Can you be a fan of a game you haven't played?

Yes I think you can consider yourself a fan of a game you haven't played. You are experiencing the game just in another way.

Literally what Stroheim said.
You can be a fan of the story of said game, but you can't claim to be a fan OF the game if you haven't even played it.

In my opinion yes, like play it is better, but i understand that some people can afford it or play it, so i think if you have a passion for the game or watch an entire playthrough you can be a fan, but of course play the game in some point if you can.

Like i like mouthwashing, and i am saving to buy the game. :D

I believe that you can be a fan of a game even without having played it. If you watch a playthrough, you’re still viewing the contents and story of the game, and you’re still able to form opinions and have interpretations of it. Some people aren’t able to afford certain games, so watching playthroughs is the only way they can learn the story and lore. Even having not played it themself, they are still able to be a fan of it.

I don't think gatekeeping is a good thing, so even if someone haven't played a game (for any reason, maybe they don't have money) as long as they show interest and engage with the community i would consider them a fan. It goes way beyond just having played the game, it is about understanding and enjoying the media.

I agree with Stroheim and GioIsOffline considerably.

Sounds like a silly work around saying you enjoyed some elements (or some who just like BEING in that fandom... as silly as it sounded) of the game but never played it. At least, you're honest and not outright lying that you're a player. Game's lore fan? Yes. Game player? LOL, LMAO even.

if someone doesnt have the opportunity to play a game/games but has watched playthroughs and engaged themselves in the games story, i definitely think they can consider themselves a fan, but most people dont do that unless theyve actually played so this question is strange

i would say definitely because that was me with minecraft waayyyy long ago when my parents wouldnt allow me to get it. i watched SO many mc vids on youtube and was very clearly a minecraft fan. i was like 10 at the time but it still tracks.