ContentLoop
Subathon Playbook

Subathon Goal Ideas
Milestones that keep chat doing something

25 subathon goal ideas grouped by time-to-execute, so chat stays involved between milestones and you avoid dead air.

Feb 03, 2026
6 min read
By ContentLoop.gg

The rule

Subathons die when chat has nothing to do between milestones. Your goals should create repeatable interaction beats: submit → vote → execute.

Quick filter: if the goal doesn’t change what happens on stream in the next ~5 minutes, it’s probably a bad goal.

25 goal ideas (grouped by time-to-execute)

Wheel Spin (micro)

30s

Spin a wheel with tiny modifiers. Execute immediately.

Chat Votes the Next Topic

30s

Pick the next discussion topic or segment.

Instant Debuff

30s

Apply a small handicap for the next 5 minutes.

Sound / SFX Trigger

30s

Play a short sound or meme clip (keep it safe for TOS).

Title Change

30s

Chat votes a small title tweak for the next hour.

Top Vote Wins Round

2min

Collect ideas for 2 minutes, then vote for 3. You run the winner.

Mini-Goal Stack

2min

Chat stacks 3 mini-goals; you clear them in order.

Challenge Draft

2min

Chat submits 5 challenges; pick 3 and let them vote.

Hot Take Poll

2min

Drop a safe hot take question and let chat decide.

Viewer “Producer” Pick

2min

One viewer (random) picks the next action from a shortlist.

Chat Names Something

2min

Name the run, build, character, or “arc” for the next hour.

Community Side-Quest

5min

Run a 5-minute side quest: trivia, quick storytime, rapid-fire Q&A.

Boss Fight / Challenge Window

5min

Do a challenge for the next 10 minutes (pistol-only, no heals, etc.).

Chaos Board Pull

5min

Chat votes a chaos action; you execute it live.

Future Stream Planning

5min

Collect + vote ideas for tomorrow’s stream theme or game.

Viewer Retention Goal

5min

Set a free goal: “50 votes cast” unlocks a fun segment.

Skill Swap

5min

Switch to a new skill/loadout/build chosen by chat (within reason).

Speedrun Attempt

5min

Attempt a short challenge. Chat bets/votes on success.

Collab Ping

5min

Chat votes who you should raid/collab with later; shortlist only.

Community “Lore” Moment

5min

Add a new channel point / inside joke, voted by chat.

The Reset Loop

5min

Submit → vote → execute. Repeat every 15 minutes for an hour.

Common Questions

What makes a good subathon goal?
A good subathon goal triggers quickly, has visible consequences, and gives chat control between milestones (not just more time on the clock).
How many goals should I prepare?
Prepare 10–20 “small” goals (fast to execute) plus 3–5 “big” milestones. Small goals keep the stream alive; big goals create hype.
How do I keep lurkers involved without spending money?
Use free participation goals: votes cast, ideas submitted, or “top vote wins” rounds. Clicking is lower friction than typing.
Do subathon goals need to be expensive or crazy?
No. The best goals are simple and repeatable. Interaction beats novelty when you’re live for hours.

Run these goals tonight

Set up a simple board. Let chat submit options, vote, and keep the momentum alive.

Launch a Board Browse Playbooks

No credit card required • Setup in 60 seconds

Next: fix the “dead air” gap between milestones with Subathon Between Goals .