23 Retro Video Game Ads That Were More Exciting Than the Actual Game

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John Summers • Contributor
Jul 2, 2025 7:00 PM EDT

Let's not sugarcoat it - the graphics in the early days of gaming were, um… minimal. If you were playing on an Atari, ColecoVision, or Magnavox Odyssey, your character was basically five pixels and two colors, and that was on a good day. You'd be told, "See that blinking line? That's you. You're a brave intergalactic explorer." And you'd nod and go, "Yeah. Totally."

So what do you do when your game looks like abstract cave art? You get marketing to do the heavy lifting. And oh boy, did they.

Back then, video game ads were entire epics. They had models in leather armor, dramatic taglines like "Enter the Void!" and more neon than a roller rink. Half of them just slapped a hot woman on the cover and called it a day - because let's face it, they knew exactly who they were marketing to. Others went all-in with costumes, props, and wild sets that made the game look like a blockbuster movie.

And then you brought it home… and got a blinking square. But it didn't matter. Your brain filled in the gaps. The ads were the dream. The game was just the spark.

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  • 01
    WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED! LETHAL ENFORCERS • 2-Player Upright Gun Game • Buy-In & Continuation Horizontal Monitor • Features Digitized Graphics • 2 Different Modes: Standard or Street Version (Dip Switch Adjustable) тм DIMENSIONS: CRATED 73.5" High 42.5 Deep 30.5" Wide UNCRATED 72" High 35.25" Deep 28.5" Wide Konami is a trademark of Konami Co., Lid LETHAL ENFORCERS is a trademark of Konami Inc. 1992 Konami Inc. All Rights Reserved. KONAMI® KONAMI INC 900 Deerfield Parkway Buffalo Grove, IL 60089-4
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  • 02
    IT'S A KNOCKOUT! FINAL ROUND ⭑Kit 2-Player Interactive Buy-In and Continuation Features *Horizontal Monitor KONAMI
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  • 03
    STAR WARS: THE ARCADE GAME COMES HOME. SALE $ .25 頭獎 STAR WARS," the arcade game that blew its way to the top of the charts, is coming home. TIE FIGHTERS," fireballs, catwalks, they're all there in 3 of the hottest action screens in any galaxy. There is only one STAR WARS: THE ARCADE GAME."* For the Atari 2600, 5200, Atari Home Computers, Coleco Vision and the Commodore 64. THE ARCADE GAME PMRKER BROTHERS THE ARCADE GAME ⚫ & © 1983 Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL). All rights reserved. Parker Brothers, a di
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  • 04
    SIZE DOES MATTER "... one of the most complex fishing games to date." - IGN Customize your angler's appearance and tackle set with over 100 items. The only fishing game with online multiplayer! Challenge top anglers around the world on Xbox Live PRO FISHING CHALLENG Explore 4 huge photorealistic lales with changing weather, Water temperature & wind speed Compatible with major XBOX fishing
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  • 05
    HUNTER Vally MIDWAY VAYA SPY HUNTER Tow Re
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  • 06
    これを知らずしてドライブ･ゲームは語れない。 スーパー・レーシング・ゲーム MONACO GP モナコグランプリ 走!! が じゅうを走り抜ける、そこはまったく 新しいスリル・スピード・スキルの世界だ! SEGA
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  • 07
    THE KIT THAT SKATES CIRCLES AROUND THE COMPETITION! ROTTERETIMES • KIT 2-PLAYER INTERACTIVE • BUY-IN AND CONTINUATION FEATURES •HORIZONTAL MONITOR KONAMI 30 39 23 are trademarks KONAMI INC. ⚫900 Deerfield Parkway Buffalo Grove, IL 60089-4510 Phone: (708) 215-5100 FAX:(708) 215-5144 Telex:6871385 KONA UW KONAMI is a trademark of Konami Industry Co. Ltd ROLLERGAMES and WORLD ALLIANCE ROLLERSPORTS 1991 Sams Miter Productions and Motown Productions, Inc. All rights reserved 33 62 39
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  • 08
    IRRESISTIBLE FORCE ONTRA TWO PERSON INTERACTIVE PLAY CONTINUATION FEATURE ⚫ BUY IN FEATURE ENTRA KONAMI KONAMI is a trademark of Honam Industry Co Ltd Co is a trademark of Konami lo 1987 Konami All rights reserved. KONAMI INC. 815 Mittel Drive Wood Dale, IL 60191 Phone: (212) 595-1443 Fax (312) 595-2973 Telex 6871385 KONAM UW
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  • 09
    SAY HELLO TO ATARI VR J ATARI VR and goodbye to everything else! Introducing the new Atari 2600 VR Headset Enter a new world of gaming glory that could only be brought to you by Atari, the makers of the most popular home console ever made. No other system lets you enter into a whole new gaming universe. with included hits PacMan VR and Combat VR With a 20° field of view and a blisteringly fast 30hz refresh rate, you will be surrounded with eye-popping new 3D gameworlds that will blow you away! S
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  • 10
    SHARK SHARK ATTACK Produced under license by Pacific Novelty Manufacturing, Inc.
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  • 11
    KONAMI TM KONAMI OF AMERICA, INC. DEADEYE • ADJUSTABLE CABINET TO OPTIMIZE AVAILABLE FLOOR SPACE. • DYNAMIC SOUND AND MUSIC BLAST YOU INTO NEW AUDIO DIMENSIONS. ⚫PLAYER SELECTS FROM TWO SKILL LEVELS AND PROGRESSES THROUGH THREE MISSIONS. • CHOICE OF EIGHT POWERFUL WEAPONS. Model Dedicated Adjustable Dimensions 25W x 77 1/8x47-530 Weight 390 LBS 100 DEERFIELD PKWY, BUFFALO GROVE, IL 600s Phone 847-215-5100 Fox 847-285-0084 ark of KONAMI Co. Ltd and KONAMI COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT CHICAGO, INC. whic
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  • 12
    TO THE VICTOR GO THE SPOILS "What an experience! Like being in a movie!" Computer Entertainer, Dec. 1906 Actual Atari ST screen! Actual Apple IIGS screen! Actual Macintosh screen! CINEMAWARE PRESENTS Actual Commodore 64 screen DEFENDER OF THE CROWN NOW PLAYING AT A SOFTWARE DEALER NEAR YOU 3444 Dundee Road Northbrook, IL 60062 Call Toll Free in Continental US (except ft 1000 443-7982 Illinois: 1-312-480-7667
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  • 13
    KONAMI DA AIM FOR HIGHER EARNINGS A HIGH-POWERED TWO PLAYER SHOOTING GAME THAT WILL BLOW AWAY THE COMPETITION. A TM
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  • 14
    HAUNTED CASTLE™ Re-Vamp An Old Game With This New Kit! KONAMI KONAMI INC. 815 Mittel Drive Wood Dale, IL 60191 Phone: (312) 595-1443 Fax (312) 595-2973 Telex 6871385 KONAM UW AUT Tor Players STONE 14929 NOW is a trademark of Konami Industry Co. Ltd Haunted Castle is a trademark of Konami loc. 1887 Konami loc. All rights reserved. THE
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  • 15
    THE SECRETS OUT ON THIS NEW KIT! S.PY SPECIAL PROJECT Y S KONAMI KIT *2-Player Interactive Buy-in & Continuation Features Horizontal Monitor
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  • 16
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  • 17
    CRAME шаме POST ACTUAL 256 COLOR VGA SCREENS Real Sound A powerful crime syndicate has taken over large areas of our major cities turning them into vast criminal wastelands. Arson, extortion, drug distribution, murder and now...terrorist abduction! You! have just learned that they have taken the U.S. President's daughter and are holding her and our country hostage. YOU'VE HAD A GUT FULL!... YOUR PURPOSE: To wipe out this criminal organization and rescue the president's daughter. Even with the mo
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  • 18
    2.00 SET YOUR SIGHTS ON DEVASTATORS TM • Dedicated Game • Vertical Monitor • 2-Player Interactive • Buy-in & Continuation Features 27 KONAMI KONAMI INC 815 Mister Drive Wood Date it 6019: Phone 1312, 595-1443 Faz (312) 595-2973 Telex 6871385 KONAM UW
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  • 19
    Another Exciting TV Space Game From SEGA SPACE ODYSSEY An Odyssey in Space !! Spectacular horizontal and vertical space scenes in vivid color. Highly realistic battle action with matching synthesized voice commands. Zoom over the futuristic planet city below & shoot down the waves of attacking UFO's. Avoid the black holes that will temporarily disable your ship, while shooting down enemy space ships. Fly over the scenic mountains and do battle with the enemy. SEGA
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  • 20
    ELECTROCOIN PRESENTS ПАВІНЕ MARIUS 45 INCH MONITOR DEDICATED TWO PLAYER SPACE GAME. A TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH FOR TAITO AND ELECTROCOIN. TAITO Beyond anything you have ever experienced before! As a pilot of the Silver Hawk Squadron, your mission is to conquer the enemy using missiles and bombs. During flight, while destroying certain enemy objects, you can increase the armament of your fighterships by catching various power spheres- red, green and blue. Red increases missile power, green incr
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  • 21
    GET IT ON! VIRTUAL TAKE CONTROL OF THE VIRTUARCIC, THE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL HIGH-SPEED ROBOT OF DESTRUCTION SEGA Sega Enterprises, Inc. (USA)- 255 Sberelice Drive, Seite 400- Redwood City, CA 94065 (415) 9-3100 - Fax: (415) 852-3120
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  • 22
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  • 23
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