Best Faceless YouTube Nostalgia Channels to Start in 2026

📊 Market Intelligence Dashboard

Metrics	Insights
Channels Audited	5
Opportunity Score	6.6/10
Average RPM	$12.2
Market Saturation	Medium

Our data audit identified the most efficient performers in the nostalgia niche. We focus on “Alpha” channels—those generating views significantly higher than their subscriber count, representing the highest growth potential for new creators in 2026.

🏆 Top Performer Leaderboard

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The Gravity Falls (@stnlymbl)

Subscribers	Efficiency	Avg Views	RPM Rank
2.5k	5.8x	14.4k	$4

“Fan-focused content for Gravity Falls. Includes ‘making of’ documentaries, merchandise showcases, and character shorts. Mix of licensed clips and original footage.”

• Winning Strategy: Highly engaged niche community (Gravity Falls fans).
• Growth Gap: Relies heavily on existing IP (Disney). Hard to scale beyond the specific show’s fanbase.

Top Benchmark Videos

• One Crazy Summer: A Look Back at Gravity Falls (FULL DOCUMENTARY) (136.1k views)
• Gravity Falls - Deleted Scenes & Cut Scenes (ALEX HIRSCH PRESENTING THE PREVIS) [EXCLUSIVE] (19.6k views)
• The Hirsch Twins (Alex Hirsch & Ariel Hirsch) (15.7k views)

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The History Lounge (@TheHistoryLounge)

Subscribers	Efficiency	Avg Views	RPM Rank
168.0k	5.5x	928.4k	$25

“Long-form videos featuring vintage photo montages with nostalgic storytelling about American life in the 50s-80s.”

• Winning Strategy: Insane RPM potential and loyal audience.
• Growth Gap: Most creators target Gen Z. The Senior market is ignored but has high retention and revenue.

Top Benchmark Videos

• If You Grew Up in the 1970s You Remember… (2.3M views)
• A View of American Life During the 1930s (2.2M views)
• Kmart in the 70s & 80s - Why We LOVED IT (2.1M views)

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Chris Hendricks (@ChrisHendricks)

Subscribers	Efficiency	Avg Views	RPM Rank
67.7k	0.4x	24.4k	$6

“A mix of behind-the-scenes content for the game Club Penguin, original short films, and music compositions.”

• Winning Strategy: Unique access to insider knowledge on a specific game.
• Growth Gap: The history of ‘dead’ MMOs and online games is a growing niche with nostalgic 2000s kids but lacks high-quality documentary channels.

Top Benchmark Videos

• How We Made The Club Penguin Avatar (1.0M views)
• 5 Things I Didn’t Want in Club Penguin (but got in the game anyway) (461.7k views)
• 10 Things You Didn’t Know About the Making of Club Penguin (425.2k views)

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blameitonjorge (@blameitonjorge)

Subscribers	Efficiency	Avg Views	RPM Rank
1.8M	0.2x	450.0k	$8

“Deep-dive documentary-style videos investigating lost media, internet mysteries, and nostalgic trauma lists. Uses archival footage and narration.”

• Winning Strategy: Exceptional research depth and established authority in lost media space
• Growth Gap: Saturated market with strong incumbents like blameitonjorge and Whang!

Top Benchmark Videos

• Top 20 Saddest Moments In Kid Shows | blameitonjorge (16.5M views)
• Top 40 Lost or Banned Episodes of Kid Shows | blameitonjorge (10.7M views)
• Dan Schneider: A Scandal at Nickelodeon | blameitonjorge (7.9M views)

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Cartoonology (@CartoonologyYT)

Subscribers	Efficiency	Avg Views	RPM Rank
16.1k	0.2x	3.4k	$18

“Very long-form video essays analyzing cartoon lore, often structured as ‘fall asleep to’ content, using simple visuals and calm narration.”

• Winning Strategy: Unique hybrid of two popular formats (video essay + sleep aid).
• Growth Gap: Cartoon lore is popular, but ‘sleep-optimized’ cartoon lore is a specific underserved sub-niche.

Top Benchmark Videos

• 3 Hours of Bikini Bottom Lore To Fall Asleep To… (618.9k views)
• 2 Hours Of Spongebob Lore To Fall Asleep To (293.9k views)
• 2 Hours Of SpongeBob Lore To Fall Asleep To, But It’s Disturbing Episodes… (239.5k views)