Title. Thumbnails are the hardest part for me when it comes to making youtube stuff, so how'd I do with this one? Any tips?

Recently I uploaded my first episode in a Gears Of War: E-Day playthrough. I have been doing YouTube videos of playthroughs of games for about two years and have gotten not that many views or new subs in all that time, and I keep my videos to about right under an hour each. I had heard through advice given to me here to make them longer episodes, which I tried recently with this episode at almost 2 hours and minimal editing but commentary and gameplay and a thumbnail I was proud of since I’ve only recently been making custom thumbnails, and after 8 days up, (granted I know I need to aim for daily or bi-daily uploads but I’ve been very busy this last week,) it has 0 views when I usually could at least count on 1-2 at minimum. I’d really like to turn my channel into something where I consistently improve my quality, content, and where I can do it as either one of my careers or at least have decent engagement on the side. Should I stick to this type of length playthroughs and just keep working away, or turn them into shorter episodes? I plan on starting my video essays soon on games, films, novels, and other topics I’m interested in but I am wondering what advice you may have for this? If it should be shorter should I delete and restart this play through from the beginning? Also I personally want to stick to a lot of new releases yes, but also older games from a few years ago to all the way back to when gaming was starting out that I would like to make, so is there different advice for older entries versus new games I want to put on the channel such as E-Day, Silver Pines, GTA VI, etc? I have a bonus question also about games like OW, MW4 MP and DMZ, should I make those highlights videos and shorts, stream them, just use them for background footage, or make things like tips and tricks videos and journey through ranking up vids and things like that? I am really interested in an open discourse and in depth conversation to learn what mistakes I may be making and what work I need to do to improve, so thank you all for any creative input!

Looking for fellow small creators or just gamers who like to play verity of games.

The content I am aiming for is built around humor, panic gameplay, and chaotic fails. Long story short I am pretty trash. It will be really nice to connect with others who have similar taste.

Currently playing Apex Legends, Resident evil games (still in editing phase). Other Games that I have (not playing as much atm):

- R.E.P.O

- Battlefield REDSAC

- Java Minecraft or Modded

- No Man's Sky

- Warframe

- The forest/ Sons of The forest

- The Ascent

- Dying light

- The Finals

- Marvel Rivals

- Runescape 3

- Grimm Dawn

- Supermarket Together

-Rainbow Six Siege

- Risk of Rain 2

- GTFO

- Back 4 Blood

- Among us

- Outlast Trials

Down to try other games if they are in discounted 🥲 (I am cheap). Shoot me a DM with your time zone and what games you're on!