32 of the best video game commercials ever

This list is a list of what I consider to be among the best video game commercials. The most recent one on the list is, perhaps unsurprisingly, Halo 3 with the oldest one being a few old Atari commercials. I only chose a few Atari commercials because there’s so many awesomely bad Atari commercials, they almost warrant their own post. If you can think of any other note worthy commercials that I should have included feel free to curse my name and leave a comment about your choice in the comments.

Xbox 360

Halo “Arms Race”

Now this is arguably the best spot for any video game in recent memory. Not because it’s for what will probably be the biggest title of 2007, but because I’m sure it has more than one sole purpose. I’m sure it’s meant to get people excited about Halo 3, but with the fact that it’s done by Peter Jackon’s WETA crew and Neil Blomkamp, who almost teamed up with Fox to bring us a Halo movie, I’m sure that it’s also meant to drive the point home that a Halo flick done by these chaps would almost be the best movie ever made. I say almost because that UNSC armor looks a little weak. It needs to be tighter to the body or something because it honestly looks a little cheap. Other than that, I’m ready to get in line right now for Halo 3.

Water Balloons for everyone!

This is one spot that just looks like a good time. A city wide water ballooning would be good for the soul and we’d all get wet. Water Balloons = Good Times = the Xbox 360 apparently. Works for me.

Human Cock Fighting (sounds dirty dunnit?)

This one, that line, “on has to imitate the posture of a fierce cock”, it’s too much! I can’t even watch this one and keep a straight face the whole time.

The ‘Mad World’ Gears of War spot

Of course, the Gears of War ‘Mad World’ trailer had to make the list. When this commercial debuted, it caught everyone off guard. First off, there’s no dramatic hard rock music or no grand sweeping composition. Just a quiet tune playing with this kick ass scenery. The fact that this commercial came out slightly before Gears of War was actually released also got everyone hyped for the game. It was the perfect ad at the perfect time.

This pinata is not magical

Sure the made-for-TV 30 second version of this Viva Pinata spot is pretty good on it’s own, but it’s the extended version that you need to see. I can’t even pick a favorite quote from this, they’re all good.

Pretend gun fighting

I’m not even sure if this is a genuine Xbox 360 commercial or not but dammit if it’s not entertaining to watch. I just hope that if this was a real audition, those two got whatever part they were going for because I really did think, if only for a second, that the lady was trying to shoot me. Frightening.

The banned Xbox spot

The projectile baby is what did this one in. For a second there, you’re not sure if what you’re seeing fly out of that woman is either some sort of baby goo (ewww), an actual baby, or some kind of projectile alien. Other than that, it’s an interesting take on how short life really is, and why you must play something on the Xbox.

Everyone’s pretend trigger happy

Here is another banned Xbox 360 commercial that I’m assuming was banned because everyone is pretending to shoot themselves, which apparently upsets old stuffy types. We don’t this falling into the hands of some crazed individual now do we? With the being said, this is still an awesome commercial. A lot of these early Xbox 360 commercials did a pretty good job of invoking that sense of group fun, with the waterballoons and human cock fighting and all, and this one is more of the same. That shot of the guy with in the car with the cell phone is priceless.

Playstation 3

Plastic Baby Dolls love the PS3

This ad is slightly creepy and slightly awesome at same time. With the games flashing through his eyes while he’s crying (tears of joy?) backwards is an image I won’t soon forget…dammit.

This is living - “Surreal”

This one makes about as much sense as the first one but if you think about it, it kind of does make sense. To me at least. I’m not sure how or why, but I understand it I guess. Not so much with the girl on the can at the end, but for the most part, I kind of “get it”.

This is living - the full length spot

Here’s the full on, almost 6 minute and somewhat NFSW (girl riding dude, girl getting in the shower and dude pleasuring himself to soccer, yeah, wtf?!?) “This is Living” spot. You see the whole cast and all the crazy scenarios. Seeing this spot as a whole brings a little more context to it, but it still is a bit odd. It does it’s job though.

Nintendo Wii

Hand drawn contest entry

This one isn’t even an official Nintendo commercial! It was made by an entrant in a competition in an attempt to win the grand prize which was a Nintendo Wii. Even coming from it’s fanmade roots, I still think it’s broadcast quality. I hope the bloke won the competition he entered.

Two guys and a Wii

It’s not that these ads are particularly funny, it’s that they do a pretty good job of getting the point across. No matter who these guys visit, they all have a good time playing the Wii.

Even the boss loves it

and look! Even stuffy and frumpy big boss types love the Wii! Not only does he like it, it even manages to melt to cold heart. Emotional breakthroughs via the Wii ftw!

Sony PSP

Dude, Get your own pt 1

Now these “Dude, get your own” ads are funny, but not in a cheesy way. That is so annoying but it’s someone that anyone who has ever ridden a plane more than twice has had to sit next to. In real life, he would’ve been punched in the face.

Dude, Get your own pt 2

Even the bathroom isn’t sacred enough to this guy. Looks like the allure of the PSP is enough to overpower the stench of an airline bathroom. Good to know.

Dude, Get your own pt 3

Now this one may be the funniest bit out of the three. The cluster bombs is what had me rolling. “Get up in there and shoot that!” and “Cluster Bombs” are now the phrases of the day.

PC

Office Space World of Warcraft mashup

This World of Warcraft Office Space ad is pretty much the perfect way to pay homage to all kinds of nerd and geekdom. It’s Office Space for crying out loud, a movie all of us (over 10) have seen numerous times and can relate to combined with the biggest PC game this side of Doom. It doesn’t get more geektastic than this.

Leeroy Jenkins for the Spike VGA awards - “Office”

Sure this isn’t for World of Warcraft per se, but anybody who considers themselves anything close to a gamer knows about Leeroy Jenkins and has seen the videos, and that is what makes These spots so hilarious. This one with them in the office is my personal fav. Dammit Leeroy!

Leeroy Jenkins for the Spike VGA awards - “Elevator”

The Elevator isn’t too bad either. Leeroy even fits some girl action into his ragefest.

Leeroy Jenkins for the Spike VGA awards - “Cake”

And here’s the last one. Who doesn’t love cake because Leeroy Jenkins sure does. I only like 33.3% of most cakes…repeating of course.

Playstation 2

Human Pyramid

This Playstation 2 ad is the type of ad Sony seems to be into and even more so lately with their “This is Living” series of spots. This ad features no gameplay of any kind and no footage of the actual console itself. Just a bunch of people doing some kind of intense “king of the hill” playing, all set to the cheecky sounds of the one and only Shirley Temple. Odd, but it works.

Nintendo 64

Marios vs Donkey Kong vs Yoshi vs Pikachu

Now this commercial for the first Super Mario Brothers is definitely very close to the top of my personal all time favorites list. There’s just something about how Mario gut punches Yoshi that brings a sparkle and a twinkle to my eye.

Gamecube

Breastfeeding for Resident Evil 4

This one wasn’t released here stateside for obvious reasons but still blew up pretty big on the internets. The game itself was a hit of course and this commercial was “edgy” (what boobfeeding zombie isn’t?) enough to bring even more attention to one of the best Gamecube games.

Animal Crossing in real life

Everyone knows the Real World and apprently, it’s a lot like Animal Crossing! I thought this spot was pretty nice but the best looking animal crosser award would have to go to the one who looks like he’s stoned which is how many people play Animal Crossing I’m sure.

Sega Dreamcast

Bruce Campbell chases down neighbor for Evil Dead game

This one for the Evil Dead: Hail to the King game that was released for the Dreamcast and a few other conosles, is pretty funny on it’s own, but what makes it that much more special is Bruce Campbell himself. Him chasing the neighbor makes me laugh every time.

Sega Genesis

Genesis does, what Nintendon’t

Now this is what I’m talking about. Seeing that I was brought up on Sega consoles, I remember Sega’s “Genesis does what Nintendon’t” ads as being the first video game ads that actually stuck with me and made me feel pretty good about owning a Genesis. Those Altered Beast and Sonic days will forever be burned into my mind as some of the happiest days of my life…almost.

Sega!

Yet another classic Sega Genesis line of adverts, was the whole series of Sega ads with some guy screaming “Sega” at the end of every one. No matter what you had to say about Sega or whether you had a Genesis or not, we all knew the ads and we all did the scream. Sure it may have scared people but dammit, sometimes, people need scaring.

NES

Donkey Kong Country is not on Sega

Sure Sega, back in the Genesis days, was pretty good at both making memorable ads and dissing Nintendo at the same time and it took Nintendo a while to come out with their first “attack” ads. I’m not sure what the first “sega sucks” ad was, but I know Nintendo played up the release of Donkey Kong Country as loud as they possibly could. Who doesn’t remember those all weekend all nighters we all pulled while playing this one until your thumbs hurt.

The rapping Zelda commercial

Do you like cheese? I hope so, because this spot has it in spades! I can just picutre it now, some marketing exec saying to his lackeys, “and then we can have them rap! That’s what the kids are into these days, yes, more rapping!”. To sum it up, this one is good because it’s so bad.

Atari

Pole Position - “You look like a real jerk!”, “Well I am a corporate executive”

Sure we’ve all probably seen this one by now but still, it’s kind of funny just to see how little of actual gameply footage appeared in these old skool commercials. How times have changed. pole position

Elaborate Dig Dug spot

Man did Atari put some time and into this one. Not only did they have all of kinds of people “going crazy” for the classic Digg Dugg, but they even had a whole song and dance.

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