Reddit Ads for Gaming: Reach Players

Reddit is one of the most natural advertising platforms for gaming. With massive, highly engaged gaming communities and users who actively discuss, recommend, and critique games, reddit ads for gaming offer unique opportunities—but require understanding gaming culture to succeed.

This guide covers gaming-specific Reddit advertising strategies for studios, publishers, and gaming brands.

Why Gaming Thrives on Reddit

Massive Gaming Communities

Reddit hosts some of the internet's largest gaming discussions:

• r/gaming (38M+ members)
• r/Games (3.5M+ members)
• r/pcgaming (4M+ members)
• r/PS5, r/XboxSeriesX (2M+ each)
• Thousands of game-specific subreddits

These communities actively shape game perception and drive word-of-mouth.

Pre-Launch Research Behavior

Gamers research extensively before purchasing:

• Reading user reviews and opinions
• Watching gameplay and comparisons
• Seeking recommendations for genres
• Discussing upcoming releases

Reddit influences purchase decisions at every stage.

Authentic Engagement Culture

Gaming communities reward authentic participation:

• Developers who engage genuinely become beloved
• Transparent communication builds loyalty
• Marketing-speak generates immediate backlash
• Authenticity separates successful campaigns from failures

Gaming Targeting Strategy

Platform-Specific Communities

Target by gaming platform:

• PC: r/pcgaming, r/Steam, r/buildapc
• PlayStation: r/PS5, r/PlayStation, r/PlayStationPlus
• Xbox: r/XboxSeriesX, r/XboxGamePass
• Nintendo: r/NintendoSwitch, r/nintendo
• Mobile: r/AndroidGaming, r/iosgaming

Genre-Specific Communities

Target by game genre:

• RPG: r/rpg_gamers, r/JRPG, r/CRPG
• FPS: r/FPS, r/CompetitiveShooters
• Strategy: r/4Xgaming, r/RTS, r/CivVI
• Indie: r/IndieGaming, r/Games
• MMO: r/MMORPG, r/WoW, r/ffxiv

Game-Specific Communities

For established franchises:

• Target subreddits for competing games
• Reach players of similar games
• Engage communities around your own games

Developer Communities

For tools, engines, and development:

• r/gamedev (1M+ members)
• r/indiegaming
• Engine-specific: r/Unity3D, r/unrealengine

Gaming Creative Strategy

Authenticity Above All

Gaming audiences detect and punish inauthenticity:

What works:

• Real gameplay footage (not cinematics)
• Developer perspectives and behind-the-scenes
• Honest acknowledgment of development challenges
• Community-focused messaging

What fails:

• Marketing-speak and corporate messaging
• Misleading trailers or staged footage
• Ignoring or dismissing community concerns
• Over-promising features

Video Content Excellence

Gaming ads should show gameplay:

• Actual in-game footage, not pre-rendered
• UI and mechanics visible
• Representative of actual experience
• High-quality capture with clear audio

Misleading trailers destroy trust instantly in gaming communities.

Developer Voice

Put developers front and center:

• Named developers, not anonymous studios
• Personal perspectives on game development
• Honest discussion of challenges and trade-offs
• Technical insights that resonate with gaming audiences

Community Acknowledgment

Reference gaming culture authentically:

• Understand community concerns and expectations
• Address common questions proactively
• Acknowledge competitor games respectfully
• Participate in relevant community discussions

Gaming Campaign Types

Game Launch Campaigns

Pre-launch awareness:

• Timeline: 3-6 months before release
• Content: Development updates, behind-the-scenes
• Goal: Build anticipation and community

Launch week:

• Timeline: Release day through first week
• Content: Launch trailers, feature highlights
• Goal: Drive purchases and positive momentum

Post-launch sustain:

• Timeline: Ongoing after release
• Content: Updates, community engagement, player stories
• Goal: Maintain engagement and drive additional sales

Early Access/Beta Campaigns

Unique opportunity for gaming:

• Recruit engaged players for feedback
• Build community before full launch
• Generate authentic reviews and content
• Create word-of-mouth momentum

Live Service Campaigns

For ongoing games:

• Seasonal content updates
• New feature announcements
• Player engagement and retention
• Community event promotion

Gaming Peripheral Campaigns

For hardware and accessories:

• r/MechanicalKeyboards, r/MouseReview
• r/headphones, r/Monitors
• r/buildapc, r/battlestations

Show products in action with authentic user perspectives.

Gaming Campaign Execution

Timing Considerations

Gaming has distinct timing factors:

• Major releases: Avoid competing launch windows
• Seasonal sales: Steam sales, Black Friday impact attention
• Gaming events: E3 period, Gamescom, TGA timing
• Day-of-week: Gaming engagement peaks evenings and weekends

Comment Engagement

Gaming ads receive extensive comments:

• Players ask detailed questions
• Community members share opinions
• Critics voice concerns

Engagement strategy:

• Respond to questions thoroughly
• Acknowledge criticism constructively
• Share additional information
• Avoid corporate deflection

Developer engagement in comments dramatically improves campaign performance.

Community Building

Long-term gaming success requires community:

• Participate organically in relevant subreddits
• Build reputation before promotional campaigns
• Create your game's own subreddit and engage
• Turn players into advocates

Gaming Industry Examples

Indie Game Launch

Approach: Genuine developer participation over months

Execution:

• Developer participated in r/gamedev for months
• Shared development journey authentically
• Built relationships before revealing game
• Community became advocates at launch

Result: Organic amplification exceeded paid reach; pre-orders exceeded projections by 40%

AAA Studio Update

Approach: Transparency about game improvements

Execution:

• Honest acknowledgment of launch issues
• Detailed roadmap of planned improvements
• Developer AMAs addressing community concerns
• Regular update communications

Result: Community sentiment shifted from negative to supportive

Gaming Peripheral Brand

Approach: Process transparency and authentic testing

Execution:

• Showed prototype testing process, including failures
• Engaged r/MechanicalKeyboards community
• Incorporated community feedback into development
• Launched with established credibility

Result: Product sold out within 24 hours of launch

Mobile Game Campaign

Approach: Gameplay-first content without deceptive advertising

Execution:

• Real gameplay footage (unlike competitor misleading ads)
• Targeted mobile gaming subreddits
• Addressed monetization model transparently
• Responded to skepticism honestly

Result: Distinguished from "fake mobile game ad" criticism common in the space

Measuring Gaming Success

Pre-Launch Metrics

• Community growth (subreddit, Discord)
• Wishlist additions
• Pre-order volume
• Social sentiment

Launch Metrics

• Day-one and week-one sales
• Player concurrent numbers
• Review scores and sentiment
• Word-of-mouth indicators

Ongoing Metrics

• Player retention
• DAU/MAU
• Community engagement
• Content creator coverage

For more gaming insights, see our Reddit Ads by industry guide and Reddit ads examples gallery.

FAQs

When should I start advertising a game on Reddit?

Begin community building 6+ months before launch with organic participation. Start paid awareness campaigns 2-3 months before release. Ramp up spending in the final month, peaking at launch week. Continue post-launch to sustain momentum and reach new players.

Should I advertise my mobile game on Reddit?

Yes, but approach differs from PC/console. Mobile gaming audiences on Reddit are sophisticated and critical of deceptive "fake gameplay" ads common in mobile. Show actual gameplay, be transparent about monetization, and target mobile gaming communities specifically. Honest mobile game advertising stands out positively.

How do I handle negative gaming community reactions?

Engage constructively rather than defensively. Acknowledge valid concerns directly. Provide context without making excuses. Commit to specific improvements where appropriate. Avoid corporate non-answers. Gaming communities respect developers who communicate honestly, even about problems.

---

Key Takeaways

• Reddit hosts the internet's largest and most engaged gaming communities
• Authenticity is non-negotiable—gaming audiences detect and punish inauthenticity
• Show real gameplay footage, not misleading trailers
• Put developers front and center with genuine communication
• Build community through organic participation before and alongside paid campaigns

---

Launch your gaming Reddit campaign. Contact us | Get a free consultation