Monetization tips

Think about monetization early. Bolted on at the end, ads feel forced; designed in from the start, they feel like a favor to the player. Here's what works, with examples from live Poki games.

New to the model? Start with how monetization works on Poki.

Keep the economy simple

Simple economies outperform complex ones: one understandable currency, clear rewards, and no secondary currencies (web players dislike them). Design the economy around rewarded moments from the start.

Types of rewarded videos

A helping hand

Alternative routes for players who struggle, which also reduces drop-off: revives, level skips, hints, stat boost, speed-ups, or a special ability.

monetization-revive.webp

In-game economy

Let players choose between spending earned coins or watching a video for the same reward. Multipliers on earnings and direct coin unlocks are the classics.

Customization

Ownership drives investment. Feature unlocks like music or UI themes and cosmetics, unlocked directly or progressively, give players new goals and replay value.

Best practices

  • The natural, non-rewarded option always sits in the primary position. Overselling the rewarded button or delaying the alternative erodes trust.
  • Don't be pushy. Too many prompts and notifications lower engagement.
  • Use the industry-standard video icon on rewarded buttons.
  • Celebrate the reward: animation, sound, confirmation. And apply it automatically where possible to save clicks.
  • Unlimited rewarded videos are allowed, but set limits that protect your balance and progression.
  • Go dynamic: rewarded opportunities that appear in specific moments (a briefly appearing character, a juiced-up multiplier) give you more control than static buttons.
  • Try temporary or themed content: weekly and seasonal unlocks lift engagement and retention.

The full button hierarchy and SDK rules live in the requirements, and the anti-patterns to steer clear of are on what to avoid on web.