Best Examples of Rewarded UA Campaigns in Mobile Gaming

Rewarded user acquisition (rewarded UA) is easy to explain in theory: players watch or interact with an ad, get a reward, and developers acquire engaged users. But what really convinces marketers are real-world examples.

Campaigns that use rewarded ads effectively show how incentives can boost installs, improve retention, and drive long-term value. In this article, we’ll look at some of the best examples of rewarded UA campaigns in mobile gaming — and what you can learn from them.

Example 1: Rewarded Videos in Casual Puzzle Games

Casual puzzle games often live or die by retention. Players hit frustration points (running out of moves, stuck on a level) and either quit… or find a way to keep playing.

Strategy used:

• Short rewarded video ads offering extra moves, extra lives, or small boosters.

• Ads placed at natural choke points to reduce churn.

  
  

Result:

• High opt-in rates (70–90%)

• Better D7 retention compared to interstitial-driven installs

• Incremental revenue from ad views without hurting IAP

  
  

Lesson: Small, frequent rewards are perfect for casual games — they keep players in the loop without breaking the economy.

Example 2: Offerwalls in Midcore RPGs

Midcore games thrive on depth and progression. Players want premium items, rare currencies, and ways to advance without endless grinding.

Strategy used:

• Offerwalls with high-value rewards (e.g., crystals, legendary gear).

• Tasks like installing another app or signing up for a trial subscription.

  
  

Result:

• Smaller but highly motivated cohorts

• Higher LTV than standard rewarded video users

• Increased ARPU from non-spenders who became active through offerwalls

  
  

Lesson: Offerwalls unlock depth and monetization for midcore games. They may not deliver scale, but they drive commitment.

Example 3: Hybrid Rewarded Ads in Hypercasual Titles

Hypercasual games depend on sheer volume. But pure CPI campaigns often bring users who churn in days.

Strategy used:

• Hybrid formats: rewarded playables combined with rewarded videos.

• Players try mini-demos for rewards, making installs more aligned with actual gameplay.

  
  

Result:

• Higher quality installs compared to pure CPI

• Lower churn after the first session

• More efficient ad spend with CTR boosts of 20%+

  
  

Lesson: Hybrid rewarded formats can bridge the gap between casual fun and deeper engagement.

These examples highlight how different formats deliver different outcomes. For a complete breakdown of formats, benchmarks, and strategies, check our Rewarded UA guide for 2025.

Example 4: AI-Personalized Rewards in Strategy Games

Strategy games attract highly competitive players with long lifecycles — but also high acquisition costs.

Strategy used:

• AI-driven targeting to personalize rewards: smaller daily boosts for casual players, rare premium items for committed ones.

• Adjusted frequency caps per segment.

  
  

Result:

• Increased D30 retention by 18%

• Reduced CPI compared to static campaigns

• Faster ROAS due to higher LTV among engaged cohorts

  
  

Lesson: AI + rewarded ads is a powerful combination — personalization ensures the right reward motivates the right player.

Example 5: Cross-Promotion Using Rewarded Ads

Some publishers use rewarded ads not just to monetize but to cross-promote their own titles.

Strategy used:

• Rewarded videos promoting other games in the same portfolio.

• Rewards matched to the genre (coins in one game, energy in another).

  
  

Result:

• Lower UA costs due to first-party cross-promotion

• Stronger portfolio retention (players cycle through multiple titles)

• Improved brand loyalty

  
  

Lesson: Rewarded ads aren’t only for external acquisition — they can strengthen ecosystems of games.

Key Takeaways From These Examples

Across genres, rewarded UA campaigns succeed when:

• Rewards match player motivation (boosters for casuals, premium items for midcore).

• Placement is natural (breakpoints, not mid-action).

• Scale and depth are balanced (rewarded video for volume, offerwalls for LTV).

• Personalization is embraced (AI adapts incentives to player behavior).

  
  

Rewarded ads aren’t just an acquisition channel — they’re a long-term engagement engine.

Final Thoughts

The best rewarded UA campaigns in mobile gaming all share one trait: they respect the player experience. By making rewards optional, meaningful, and well-timed, studios turn advertising from an interruption into an enhancement.

In 2025, rewarded ads remain one of the most versatile tools in UA — working across casual, midcore, and hypercasual games. The studios that win are those that tailor rewards to their audience and use data-driven insights to refine every campaign.

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