With Super Bowl LII just days away, some of the world’s largest companies are set to launch their best ads for this year’s slate of commercials during the big game. Last year's Super Bowl LI was one of the most-watched Super Bowls in history, with an average viewership of 111.3 million, and a large number watched for the best part, the commercials. The video up top is a fun car commercial for Koei's Tecmo Bowl.
So without further ado, here are the Top 10 Video Game Commercials in the Super Bowl.
10. “Teensy House Buyers”
Using a subversion tactic, this World of Tanks advertisement strikes the balance between reality TV and humor. It simply shows consumers what the product is about in a 15-second format, which is a rarity in the advertising world.
9. “Real Awful Moms”
World of Tanks strikes while the iron is hot and puts out their second ad. I would argue that this one was the better of the two. Both ads were created for the game's "Tanks Rule" campaign, and they ran back to back between the first and second quarters of the 2017 Super Bowl.
8. The Order: 1886
While The Order: 1886 was not the best-rated game, receiving a Metacritic score of a 63, this Super Bowl advertisement does lend the game an added layer of mystery. We now know that it was mostly all cut-scenes and QTE. Still, it is a visually stunning game because of the power of the PS4.
7. The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind
I was quite frankly surprised that a commercial for an Elder Scrolls game was airing during the Super Bowl. There was an air of mystery surrounding this ad. Was it going to be an announcement for a new Elder Scrolls game? Not really: it was an expansion of their online game. Anyway, who can say no to a giant bear fighting with you?
6. Clash of Clans
Super Bowl XLIX was interesting to begin with, but now it had to compete with Liam Neeson and his smooth voice. This wasn't the first mobile game ad to feature a celebrity, but it could be one of the best. This 2015 ad for Clash of Clans made it to #17 on USA Today's Ad Meter Results.
5. Dante's Inferno
It was not the best game, nor was it the most fun, but you can't doubt the creativity of this ad for EA's Dante's Inferno. The only word you hear is "Beatrice!", and after that, "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers plays. You can identify with the protagonist with following your love to the depth of hell. There was a controversy with this ad. The ending originally said "Go to Hell," but CBS refused to air this. EA had to change the final line of the clip to "Hell Awaits" instead. You can watch the original here.
4. The Battle of Evony
Actors Aaron Eckhart, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Fan Bingbing star in “The Battle of Evony,” a short movie promoting the mobile game Evony: The King’s Return. With a final ranking of 64 out of 66, it was not highly ranked on USA Today's Ad Meter. But this does show the power of mobile gaming and how much money they do have.
3. Nintendo Switch
It's hard to believe that the Nintendo Switch is almost one year old. At this point last year, the hype was through the roof. People were clamoring, and Nintendo delivered. This ad sums up what the Switch is and the functionally of this new game console. It was the marketing push that Nintendo fans always wanted.
2. God of War: Ascension
If you did not know what God of War was all about, this ad perfectly describes the saga of the main character, Kratos, as well as this game. As the press release stated, "Kratos swore an oath in blood to the gods, and ended up losing everything he ever loved." While some argue that God of War: Ascension might not be the best game, all can agree this was a wonderful ad. It showed the human side of Kratos and what he was fighting for.
1. Pokemon20
The Pokémon Super Bowl commercial was just awe inspiring. What else can I say about this one? It left you with a sense of wonderment. People the next day were whispering "I can do that," This ad was about more than just selling the next game but remembering the past and all the fun you had. Gathering with friends and trading or becoming the very best. The commercial aimed to motive fans to "Train On," and it did what it was supposed to do.
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What do you think about this list? Were there any memorable Super Bowl video game commercials that didn't make this list? Let us know in the comments below.
Published: Jan 30, 2018 07:17 pm