Raid Shadow Legends Ads: The worst gaming commercials ever?
In the world of mobile gaming, Raid: Shadow Legends is infamous not only for its gameplay but also for its overwhelmingly aggressive advertising. But are those ads truly among the worst gaming commercials ever? On Ultimategacha.com, we dive into that question, examining what makes these ads cringeworthy, comparing them with other notorious game commercials, and assessing whether they deserve that title.
Why Raid Shadow Legends Ads Rub People the Wrong Way
Raid’s marketing is everywhere. The game sponsors big influencers, YouTube creators, and even celebrities like Ronda Rousey, making the ads hard to escape.
Here are some of the common complaints:
- Overpromising and misdirection
Many ads dramatize fictional conflicts (“betrayals,” “epic drama”) that have little or nothing to do with Raid’s actual gameplay. - Stilted dialogue / forced acting
Scenes such as “Champion Therapy” or over the top arguments feel more like reality TV than game marketing. - Saturation and overexposure
Players report seeing Raid ads everywhere, on YouTube, social media, in‑game cross‑promos, making it feel like ad spam. - Lack of connection to gameplay
Many ads rarely show actual game mechanics, instead focusing on dramatic dialogue, unrealistic scenarios, or emotional hooks.
As one critic put it:
“These personalities and voices are most assuredly not something that came from within the game itself … it appears to look pretty below average for what it is.”
Comparing with Other Infamous Game Ads
To put the Raid ads into context, here’s a look at other gaming commercials that drew widespread critique:
| Game / Campaign | What Went Wrong | Legacy & Notoriety |
|---|---|---|
| Daikatana | Infamous poster “John Romero’s about to make you his bitch” crass, egotistical, and alienating. | Often cited as one of the biggest marketing blunders in game history. |
| Misc. Cringeworthy Ads | Many game ads use bizarre acting, misleading promises, or emotional drama unrelated to the gameplay. | Frequently cited in “worst-of” lists. |
| PS3 (UK Ad) | The ad was banned for glamorizing violence and being too aggressive. | Serves as a cautionary tale about pushing tone too far. |
While Raid’s ads may not have triggered regulatory bans, their overexposure and creative choices earn them a spot in the hall of controversial game marketing.
Do Raid Ads Truly Qualify as the Worst?
Whether Raid ads are the worst ever is subjective, but they legitimately compete for the title. Here’s a breakdown:
Strengths (from the advertiser’s view)
- High reach / memorability: The constant bombardment means people remember them, even if negatively.
- Virality & meme potential: Because they’re so cringe, they’re often shared or mocked, giving free exposure.
- Conversion success: Clearly, the aggressive strategy works from a business standpoint, Raid continues to dominate mobile gacha charts.
Weaknesses (from gamer & critic view)
- Brand fatigue: Many users are turned off entirely just by seeing another Raid ad.
- Disconnect from reality: The dramatic conflict rarely reflects the actual fantasy RPG mechanics.
- Quality concerns: Acting, dialogue, and scripting often rank lower than competitors’ ads.
In the advertising world, doing bad but memorable is sometimes more effective than safe and forgettable.
Final Thoughts
Raid: Shadow Legends ads may not technically be criminals of advertising, but they’ve earned their infamy. The sheer saturation, theatrical overreach, and contrast between ad narrative and actual gameplay make them a strong contender for “worst gaming commercials ever.”
If nothing else, they exemplify how bold, polarizing marketing can dominate cultural consciousness, whether people love it or hate it.
