Top 20 Video Games That Are Basically Just Ads

For years, companies have used video games – a tactic called advergaming – to promote their brands. They pay game developers to create games that prominently feature their products or characters. These games can be simple ads or surprisingly well-developed titles that are fun to play on their own. This practice dates back decades, with everything from fast food characters to soda brands starring as heroes. Here’s a look at twenty games that successfully mixed advertising with entertainment.

‘M&M’s Kart Racing’ (2007)

This fun racing game lets you drive as popular candy characters through colorful and creative tracks. Players pick their favorite character, like Red or Yellow, and race in tournaments to earn cool customization items. As you race, you’ll collect chocolate coins while avoiding obstacles. It was originally released for the Nintendo Wii and DS as an affordable game for everyone to enjoy.

‘Yaris’ (2007)

Toyota created a free vehicular combat game for Xbox Live Arcade as a way to advertise their Yaris car. Players drive through futuristic tunnels, fighting enemies using a robotic arm. The game has a unique, cartoon-like visual style thanks to its cell shading. As players advance, they can improve their car with new and better weapons.

‘Tooth Protectors’ (1983)

This unusual Atari 2600 game was created by Johnson & Johnson to encourage good dental care. Players use a shield to catch falling food and prevent it from hitting a line of teeth. The goal is to stop the ‘Decay Invader’ from causing cavities. If you do well, a toothbrush and floss will occasionally appear to help restore the teeth’s health.

‘Chase the Chuck Wagon’ (1983)

Purina made this game as a special gift for customers who sent in labels from their dog food bags. The game involves steering a dog through mazes to get to a chuck wagon before the timer hits zero. Players need to dodge flying objects and other things blocking the dog’s path. It’s also one of the first video games you could only get by mailing in proof of purchase.

‘Kool-Aid Man’ (1983)

This game, originally released for the Atari 2600 and Intellivision, features a large pitcher as the main character. Players control the pitcher as he tries to stop the “Thirsties” from draining all the water. You navigate through a pool, destroying enemies before they can drink it all, and the pitcher can even break through walls as a special move.

‘Big Bumpin\” (2006)

Burger King launched three games for Xbox and Xbox 360, one of which is a fun bumper car game. Players can choose to play as popular characters from Burger King commercials, like the Subservient Chicken and the King. The game offers different arenas filled with obstacles like spinning saw blades and inescapable pits. You can play with up to four friends locally or online.

‘Pocketbike Racer’ (2006)

This racing game was one of three released by Burger King as part of a promotion, and it came at a low cost with a meal purchase. Players race tiny motorcycles on tracks built in places like parking lots and construction zones. The game focuses on how small the bikes are compared to the riders. Players can do tricks to get a speed boost and an edge over the competition.

‘World Gone Sour’ (2011)

Okay, so I recently played this wild platformer made by Capcom, and it’s based on Sour Patch Kids! You play as a lost piece of candy trying to get… well, eaten! Seriously, the goal is to make it to someone’s stomach. It’s narrated by Method Man, which is awesome, and it’s full of puzzles and jumping challenges. The coolest part? My little candy character can grow and shrink to get past obstacles like giant movie theater seats and everyday kitchen stuff. It’s a really unique and fun game!

‘I Love You, Colonel Sanders! A Finger Lickin’ Good Dating Simulator’ (2019)

KFC created a dating simulator-style video game where you attend culinary school with a young Colonel Sanders. You’ll make dialogue choices and build a relationship with him through cooking competitions and discovering secret recipes, all presented in an anime art style. The game playfully portrays Colonel Sanders as a love interest and prominently features KFC’s fried chicken.

‘Zool’ (1992)

Gremlin Graphics created this quick and exciting platform game, which prominently featured Chupa Chups branding throughout its levels and opening screens. Players control a ninja gremlin from another dimension who journeys through different themed worlds. The ‘Sweet World’ levels are especially memorable for their candy-themed environments and Chupa Chups logos. The game became known for its fast-paced action, putting it in competition with other popular platformers of the time.

‘Darkened Skye’ (2002)

This action-packed fantasy game cleverly incorporates Skittles candy into its magical abilities. The main character, Skye, uses the different colored candies to cast spells with unique effects. While the game tells a grand, fully voiced fantasy story, it rarely mentions the Skittles brand directly, even though the gameplay revolves around them. The developers successfully disguised the marketing aspect, leading many players to initially believe it wasn’t an advertisement.

‘Mick & Mack as the Global Gladiators’ (1992)

McDonald’s surprisingly released a platformer game centered around protecting the environment, rather than advertising its food. Players control two characters who journey through levels like ‘Slime World’ and ‘Mystical Forest’ to battle creatures made of pollution. While playing, the McDonald’s logo subtly appears in the background and functions as the exit to each level. The game was created by Virgin Games, using the same technology that powered several popular Sega Genesis titles.

‘Yo! Noid’ (1990)

Capcom created a special version of a Japanese game, Kamen no Ninja Hanamaru, for the American market. They replaced the hero with the Noid, Domino’s Pizza’s famous mascot. In this version, the Noid fights enemies with a yo-yo while jumping and climbing through a New York City setting. Each level ends with a pizza-eating contest where players use strategy cards to win. The game was a big advertising campaign for Domino’s during the Noid’s peak popularity.

‘Chester Cheetah: Too Cool to Fool’ (1992)

This action game, originally released for the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis, features Chester Cheetah, the Cheetos mascot. Chester is on a quest to rebuild his motorcycle, but he’s being chased by a zookeeper named Mean Eugene! Players control Chester as he runs, jumps, and dashes to defeat enemies and collect paw print tokens. The game’s lighthearted feel matches the fun, easygoing style of Cheetos commercials.

‘Doritos Crash Course’ (2010)

This game lets you use your Xbox Avatar to compete in big obstacle courses modeled after TV game shows. You’ll need good timing to jump and duck past obstacles like swinging hammers and water hazards. It was released as a free download and quickly became popular thanks to its simple, easy-to-learn gameplay. The game was expanded with updates and new content, including more levels and challenges.

‘Sneak King’ (2006)

In this sneaky game, you play as a king who secretly delivers breakfast and burgers to unsuspecting townspeople. You’ll need to hide in things like trash cans and around corners to avoid being seen! A meter shows how close you are to being discovered, and if you successfully deliver the food, your character celebrates with a fun dance.

‘M.C. Kids’ (1992)

This NES game, developed by Virgin Games, sends two kids on an adventure into the colorful world of McDonaldland. Players collect magical cards while searching for the Hamburglar, who has stolen Ronald McDonald’s special bag. A standout feature is its gravity-shifting mechanic, letting players walk on both floors and ceilings. Despite being heavily themed around McDonald’s, the game is well-regarded for its strong gameplay design.

‘Cool Spot’ (1993)

This well-known platformer features the iconic red dot from the 7 Up logo, now with arms and sunglasses! Players journey through giant versions of everyday places like beaches and toy rooms, saving other captured dots from cages. The main character attacks enemies by shooting bubbles of soda. When it was released, the game’s smooth animation was highly praised, and it went on to win multiple awards.

‘Chex Quest’ (1996)

General Mills surprised fans by including a first-person shooter game on a CD-ROM inside boxes of Chex cereal. The game was built using the technology behind Doom, but instead of battling demons, players fought green, slimy creatures called Flemoids. Instead of killing enemies, players used a special device called a Zorcher to send them back to their own world. Despite being a promotional item, the game gained a loyal and dedicated fanbase that still exists today.

‘Pepsiman’ (1999)

This game puts you in control of the Pepsi mascot as they run through city streets. The character runs on their own, and you steer them to dodge, slide, and jump over obstacles like huge Pepsi cans and delivery trucks. Originally released only in Japan for PlayStation, the game became well-known internationally for its strange and funny concept.

Tell us which of these commercial classics you remember playing by leaving a note in the comments.

2025-11-24 19:46