3 Rewarded Video Strategies That Convert

The Mobile Ad Monetization Newsletter #22

Mobile Ad Monetization isn’t just about when you show in-game ads. It’s also about when, who, and why. The most savvy studios are refining their ad strategies with micro adjustments that drive real results. From revamping the classic store and rewarded placement to bundling ad removal with retention mechanics, I've noticed three subtle yet powerful monetization innovations recently.

Word Search Explorer: A Smart Twist on Rewarded Video Placement

Rewarded video placements inside in-game stores are nothing new, but they often underperform as users can be overwhelmed with store choices. Word Search Explorer by PlaySimple takes a different route: if a user visits the store but doesn’t make a purchase, they’re shown a clean, standalone RV pop-up after exiting the store. By separating the rewarded ad placement from the store experience, PlaySimple reduces cognitive load and ensures that the offer gets full attention. This placement has quietly expanded across their portfolio, proving that it’s delivering results.

Merge Fellas Shaking Notification Rewarded Placement

Notifications work in mobile games, and Merge Fellas proves it. In most titles, notifications are a guiding hand; they nudge players toward rewards, objectives, or parts of a mobile game. But TapMen’s Merge Fellas, launched in late April with 2.8M downloads already, revamps the use of notifications. The game turns the Rewarded Ad prompt into a rhythmic shake, subtle yet persistent, vibrating every 3 seconds. It’s not too imposing, just a reminder that’s constantly there.

Habby’s “Remove Ads” IAP: Monetization That Drives Retention

Both Capybara Go! and Archero 2 now feature a revamped “Remove Ads” bundle that goes beyond just removing rewarded ads. Players who buy it skip all Rewarded Ads and get boosted daily gem rewards. This approach smartly combines monetization with long-term retention: users feel immediate value, while the enhanced daily rewards create a compelling reason to return each day. It's a great value offer that also boosts retention.

These examples show how small changes in rewarded ad timing, placement, and bundling can significantly impact revenue and retention. As monetization strategies mature, the edge often lies in subtle UX decisions that drive the player. I’ll be keeping an eye on these examples and see how they scale.

💰Great Content 💰

2.5 billion people have monthly access to Google Play or the Apple App Store. More than half of the apps are downloaded from other apps. The most crucial thing regarding downloads is how good your creatives are. Join the 2.5 gamers for our monthly episode where we highlight the creative trends from the best-performing mobile gaming studios. Hint - AI-powered creatives are becoming more and more critical.

🎯The Cinderella of the Week🎯

Miracles still happen! Despite the uber-competitive landscape in mobile, solo developers are still able to scale their IAA monetized games to crazy levels. This section is to salute you. Why? Because everyone loves a Cinderella story… that’s why.

Khadija Mountain Bike, a Dora the Explorer reskin of Hill Climb Racing by Abdallah Hamed, shows that unlicensed IP isn’t necessarily a barrier to success on the app stores. Since launching in mid-March, the game has racked up 3.5 million downloads. Based on its aggressive use of interstitial ads and Tier-3 user base, I estimate it generates between $5,000 and $ 11,000 per day in ad revenue.

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