Rewarded Ads
Part of Gaming advertising formats
Rewarded video versus interstitial game ads
Compare the player choice, timing, reward promise and reporting needed to choose between rewarded video and interstitial game ads.
Choose rewarded video when the player should knowingly accept a video ad in exchange for a stated in-game benefit. Choose a conventional interstitial when an ad should appear at a natural break without a reward promise. Both may fill the screen, but they create different expectations and call for different reporting.
Compare the moment of contact
| Question | Rewarded video | Conventional interstitial |
|---|---|---|
| How does it begin? | The player accepts a disclosed reward opportunity in a standard rewarded flow | The app shows the ad at a transition, such as between levels |
| What does the player expect? | A specified benefit after the qualifying action | A way to close the ad and resume play |
| What could distort the result? | Completion may reflect interest in the reward | Poor timing may prompt accidental taps |
| What should be reported? | Offer, opt-in, ad delivery and reward-earned events where available | Ad delivery, dismissal and destination actions where available |
Ask for the actual player flow and reporting definitions. The table does not imply that every seller exposes every event.
Rewarded Video vs Conventional Interstitial Ads: Key Differences
- How does it begin?
- The player accepts a disclosed reward opportunity in a standard rewarded flow
- What does the player expect?
- A specified benefit after the qualifying action
- What could distort the result?
- Completion may reflect interest in the reward
- What should be reported?
- Offer, opt-in, ad delivery and reward-earned events where available
- How does it begin?
- The app shows the ad at a transition, such as between levels
- What does the player expect?
- A way to close the ad and resume play
- What could distort the result?
- Poor timing may prompt accidental taps
- What should be reported?
- Ad delivery, dismissal and destination actions where available
Check the timing and the choice
In a rewarded video flow, the player accepts an ad in exchange for a stated in-game benefit. Check that the game explains the offer and how it handles the reward.
Google’s Android SDK provides FullScreenContentCallback events related to an ad being shown or dismissed, impressions and clicks. Ask the publisher how its game handles an early close, failed load or interrupted connection.
A conventional interstitial should arrive when play has paused. Google describes breaks between levels as a suitable point. Review the lead-in to the ad, when its close control becomes available and where the player returns. An unexpected appearance during active play can disrupt the flow and risk accidental clicks.
A rewarded interstitial is a third flow that combines an interstitial placement with a reward offer. Ask how the offer is presented and whether players can decline. Identify it separately when comparing the player experience and reports.
Best Practices for Implementing Rewarded Video Ads
- Explain the offer clearly before the ad beginsEnsure players understand what they’ll receive in exchange for watching.
- Use FullScreenContentCallback events for trackingMonitor ad display, dismissal, impressions and clicks via Google’s Android SDK.
- Handle edge cases like early close or failed loadConfirm how the game responds if the ad is closed prematurely or fails to load.
- Avoid showing during active gameplayPlace ads at natural breaks such as level transitions to maintain flow.
Interpret outcomes carefully
A rewarded completion shows that the player met an incentive condition; it does not prove interest in the advertiser. An interstitial click may be deliberate, but timing matters when interpreting a spike in clicks. For either format, define the later action useful to the campaign and examine it separately from ad events.
Ask the seller to break out format, game, device and creative where available. Compare destination behaviour under the same attribution definition. If a proposal cannot separate rewarded interstitials from other full-screen units, record that limit before booking.
Pros and Cons of Rewarded Video Ads
- Pros
- Higher completion rates due to player choice; increased engagement with in-game rewards
- Cons
- May not reflect genuine advertiser interest—completion indicates reward acceptance, not ad engagement
Key Performance Indicators by Ad Format
- Interstitial Click Rate
- Varies widely; sensitive to timing and placement
- Player Dismissal Rate
- Low for rewarded video (players want the reward); higher for interstitials
