Creating a video game is just the beginning—the real challenge lies in marketing it and making it stand out.
With an overwhelming number of games being released, players have endless options at their fingertips.
Getting them to notice and play your game takes more than just good gameplay—you need to spark their curiosity enough to make them want to download it.
But how do you do that?
One way is through social media videos, but that’s just a small piece of the puzzle.
What you really need is a comprehensive and effective video game marketing strategy.
In this blog, we’ll dive into those strategies and share some of the best examples of successful video game marketing campaigns.
Before diving into strategies, the first thing you need to understand is your audience.
Ask yourself some key questions:
Who is my audience? Who is this game for?
Do some market research on your target market and gather data about your audience—their age, gender, demographic area, interests, and other relevant details that will help you build an effective strategy.
You can also analyze how other mobile games are being promoted and why some go viral while others don’t. Once this groundwork is done, you're ready to start with these video game marketing strategies:
Source: Baldur’s Gate
Having a website for your video game is a must! It can be the go-to place for everything related to your game and help you connect with your audience.
Players can get all the details they need—how to play, updates on new content, or exciting changes coming soon.
Your site should have all the essentials— a game trailer, links to purchase, social media, background on the game's story, and a peek into the developers' creative journey. You can even introduce the team behind the game.
Just remember to keep it user-friendly, visually appealing, mobile-friendly, and most importantly SEO-optimized!
Source: Minecraft Subreddit
Nearly 88% of consumers trust recommendations from others, proving that word-of-mouth is still the most powerful marketing tool out there.
This is exactly why building a strong community around your game can be such a game-changer for developers (no pun intended).
Platforms like Discord, Facebook, Reddit, and gaming forums are great for fostering growth.
These channels allow for direct feedback from users and make your audience feel valued, especially when their input helps shape the game's development.
To make the most of these platforms, keep the conversation going with your community. Be ready for feedback, even when it’s critical.
If you actively engage with your audience and make them feel heard, they’ll become your biggest advocates when your game launches.
Regular interaction not only helps you gather insights but also builds loyalty.
Source: Call of Duty YouTube Channel
Live streaming is another great way to market your video game. Gamers like to have a feel for a game before actually downloading it, and live streaming gives you the perfect opportunity to showcase your game in action.
To make sure your streams reach more people, you can try to team up with prominent gaming influencers—they are quite the hype right now.
They already have an engaged player base, so when you collaborate with them, you are able to connect with high-quality users and spread the word about your game faster.
You can use platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook Gaming for live streaming. Just make sure to stream when your audience is most active on these platforms. Also, promote your livestreams on your community forums to draw in even more viewers.
Source: Ubisoft YouTube Channel
Videos are the most important digital marketing tools. They are transforming every industry, and the gaming world is no exception.
It’s even more crucial for video games because gamers are visual by nature—they see it, feel it, and then play. That is why you need to focus on your video marketing to grab their attention.
You can create trailers to showcase your new games or make how-to guides to help players get started. Share these videos on your social media and website to boost visibility and attract more players.
As more and more people join social media every day, it’s become the perfect playground for launching your marketing campaign.
This is the place where you’ll be able to tap into a massive user base ready to discover your game.
But remember different audience segments thrive on different social platforms, so it’s crucial to find the ones where your target players hang out.
Here’s a breakdown of the major social media platforms and how you can effectively use them to promote your video game—
If you don’t have a YouTube channel yet, get one!
YouTube is the second-largest search engine after Google, making it a fantastic spot to showcase your game.
Start by creating a teaser trailer with stunning animations and an awesome soundtrack. Once it’s up, share the link on your app store pages and other social media channels.
You can also make videos with tips, tricks, or gameplay guides. Engaging with other gaming channels can really help get your name out there, too!
Plus, consider using YouTube video ads to promote your games. You only pay if someone watches your ad for 30 seconds or clicks on it, which is a great way to maximize your budget.
Source: Epic Games Facebook Page
With billions of users, Facebook and Instagram are essential for your game marketing strategy.
Both platforms let you run targeted ad campaigns, so you can reach the right players based on their interests and behaviors.
This means your ads will land in front of people who are most likely to be interested in your game.
Source: Alan Wake
Reddit is a treasure trove for gaming promotion. Find the right subreddits where your audience hangs out and share your game there.
But remember, Redditors are savvy and can sniff out spammy promotions, so engage genuinely with the community. Follow the guidelines, and add value to discussions before sharing your game.
Reddit video marketing is complex to understand, you can go through our blog on Reddit video ad specifications & guidelines to understand it better.
Source: Larian Studios’ Discord
Discord is perfect for building a tight-knit gaming community. With options for voice, video, and text chatting, you can really connect with your players. Share pre-release versions of your game and gather valuable feedback.
Since Discord is invite-only, you can ensure that everyone in your community is genuinely interested in helping your game succeed.
People trust UGC videos way more than traditional ads because it feels authentic and relatable.
It’s the kind of content that resonates with players on a deeper level.
To encourage players to create content around your game, get them involved! Offer fun incentives, like featuring their content on your social media pages or sending out cool game merch.
This will inspire them to share their progress, high scores, and achievements—which you can then showcase as UGC. By posting UGC on your profile you’ll see a serious boost in your game’s visibility.
Source: Freepik
Players often discover games via search, so you need to make sure your game pops up when they’re looking for something like it.
However, the problem is that organically climbing search rankings is time-consuming. That is why you need search ads—they can help get your website on the first page for specific keywords and put your game in front of more people faster.
The great thing about search ads?
You only pay when someone clicks on them. Additionally, you can set a daily budget and fine-tune your target audience, making sure you're reaching the players who are most likely to download and enjoy your game.
Source: Freepik
In referral marketing, you get your current players to spread the word about your game.
Since people trust recommendations from friends and family far more than traditional ads, they're much more likely to check out your game when they hear about it from someone they know.
But how to get more players to refer your video game to others?
Use rewards!
Offer in-game bonuses or store discounts for every successful invite. You can also collaborate with influencers to reach a wider audience and let their followers enjoy some cool rewards too. It’s great for your marketing goals.
The best video game marketing campaigns have one thing in common—they often use esports to engage with gaming fans.
So, Esports is all about competitive video gaming, and it’s a huge industry that’ll have over 318 million enthusiasts worldwide by 2025.
To tap into this, you can organize a tournament and invite your biggest fans to join in. Bring people together at the event, so they can connect with other players while getting to know your game better.
Source: Nintendo Power Podcast on YouTube
Podcasts are where gamers go for the latest news and reviews, so getting on one can really boost your game’s visibility.
If you can score a guest spot or an interview, you'll connect with a dedicated audience who’s eager to hear about your game.
If you know any podcast hosts, reach out! If not, don’t be shy—many gaming podcasts are open to collaboration.
Gaming influencers are a big thing now! They hold a lot of power in the gaming community, especially with younger audiences.
If you can get your game in front of the right influencer, you can get your game to reach thousands, or even millions, of potential players!
Most influencers do partnerships on a “promotion for cash” basis, so your costs will vary depending on their following.
Some famous gaming influencers include PewDiePie and Jacksepticeye.
Source: Gamescom Instagram Account
The gaming calendar is full of exciting events and conventions where your potential players gather.
It can be a bit hectic, but these events are fantastic for networking with industry professionals and other gaming companies.
If you decide to attend, think about hosting contests, giveaways, or live demos to catch people’s attention.
There are plenty of options, from major expos like Gamescom to developer-specific conventions like BlizzCon.
Now that you know all the best tips for video game marketing, it’s time to start diving deeper and understanding these strategies with some examples.
To truly stand out in the competitive video game industry and attract new players, simply learning about strategies isn't enough—you need to see them in action.
Check out these successful video game marketing examples to get inspired!
GTA, the brainchild of Rockstar Games, has become a global sensation for gamers. Recently, Rockstar released the highly anticipated trailer for GTA 6, and the gaming community is buzzing with excitement. Posted on their official website, YouTube, and other social media platforms, the trailer has racked up millions of views.
The new trailer gives us a glimpse into the state of Leonida, home to the neon-lit streets of Vice City. The 3D animation is so realistic that the line between animated characters and real humans feels almost nonexistent in this trailer.
This game’s release is scheduled in 2025 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S but the trailer is already building massive hype. It ensures that there's a dedicated fanbase eager to jump into the game the moment it launches.
Mario Kart, Mario Party, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Paper Mario, and Super Mario Odyssey are all part of the iconic Super Mario franchise, though each is developed by different teams within Nintendo's Entertainment Planning & Development (EPD) group.
Nintendo does a great job using its social media to build excitement around new releases in this series. Take the Instagram video I linked above, for example. In it, Nintendo showcases a fun clip from the Mario Party series, using an enthusiastic voiceover to hype up the game.
The video highlights all the fun ways players can enjoy this latest Mario Party installment and ends with a clear call to action—"SuperMarioPartyJamboree launches exclusively on #NintendoSwitch on 17/10/2024."
Minecraft, created by Mojang Studios, is one of the biggest games out there. It’s a 3D sandbox game where you get to explore a massive, blocky world full of different biomes like mountains, forests, caves, and oceans—without any specific goals.
You can destroy, build, or replace blocks, and depending on the difficulty level, you might need to eat and defend yourself from mobs at night.
What makes Minecraft’s marketing unique is that it’s not just about promoting the game—it’s about storytelling. For example, the YouTube video I linked doesn’t directly advertise Minecraft.
Instead, it uses humor to tell a fun story while subtly showcasing the Minecraft world. It’s a clever, low-key approach to people talking about your game!
Baldur's Gate 3 was released in 2023 by Larian Studios. It is a role-playing game based on Dungeons & Dragons.
What really sets its marketing apart is how fun and unpredictable it is. For example, in the 2D animation video I mentioned above, Larian used funny and witty characters to announce their free tools.
Instead of simply saying, “Hey, here are the tools we’ll be adding,” they created a full-blown hilarious animated video featuring characters in chaotic situations to deliver the message.
Clash of Clans, launched in 2012, is a free-to-play mobile strategy game created by the Finnish company Supercell.
They really know how to make the most of their social media to promote the game.
Check out the video I linked—it’s a fun promotional clip designed to celebrate Halloween. It kicks off with "CLASH-O-WEEN IS BACK!" and features a spooky voiceover explaining how Halloween has taken over the Clash of Clans world, with all the characters getting a festive twist.
It’s a clever way to engage players during the season!
Call of Duty is a military video game series. It was published by Activision starting in 2003.
What makes this game so captivating is its cinematic experience, gripping storylines, realistic graphics, and intense multiplayer action. These elements are front and center in their marketing videos also.
For instance, check out "The Haunting - Season 6 Launch Trailer" of Call of Duty that I linked above.
You’ll see how it builds suspense, making you feel anxious for the characters. There’s a moment when a soldier is hanged by a masked man that really makes you shrink back in your seat!
The trailer gives you a sneak peek of the characters and scenes, immersing you in the action as if you’re actually playing the game.
Assassin's Creed is a historical action-adventure game series published by Ubisoft.
They really know how to create buzz about their games on social media, and Assassin's Creed is no exception!
In this Instagram video from Ubisoft, you get to see the world trailer for Assassin's Creed Shadows.
It showcases the characters in action and highlights the stunning game world with its changing landscapes and seasons.
You see some characters on the run, while others are in training. The video trailer really excites you for what’s coming next!
Elden Ring was developed by FromSoftware Inc. and published by Bandai Namco. The new expansion, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, takes you to a whole new world called the Land of Shadow.
It’s a world that lets you easily travel between these vast maps filled with all kinds of scenarios and detailed dungeons where some tough enemies are waiting for you.
Its official gameplay trailer dropped on Bandai Namco's YouTube channel, and it's got some seriously eerie vibes right from the start.
In the video, you’ll see animations that bring everything to life—showcasing the game’s rich history, contrasts, majestic monsters, different characters, and their unique fighting styles.
Dragon's Dogma 2 is set to be an exciting action role-playing game released in 2024 by Capcom. This sequel takes us back to a fantasy-themed world that parallels the original game.
What’s impressive is that Capcom really knows how to use Dragon Dogma’s social media to promote the game.
Just take a look at Dragon's Dogma’s Twitter, for example. They make great use of Twitter features, use the correct Twitter video ad specs, share engaging memes related to their games, and use videos for updates.
For instance, in the video I linked above, their official Twitter account promotes Dragon's Dogma 2 at its lowest price yet! They even encourage players to check out the free trial on Xbox or PlayStation 5.
Alan Wake 2 is a 2023 survival horror game developed by Remedy Entertainment and published by Epic Games.
The trailer video I linked above gives us a brief glimpse of what the game will offer this time around.
Watching the video, you’ll feel like you are being sucked into the game’s eerie yet immersive world. In the short span of 30 seconds the video shows us a lot—intense battles, diverse characters, and haunting landscapes. It really excites the players about the game.
If you enjoyed reading about these video game examples, you may also like our other blog about the best video game commercials. Be sure to check it out!
Video game marketing is essential because it can make or break a game's success. It allows you to present your game to your audience in the way you want, helping it stand out from the competition. Here’s a breakdown of other benefits of video game advertising that make it so important–
First things first—people need to know that your brand and your video game exist! Even the best game can get lost in the crowd without marketing. It's all about showing the right people why they should play.
Once people know about your game, the goal is to get them to actually download or buy it. This is only possible with the right marketing strategy which can drive those installs and sales.
It’s not just about getting new players, it’s also about retaining the current ones. Using apt marketing you can promote updates, events, and new content to keep your current players engaged and excited.
A dedicated fanbase is gold for any game. Marketing can help you build that community through social media, forums, and events. This way you can make players feel like they’re part of something bigger.
Good marketing builds excitement before the game even drops. You can use teasers, trailers, and influencer collaborations to create buzz and anticipation around your game.
It’s not just about the initial sale—video game marketing can also promote in-app purchases or subscriptions to keep the revenue flowing.
Marketing keeps the game fresh by adapting to player feedback and trends. This helps the game stay appealing over time.
So, in a nutshell, video game marketing does a lot—it gets people interested, drives sales, keeps players coming back, and helps a game stand out. Without it, even the best games could struggle to make an impact.
Video games dive into all kinds of dynamic and imaginative themes, pushing the boundaries of human imagination. Animation helps bring these ideas to life, making the unique aspect of your game easier to see and feel.
By turning the exciting features of your game into something that is visual and engaging, animation creates a surge of excitement and anticipation around the game. That is how animation plays a pivotal role in your video game marketing.
To find out how well your video game marketing is doing, there are several key metrics and KPIs you can track. These metrics give you a clear picture of player engagement, how many new users you’re attracting, and how effective your overall strategy is.
Here’s a breakdown of the most important ones–
Monitor reviews, ratings, and social media mentions to understand how players feel about your game and your marketing. Getting positive feedback signals success, while negative feedback highlights areas to improve.
By tracking these metrics, you can see how well your marketing is working, make data-driven decisions for future campaigns, and tweak strategies to boost user acquisition and engagement.
A good starting point is to use about 3% to 6% of your game’s revenue for marketing. But this can vary depending on your game’s specific needs and how well your campaigns are working.
For indie or mid-sized studios, a typical monthly marketing budget can range from $200 to $2000 or more, depending on your overall budget. While there’s no strict minimum, anything less than $200 a month isn’t ideal as it can limit your reach and make it harder to get your game noticed.
Now you’re equipped with everything you need to launch a successful video game marketing campaign!
Start by identifying your audience—who they are and where they spend their time online. Once you know that, tailor your marketing approach to reach them effectively. Make the most of your social media!
Create engaging videos, posts, memes, GIFs, and trailers, and don’t forget to interact with your community. If you’re an indie game developer or a small studio, this strategy can help you break through the noise and make a real impact!