A rewarded ad is an ad you choose to watch in exchange for something in the game: extra coins, a temporary boost, an extra life. Google, whose AdMob network serves ads in many mobile games, describes them as ads that are “served after a user explicitly chooses to view a rewarded ad” and shown “in exchange for a reward, such as an extra life or in-app currency.” Unlike banners and full-screen ads, you decide whether to watch. Skipping one costs you nothing except the reward.
How do rewarded ads work? #
The flow is the same in almost every game:
- The game offers a reward. You’ll see a button like “Watch ad for 2x” or “Free boost.”
- You choose to tap it. Nothing plays unless you do.
- An ad plays. Usually a short video or an interactive ad.
- You get the reward once the ad finishes. Google notes that users receive the reward “without needing to install anything.”
- If you close it early or it fails to load, most games give you nothing, though some are more forgiving.
Because ads have to be downloaded, rewarded ads need an internet connection. With no signal, the buttons either disappear or don’t work.
Rewarded ads vs other ad types #
| Ad type | Who decides | When it appears | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banner | The game | Always on screen, usually at an edge | Nothing |
| Full-screen (interstitial) | The game | At breaks, such as between levels | Nothing |
| Rewarded | You | Only when you tap to watch | An in-game reward |
Many free games use all three. Bunny Bakery, for example, shows a banner below its tab bar, occasional full-screen ads at breaks such as after a prestige, and rewarded ads only when you tap Free Boost or a doubling button.
Why do free games use rewarded ads? #
A free game still needs to pay for itself. Rewarded ads let the developer earn money while the player gets something in return, and Google describes the format as one that “puts the user in control of their in-app experience.” For players who don’t want to spend money, it’s a way to speed things up without paying.
The format has a less friendly side too. A game can be tuned so progress feels slow without ads, or pair them with energy timers so the fastest way to keep playing is to watch another one. When a game offers a reward button every few seconds, the “choice” starts to feel less like one. We list games that avoid that kind of design in mobile games without energy timers.
Common rewarded ad rewards #
- Doubling offline earnings when you return to an idle game
- Temporary multipliers, like 2x income for a few minutes
- Extra lives or moves in puzzle games
- Skipping a wait, such as speeding up construction. Usagi Shima’s developer, for example, says you only watch ads when you want extra rewards or faster construction.
- Doubling a daily bonus
- Free premium currency or a surprise gift
Is a rewarded ad worth watching? #
It depends on whether the reward grows with your progress. A fixed reward, like 100 coins, is worth a lot early and almost nothing later. A reward based on your current income stays valuable.
Bunny Bakery shows the difference well:
| Reward | What it’s worth |
|---|---|
| Double offline earnings | Up to 4 extra hours of production after 8 hours away |
| 2x coins for 5 minutes | 5 minutes of extra production, plus doubled taps |
| Surprise coin gift | About 5 minutes of production, instantly |
| 3x coins for 90 seconds | 3 minutes of extra production |
| Auto-tap for 60 seconds | 600 taps |
| Double the daily bonus | A fixed amount, from 100 to 30,000 coins before star bonuses |
The offline doubler is by far the best, and the daily bonus doubler matters mainly early in a run. Bunny Bakery’s offline and daily screens also still pay the normal amount if the ad fails to load, so trying costs nothing. We compare every option in are Bunny Bakery’s free boosts worth it.
Rewarded ads and children #
Young children may not clearly separate an ad from the game, and a “watch for a reward” button can become a habit. If your child plays free games, it’s worth sitting with them for a few minutes to see how often the game offers ads and what the ads are for. Games that work offline show no ads at all without a connection. We cover the wider picture in are idle games OK for kids.
Can you get rid of rewarded ads? #
They’re optional, so the simplest answer is not to tap them. Beyond that, games handle it differently:
- Some sell the reward permanently. Exponential Idle has a $1.99 in-app purchase called Permanent Ad Reward.
- Some sell ad-removal passes. AdVenture Capitalist sells a 30-day ad removal pass, and Cats & Soup sells a 7-day one.
- Some have no way to pay at all. Bunny Bakery has no in-app purchases, so its rewarded ads are simply there if you want them.
If you’d rather avoid ads entirely, paid games and subscriptions like Apple Arcade and Netflix Games have none. See mobile games with no ads for the options.
Frequently asked questions #
Do you have to watch rewarded ads? #
No. By definition, a rewarded ad only plays when you choose it. You can ignore every reward button and keep playing, just without that bonus.
Why didn’t I get my reward after watching an ad? #
Usually because the ad was closed early, failed to load, or lost its connection partway through. Most games only pay out when the ad finishes. Some, like Bunny Bakery’s offline and daily bonus screens, still give you the normal amount if the ad fails.
Do rewarded ads work offline? #
No. The ad has to be downloaded, so rewarded ads need an internet connection. Games that work offline will still run, but their ad-based rewards won’t be available.
How do developers make money from rewarded ads? #
The ad network pays the developer when ads are shown and watched. In exchange for letting the game show you an ad, you get the reward, and the game stays free to download.