Video game ads have been getting people’s attention for a long time. This is the top of the top.
The video game commercial was the most important part of marketing because it was the only way for companies to get their message out to the public. A great ad campaign made people talk about the game and at least want to try it. In a game ad, it can seem like anything goes, from emotional appeals to cutting-edge humor to trash talk. Even though many commercials are products of their time, some stand out as classics that will never go out of style.
When Robin Williams and Zelda, the cute Gears of War Mad World, Kevin Butler, and the BattleTanx Snuggle Bear can’t make the list, you know the competition is tough. There are a lot of legendary and timeless commercials. But many of them haven’t stood up well to the test of time. These are the ads that still get a lot of attention, get people talking. And stand out as the best examples of how video games have a unique way of advertising.
Super Mario Brothers 3
A picture of Toad, Mario, Peach, and Koopa Troopa from Super Mario Brothers. The media were so excited about Super Mario Bros. 3 that it was like nothing ever seen before. Nintendo was well aware of how much people wanted the next game in the Mario Brothers series. And this commercial is the perfect way to show that. Everyone in the whole country couldn’t wait for anything Mario 3. And this ad did a great job of bringing back the excitement of the wait.
Even though the last scene of the good-bad cult classic movie “The Wizard” could be considered the best ad for Super Mario Brothers 3 ever made, this commercial does a great job of showing how exciting the game’s release was and how well it was received.
Halo 3
After Halo 2’s “I need a weapon” commercial, which Keith David narrated, Microsoft and Bungie needed a big and unique spot to beat the very high bar they had set for themselves. “Believe” shows the horrible and heartbreaking truths of war better than any other ad. Because it is made up of only stop-motion-style action figures. A great and powerful ad to this day, the chaotic and complicated scene shown makes people want to help the Marines who are in trouble.
The “Believe” ad for Halo 3 was a great follow-up to the ad for Halo 2. And it was different from all other game ads before or since. It’s not as high on this list as it could be because outsiders have no idea how to play or what’s going on, but the call to action is one of the best ever.
Sega Genesis
You were either a Nintendo fan or a Sega fan, and you had to choose. Some of the best video game ads ever were made during the great console wars. And Sega’s loud and cool ads had a lot to do with that. “Genesis Does,” Sega’s best ad campaign, drove Nintendo fans c.r.a.z.y. It said that the Sega Genesis does things that the Nintendo doesn’t, or is it Nintendo doesn’t?
This over-the-top and fast-paced ad is a love letter to the early 1990s. It features Michael Jackson, Pat Riley, Buster Douglas, and Joe Montana. Even though criticizing Nintendo during what might have been their most innovative time seems silly now, the ad is still very catchy and memorable.
PlayStation 3
The Crying Baby is a lesson in advertising. It is scary, memorable, and still one of the most questionable decisions Sony has ever made. This ad did what all ads are supposed to do, which is to get people talking about the product. However, not all of those conversations were good for Sony. With its $599 price tag and strange debut at E3. The PS3 was already getting a bad name, and this ad didn’t help. But here we are still thinking about it and talking about it today, so we must be doing something right. What a strange start.
The ad is scary, easy to remember, and just plain strange. Other ads, like David Lynch’s PS2 mini-movie or Luigi’s Mansion’s weird couch thing, are also strange and memorable. However, nothing has ever been as strange and memorable as the PS3 baby, which looks like a robot with no soul. I guess it’s good work…?
Xbox 360
Video games are fun. This is an idea that is often left out of game ads (see the #7 entry and most ads today). But Xbox and Microsoft wanted to remind us all how much fun it is. The fingers-as-guns chaos in the commercial always makes me think of playing with friends when I was a kid.
There’s something about how everyone plays along and overacts on purpose that always makes me smile. It’s a great and beautiful piece of work. Even though no game or even the Xbox system itself is shown here, which keeps it from being higher on our list, the idea of getting back in touch with childhood friends through online multiplayer is brilliantly and enticingly shown.
Nintendo Wii
The Nintendo Wii’s first commercial, “Wii would like to play,” was both strangely inviting and informative. It was a great way to learn about the new console’s innovative features. Different from the way Xbox or Sony games are played, Nintendo’s motion controls set the world on fire. And this great ad helped spread the word.
A lot of the Wii’s attitude and style were shown well in the ad. Some people think that Nintendo’s focus on mainstream and teen audiences has hurt the company. Which hurts this ad in our rankings as well. However, you can’t take away the Wii’s and this ad’s brilliance of simplicity.
Michael
Sony’s “Michael” commercial was a call to action for anyone who has ever played a PlayStation game. When it came out, it made people feel something personal and emotional. When the system is turned off, the characters from our adventures hang out and talk with us. Which is a very creative idea. It’s almost like Toy Story for video games.
This ad seems to be a thank-you from Sony and its creators for all the years we’ve spent playing their games and putting so much time and effort into them. This ad is one of the best that has ever been shown on TV. It is classy and smart.
Super Smash Brothers
Even if you don’t know that this ad is a joke, the Super Smash Brothers commercial is brilliant. The idea of Nintendo’s cute and friendly characters getting into a no-holds-barred fight is shown perfectly in just a few seconds. Everything is fine, and then it’s not.
Given Orange’s often exaggerated, c.r.a.z.y reputation, A Clockwork Orange is a great movie to make fun of when talking about cute Nintendo characters doing violent things they have never done before. The decision to market this as Nintendo gone bad, or as bad as they should ever go, was a great one that still feels fun and new.
Crash Bandicoot
How do you put yourself not just next to, but ahead of, a giant like Nintendo that leads its industry and shapes culture? A bandicoot and a megaphone. When Sony first got into the market for home video game consoles. They did so with one of the best commercials of all time. The ads did a great job of capturing Crash Bandicoot’s irreverence and goofiness. And they also gave a fascinating look at Nintendo’s mysterious headquarters.
The anti-hero, pro-wrestling attitude of Crash Bandicoot is still one of Sony’s best decisions. And the anti-authority stance in the ads still works well today. The Crash ads are still great, but they can’t match the power and impact of our number 1 entry, which is like a nuclear bomb. Boy plumber!
Mortal Kombat
Get yourself ready. The Mortal Monday ad is the best video game commercial of all time. Because it has the most exciting and exciting images ever put on film. When the second, famous “Mortal Kombat” scream happened, everyone knew that games would never be the same again. Oh, the music! This Slope Game commercial still makes people feel like they’re in a fighting game and about to die.
The longer, 2-minute version is a perfect time capsule for kids who grew up in the early 1990s. The clothes, the attitude, and the music all bring back memories. This commercial is the best way to get people excited about a new game’s release because it has so much raw energy. The most hype and excitement ever, and a perfect win.
