As gaming communities continue to thrive, Reddit has positioned itself as more than just a discussion forum — it’s a hub of influence. It has emerged as a powerful platform for both gamer engagement and player acquisition.

Gamers turn to Reddit to forge strong connections with like-minded individuals, exchange experiences, and make informed choices about the games and products they want to invest in. With users actively seeking out positive, trustworthy spaces, Reddit’s communities provide gaming brands with a unique chance to engage with players on a deeper, more meaningful level.

Over 70% of gaming Redditors use the platform to find recommendations or inspiration for new games, and 95% trust the recommendations of fellow users. Unlike many social platforms that focus on broad, mass-market appeal, Reddit is designed to enable deeper, more meaningful conversations within specialized communities.

For gaming companies, this means the ability to reach gamers where they are already actively discussing titles, sharing opinions, and making purchasing decisions. 70% of Redditors who game use the platform to find recommendations or inspiration for new games or gaming products, making it a critical touchpoint in the customer journey.

Key Benefits of Reddit For Game Promotion

• Highly targeted communities: Reddit’s subreddits allow gaming brands to target users based on specific interests, such as VR, mobile, or console gaming, ensuring ads reach the most relevant audience. This reduces wasted spend and boosts conversions.
• Authenticity and trust: 95% of gaming Redditors trust recommendations from others on the platform, making it a trusted space for brands to build credibility and drive engagement through authentic conversations.
• Influence across the gaming funnel: Reddit impacts every stage of the gaming funnel — from discovery to long-term engagement. 69% of gaming Redditors use the platform to learn about new titles, helping brands influence purchase decisions.
• Positive community engagement: With 94% of gaming Redditors seeking positive spaces and 67% saying Reddit is more open-minded, brands can engage with an audience that values shared experiences and thoughtful recommendations.
• Monetization potential: Redditors are more likely to make gaming purchases than users on other platforms. 42% say they’ve purchased based on Reddit recommendations, highlighting its role in driving real financial outcomes.
• Flexible advertising policies: Reddit’s lenient moderation allows niche or sensitive gaming products to thrive without ad restrictions on other platforms, ensuring brands can effectively communicate their value.

Now, let’s take a closer look at two recent case studies in which we successfully used Reddit to acquire gamers and drive great results.

Case Study #1: VR Metaverse Pre-registrations

The campaign aimed to drive pre-registrations for an innovative metaverse product, available on a website, Steam, and Epic Games. The catch? Access was only possible through VR hardware — ideally Oculus — creating a steep entry barrier. The challenge was clear: how to reach users with the necessary equipment and who were eager for a fully immersive metaverse experience.

Enter Reddit. Unlike other platforms, Reddit offered highly targeted VR-specific communities, making it the perfect place to find tech-savvy users who were not only familiar with VR but already equipped for it. This precise targeting allowed us to cut through the noise and connect directly with qualified leads.

The results were outstanding. Reddit outshone all other platforms, delivering a remarkably low cost per pre-registration, especially given the product’s high entry requirements. On the web, the campaign achieved an eCPM of just $2.50, a CPC of $0.55, a CTR of 0.76%, and a cost per pre-registration of $4.54. Steam saw similar success, with an eCPM of $3.30, CPC of $0.96, CTR of 0.87%, and a cost per pre-registration of $4.77. Epic Games followed with an eCPM of $2.87, CPC of $0.81, CTR of 0.65%, and a cost per pre-registration of $6.28.

Ultimately, Reddit proved to be the star performer, delivering high-quality pre-registrations at a lower cost than other channels. Its niche VR communities were key to unlocking the campaign’s success, showing that Reddit is a platform that cannot be overlooked when it comes to engaging the right audience.

Case Study #2: AI Product Installations And ROAS

The campaign aimed to increase product installs while achieving a Day 1 Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) of 100% and a Day 7 ROAS of 170%. However, the product faced a significant challenge due to its sensitive nature, which resulted in frequent ad blocks on other social media platforms, limiting its ability to reach the right audience.

Reddit emerged as the ideal solution. With its more flexible moderation policies and a core audience of male Gen Z users, Reddit provided the perfect environment for promoting the product. The campaign strategically targeted interest categories such as Entertainment, Technology, Gaming, Business & Finance, and News & Education, allowing the brand to connect with a highly relevant and engaged user base.

Despite a limited budget, Reddit delivered exceptional results, meeting all campaign KPIs. The ROAS targets were achieved, with a Day 1 ROAS of 100% and a Day 7 ROAS of 170%, proving that Reddit’s platform was highly effective for this product. Additionally, the campaign achieved impressive cost-efficiency, with an eCPM of just $1.52, a CPC of $0.37, a CTR of 0.63%, and a CPI of $4.55.

This case study shows that Reddit’s male Gen Z audience can drive exceptional results, particularly for gaming-related products that face advertising restrictions elsewhere. By leveraging Reddit’s unique environment, the campaign successfully overcame its challenges and delivered outstanding performance.

Conclusion

Reddit is a powerful platform for gaming brands to build authentic connections, engage with dedicated communities, and drive real results. With its highly targeted subreddits and a strong sense of user trust, Reddit allows brands to reach gamers where they are actively discussing and recommending games. As seen in the VR metaverse and AI product campaigns, Reddit’s unique environment helps overcome challenges like high entry barriers and ad restrictions, delivering impressive return on ad spend (ROAS) and conversions.

For gaming companies looking to boost sales, increase installs, or foster deeper engagement, Reddit is an essential tool that shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s where authenticity meets influence, making it a key player in today’s gaming marketing strategies.