Reddit wants gaming advertisers to rethink where they spend their marketing budgets. The platform is highlighting its network of more than 1,300 gaming-related communities, alongside new research suggesting that advertising on Reddit can deliver strong returns for gaming brands.
According to findings published on November 3, 2026, a Reddit-commissioned analysis by TransUnion found that gaming advertisers included in the study generated an average $8.58 return on ad spend (ROAS).
That means the campaigns produced an estimated $8.58 in revenue for every dollar spent on Reddit advertising, based on the study’s marketing mix models.
The findings arrive as gaming companies compete for attention across social media platforms. Reddit believes its discussion-driven communities offer something different: audiences actively researching games, comparing products and sharing purchasing advice.
Reddit’s 1,300 Gaming Communities Offer New Opportunities for Advertisers
Reddit has become a popular destination for gamers looking to discuss new releases, troubleshoot technical problems and exchange recommendations. Its gaming communities cover everything from individual video game titles and consoles to PC hardware, accessories and industry developments.
The platform says it hosts more than 1,300 gaming-related communities, where discussions frequently influence how players discover and evaluate products. Unlike social media feeds dominated by entertainment clips, Reddit often attracts users searching for specific information.
Someone considering a new graphics card might compare real-world performance reviews. Another player could visit a community to determine whether an upcoming game is worth purchasing.
These conversations create opportunities for advertisers to reach consumers while they are actively considering gaming-related purchases.
Reddit believes brands can benefit from connecting with these audiences through relevant advertising rather than relying exclusively on broader social media campaigns.
Reddit Gaming Advertising Delivers $8.58 Average Return on Ad Spend
The TransUnion research provides one of Reddit’s strongest arguments for attracting more gaming advertisers.
The analysis examined gaming marketing mix models covering January 2023 through December 2025. It found that Reddit advertising generated an average ROAS of $8.58 among the advertisers tested.
Reddit also delivered returns 12% higher than paid social advertising overall and 25% higher than the average media plan included in the study.
Those figures suggest that Reddit performed competitively against other advertising channels during the analyzed period.
The findings are particularly notable because Reddit represented only 5% of paid social advertising spending, on average, among the gaming brands studied.
However, the results come from a Reddit-commissioned analysis and should not be interpreted as guaranteed returns for every advertiser.
Campaign performance can vary depending on audience targeting, advertising creative, product demand and spending levels.
Reddit Influences Gaming Purchases Through Community Discussions
Reddit’s influence extends beyond advertising impressions and clicks.
According to a separate Reddit survey conducted in November 2024, 71% of US Reddit gamers reported purchasing a gaming product based on information they discovered on the platform.
The finding highlights how community conversations can shape purchasing decisions.
Gaming enthusiasts often seek advice from other players before spending money on new titles, consoles or accessories. They may read reviews, compare experiences or ask questions about product performance.
These discussions can influence purchasing decisions without functioning like conventional advertisements.
For gaming brands, that creates an opportunity to reach consumers during the research stage, when recommendations and personal experiences may carry considerable weight.
Reddit Reaches Gaming Audiences Beyond TikTok
Reddit is also emphasizing its ability to reach gamers who may not be active on competing social platforms.
Research cited by the company found that 32% of US gamers using Reddit are not on TikTok.
That audience difference could matter for gaming advertisers that concentrate heavily on short-form video campaigns.
TikTok remains a major platform for gameplay highlights, creator commentary and viral gaming trends. Reddit serves a different purpose for many users, offering detailed discussions and recommendations within dedicated communities.
A gaming publisher promoting a new title might reach one audience through TikTok videos while connecting with another through Reddit conversations.
The two platforms can therefore serve complementary roles within a broader marketing strategy.
For brands seeking additional audience reach, Reddit argues that its gaming communities deserve greater consideration.
Gaming Advertisers May Be Spending Too Little on Reddit
Despite the platform’s gaming audience, Reddit believes brands have not fully recognized its advertising potential.
The TransUnion analysis found that Reddit accounted for an average of just 5% of paid social investment among the gaming advertisers studied.
Meanwhile, Reddit’s share of those advertisers’ spending increased by 46% since 2023, while other paid social channels experienced an 8% decline over the same period.
The study’s modeled optimization estimated that gaming brands were underinvested in Reddit advertising by an average of 134% during the analyzed period.
That figure suggests some advertisers might have improved their modeled returns by allocating more spending to Reddit.
Still, increasing advertising investment does not automatically produce the same level of performance.
As more brands compete for attention, advertising costs and audience responses can change. Marketers would need to test whether additional spending continues to generate profitable results.
Reddit Advertising Creates Benefits Across Other Marketing Channels
Reddit’s research also suggests that advertising on the platform can contribute to results beyond Reddit itself.
TransUnion found that 83% of Reddit’s modeled advertising impact came directly from the platform, while the remaining 17% appeared through interactions with other marketing channels.
This indirect contribution is commonly called a halo effect.
A consumer might discover a gaming product through Reddit, search for more information elsewhere and eventually purchase it after encountering another advertisement.
According to the analysis, television accounted for 18% of Reddit’s reported cross-channel synergy, followed by paid search at 17%, online video at 15% and paid social at 12%.
These findings suggest that Reddit may contribute to the broader customer journey even when a purchase happens through another channel.
For advertisers, measuring that influence can be difficult because consumers rarely interact with only one marketing platform before making a decision.
Full-Funnel Reddit Campaigns Show Stronger Advertising Performance
The research also examined how different advertising strategies performed across Reddit.
Gaming brands using a full-funnel approach recorded 19% stronger overall ROAS than the average performance of campaigns relying on a single tactic.
A full-funnel strategy combines different marketing objectives, from introducing products to new audiences to encouraging consideration and purchases.
Rather than focusing entirely on immediate conversions, advertisers can use several campaign formats to engage potential customers at different stages.
The analysis found that video views delivered the strongest ROAS among the objectives examined.
That result may be especially relevant for gaming advertisers, since gameplay footage, product demonstrations and trailers can communicate a game’s appeal quickly.
However, effective advertising still depends on matching content to the audience.
A detailed product explanation may perform well in a community focused on gaming hardware, while a short gameplay video could attract attention among players discussing a new release.
What Reddit’s Gaming Advertising Research Means for Brands
Reddit’s latest findings give gaming marketers another reason to examine their advertising strategies.
The platform offers access to audiences who actively discuss products, share recommendations and compare purchasing options.
That environment can be valuable for gaming publishers, hardware manufacturers and accessory brands looking to reach consumers with specific interests.
Advertisers could use community targeting to promote relevant products while monitoring discussions to better understand what players want.
However, Reddit’s research has limitations. The marketing mix analysis relied on historical campaign data, and the published findings do not establish how every gaming advertiser would perform with a larger budget.
Brands should therefore treat the results as evidence worth investigating rather than a reason to immediately shift substantial advertising spending.
Testing campaigns, measuring conversions and understanding community expectations remain important.
Reddit Makes a Stronger Case for Gaming Advertising Investment
Reddit’s latest advertising pitch reflects the growing commercial importance of online gaming communities.
With more than 1,300 gaming-related communities and research pointing to strong modeled returns, the company believes advertisers are overlooking opportunities to connect with engaged audiences.
The reported $8.58 average ROAS gives Reddit a useful figure to present to gaming brands, while its purchasing influence data reinforces the role of community discussions in product discovery.
Whether advertisers respond by significantly increasing their spending remains uncertain.
For now, Reddit is making one point clear: gaming conversations are already influencing what people buy.
The platform wants brands to recognize the advertising value of being part of those conversations.
Sources
- Social Media Today – Reddit Pitches Its 1,300 Gaming-Related Communities to Brands
- Reddit for Business – Leveling Up Your Media Mix: Reddit Drives an Average $8.58 ROAS for Tested Gaming Advertisers
- Reddit for Business – Gaming Advertising and Marketing on Reddit
