Hello, community! Gaming offers are deals from game developers and publishers — they pay you commissions for promoting their computer or mobile games. This niche isn’t talked about often, but why is that? Is it because gaming offers are unprofitable? Let’s dig into the topic.
Before we start, just a reminder that we regularly cover all major verticals in affiliate marketing. For example, we recently wrote about how betting on esports works. Definitely worth checking out!
Does the gaming vertical really exist?
It’s hard to find someone who hasn’t played a game. Everyone’s at least once tried “match three” puzzles on their phone or played something on a PC or console. That tells us one thing — the gaming audience is massive. Which means: demand exists. But what about supply?
According to Statista, over 15,400 games were released on Steam in 2024 — 4,000 more than in 2023, and twice as many as in 2018.
And that’s just Steam. There’s also Epic Games Store, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo — all with their own ecosystems. On mobile, tens of thousands of games are launched annually on the App Store and Google Play. For example, in March 2019 alone, over 141,000 new apps were added to Google Play — in one month!
The market is growing — both in quantity and quality. In fact, in 2024, the global games market generated over $181 billion — up 2.1% from 2023. In two more years, it’s expected to grow by another $30 billion. So yes, there’s serious money here.
Game companies are aggressively competing for players’ wallets. Most games aren’t free — or they include paid features. That’s why many publishers turn to affiliates to drive user acquisition.
And this is how the gaming vertical forms: companies pay affiliates to drive traffic to their games — and in some cases, they pay very well. So don’t sleep on gaming offers.
What products exist in the gaming vertical?
There are thousands of different games, but in affiliate marketing, it’s less about genres — and more about how the games are delivered to the user. Here are the three main types of gaming offers:
- Browser-based games: Once hugely popular, they still have demand. These require no downloads — just open in a browser and play.
- Client-based games: Think PC games from Steam, Epic Games, etc. These require installation. Most modern “big” games fall into this category.
- Mobile games: Games for smartphones and tablets running Android or iOS. Mobile gaming is the highest-grossing sector of the gaming industry — and it even has its own esports ecosystem.
Payment models in the gaming niche often include CPI (Cost Per Install) and CPL (Cost Per Lead, typically used for browser games).
Gaming offers also sometimes intersect with other verticals, like adult. Thanks to rapid AI development, erotic games are becoming easier to create — and the demand has always been there. Just take a look at the Steam charts: adult games sometimes rival AAA titles in popularity.
Additionally, you can promote gaming-related e-commerce products, including:
- Gaming electronics: consoles, PC hardware, monitors, accessories;
- Furniture: gaming chairs, desks;
- Merchandise: clothing, collectibles, team jerseys, etc.
These usually follow CPS or CPA models.
Finally, some offers are tied to in-game purchases. The user might need to not only install the game, but also make a purchase for you to earn a commission.
Who is the target audience for gaming offers?
If you’re a gamer yourself, promoting gaming offers will be much easier. But beware of tunnel vision — you might ignore emerging trends, especially if you’re only familiar with PC games and don’t follow what’s happening in mobile.
| Age | The majority of gamers are 18–45 years old — a paying demographic, considering most games now cost around $70 (think Call of Duty, Assassin’s Creed). Mobile gamers skew even younger due to the dominance of free-to-play formats. Segment your audience carefully before launching ads. |
| Gender | The majority of gamers are men — so targeting them is often safer. However, the number of female gamers is growing fast. There are also games designed specifically for women — like life sims, farming games, etc. |
| Interests | Gamers are your warmed-up audience. But you can also target those with related interests. For example, someone into Formula 1 might love a Formula 1 team management sim. These indirect connections can work surprisingly well. |
| GEO | Always segment traffic by region. Make sure the game is available — and localized — in the target country. Don’t promote an English-only game in Brazil and expect conversions. Details like this matter. |
So — young men who love games are your core target. But this audience is also the most heavily targeted. To profit with minimal investment, you’ll need to find creative and unique funnels that others are missing.
Best traffic sources for gaming offers
You can run gaming ads on traditional platforms like Facebook or Google Search. But the real goldmine lies in “exotic” traffic sources that work especially well for games:
- Reddit: Arguably the best platform for promoting gaming offers. It’s full of gamers and allows for free traffic (UGC). Our favorite combo!
- Streaming platforms: Twitch, Kick, YouTube, and even TikTok. Instead of buying ads, collaborate with influencers. Pay them to play and promote the game. This approach is costly but effective for high-payout offers.
- In-App ads: Especially useful for mobile games. We covered this in-depth in a dedicated article.
Don’t ignore traditional sources either. But be creative. Niche forums may be outdated — but they still convert (and often for free). The same goes for communities on social media.
The point is — there are tons of sources for gaming traffic. Some are unique and not typically used in other verticals, which makes this niche even more interesting.
Conclusion
So, are gaming offers alive and kicking? Absolutely. The market keeps growing and generating billions. That means there’s a solid opportunity for affiliates to carve out their slice of this profitable pie.
The key? Find relevant offers, target the right audience, and don’t be afraid to test new angles. That’s how you’ll stay ahead of the curve.
Are you a gamer yourself? Share your achievements in our Telegram community, where we discuss affiliate marketing — and more!
Respectfully, your Geek!