

Then I can wishlist them, purchase them when they’re on sale, and never find the time to play them.

I also have limited skills. Watching certain gaming channels lets me experience games I wouldn’t be able to progress in if I played them myself.

Also, some are entertaining because of the way the person plays. Watching Jon forget about his damn blunderbuss cavalry until they are again slaughtered to the last man amuses me.

I don’t play for an audience, so I can constantly pause and micromanage the game, and therefore don’t tend to make these amusing mistakes. I’m also not as good as most professionals. Therefore watching certain professionals play certain games can be more entertaining than playing them myself.

Finally, there’s also the reaction factor, same as with film or TV or music reactions. Watching someone experience that surprise or shock for the first time triggers the mirror neuron, and is the closest I can get to experiencing it myself for the first time again.