Just mildly curious, since there's not many quality people on the platform who don't have issues nowadays imo (Often drama/politics-related), I'm curious to see if anyone's got any recommendations for some good ones left.
Side note: I use invidio.us instances to avoid giving my data (and views) up to YT, plus its a lightweight front-end to youtube that doesn't get ads or anything like that. Would recommend it to anyone interested in those benefits.
Some of mine off the top of my head in terms of gaming that I regularly watch(ed):
SsethTzeentach - many already know about this dude, basically an old holdover memer from 4chan/8chan days who makes funny game reviews, he's an entertaining guy, though he has self-censored compared to his past self because of YT, still worth watching. He spawned a bunch of clones on YT and is probably this generation's equivalent of AVGN in that respect.
Mangs - Fire Emblem and Advance Wars (and strategy/tactics video games) youtuber, he's a pretty uncucked and funny guy. Does what he wants, shitposts and plays games, a lot of memes come from him. Was cancelled by pretty much the entire Fire Emblem community 2 years ago but still survived and stayed strong despite it.
LoreRunner - Probably autistic dude who does analyses of many different kinds of games, he's probably a mild to moderate leftist if I had to guess, but I've rarely heard him bring up politics and he's willing to justify villains in his analysis instead of being some cringy pearl-clutching guy. Seems alright to me at least.
AfreecaTV (and various other channels) - I just watch for the Starcraft 1 and 2 content, the ASLs and GSLs with Tastosis were nice; don't watch the Masters shit outside of Korea, its awful.
Used to watch Day9TV but he turned soy in the last 3 years, though if you want some great content, he had some great stuff pre-2020 (where Floyd turned even people like Day9 who never brought up politics into openly leftist ideologues). His Amnesia playthrough is still the best on YT imo, though I'd watch his stuff through a front-end like Invidio.us to not give views. He has some great playthroughs in the past and his old Starcraft 2 content is top-tier.
There's others I don't regularly "watch", but their stuff was always funny in the past if I go revisit it, like Manslay3r's gamer poop videos.
In terms of anime YTers:
Gigguk is a pretty funny guy who makes high quality videos ranging from tongue-in-cheek stuff, to recommending anime/manga, genre breakdowns, shitposts, abridged series, etc.
Joey/TheAnimeMan - More his old content, his new shit doesn't even talk about anime anymore, he's pretty pretentious and less interesting compared to Gigguk, don't expect too much but he's alright. He's a moderate leftist though, not a total pearl-clutcher since he's willing to defend controversial stuff in anime but a naive "nice guy" idiot.
Trash Taste is an alright podcast who features the above 2 youtubers, plus a guy named Connor and sometimes some big guests, they only occasionally talk about anime though so its kind of a meme now.
And various other YTers for one-offs and videos otherwise.
Who I'm subscribed to (curated list of 102 total subscribed channels:)
Space
SpaceX
Rocket Lab
Tech
jayz2cents
Cars
vehcor - rebuilds wrecked cars to sell, very unique sense of humor. Cuts off bent unibody panels, welds on straight ones, very high build quality, even though he doesn't clean anything (watch the videos, you will see what I mean)
Gingium - builds custom cars, he built a mid engine Eclipse that he was going to give away, but it caught fire.
Junkyard Dave - he is building a Dodge Charger station wagon. No, Dodge never offered one, he grafted on the wagon part of a Dodge Magnum to a Charger. Yes, it looks outstanding, yes Dodge should make one OEM, because who wouldn't want a 720hp Dodge Charger wagon?
Sara -n- Tuned - former Air Force chick who also has an oddball sense of humor
Mighty Car Mods - who doesn't watch these guys if they like cars?
B is for Build - Portland guy who also builds one off and custom stuff. I started watching when he was rebuilding a wrecked Lotus Elise
Lite Brite - off road stuff, the blond chick is smokin hot
StanceWorks - because he had the balls to Honda swap a Ferrari 308b, and then take it to SEMA this year.
RRC Restoration - full on frame off restorations, British. We're talking replating hardware level restorations.
Bad Obsession Motorsports - Project Binky, cramming the 4 wheel drive running gear from a Toyota Celica into a Mini shell. Way overdue for an episode, build has been going for more than five years.
Ronald Finger - shoestring budget rebuilds, also has a weird sense of humor. I watched him fully rebuild a 1984 Pontiac Fiero. He's currently working on a Trans Am, circa 1981, but with a Wieland blown big block.
Airplanes
Mike Patey - if you know what Draco was (he crashed it), this is the guy who built it.
Rebuild Rescue - rebuilds airplanes, just got a Cessna 401 twin engine for free that sat for more than 20 years, is doing a wings off full restoration
I sub to a whole bunch more, on a whole range of topics, but you get my drift. I don't watch political stuff on YT any more, I go elsewhere for that.
Don't forget about Cleetus McFarland as well. He does a lot of awesome race car stuff, as well as general car shinnegans, burnouts, RC planes, jet boats, wagyu beef review, lawn care and just general Floria man stuff...
EDIT:
Also
Steve Morris Engines for cool engine builds and race car stuff.
Tom Baily - another race car channel, pretty sure he has the fastest street car which does sub 6 second quater mile runs. He also hosts Sick Week and Sick the mag which is all about drag and drive events & cars
Clay Milligan - for behind the scenes NHRA Top Fuel drag racing stuff which is awesome
Riding With Alex Taylor - another drag & drive car builder / driver.
Let's Game It Out - This guy breaks games in spectacular ways, devs fear him
While I think Let's Game It Out's gimmick tends to wear a little thin (let's put a million objects into a poorly optimized game) the way he flooded his Dinkum town was genius.
It's interesting that Let's Game It Out started out as a buddy channel doing Let's Play with a friend called Anthony (before he got big).
Then they did a video together that mentioned at the end that Anthony was leaving (but never explained why, but it didn't seem acrimonious), then his partner was never mentioned again.
I watch Cleetus, sometimes, but am not subscribed. I'm not huge a straight line fan, I prefer closed wheel road courses. IMSA from back in the day was my thing, also Trans Am.