Game Merchandise Ideas for Brand Promotion

According to Archive Market Research, the global gaming merchandise market is projected to reach USD 113.33 billion by 2025, with a steady 8–12% CAGR through 2033. This growth reflects how merchandise has become a powerful medium for connection, bridging digital engagement with real-world brand presence.

From collectible figures to LED accessories and eco-friendly apparel, game merchandise allows brands to connect authentically with gaming audiences while driving long-term visibility and loyalty.

Before diving into the key trends, let’s look at the types of gaming promotional merchandise winning over both gamers and marketers.

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Top Promotional Game Merchandise Ideas

Game-inspired promotional items combine creativity, practicality, and emotional appeal — transforming everyday products into meaningful brand experiences.

Here are some standout ideas:

Wearable items

Hoodies, T-shirts, caps, and socks featuring minimalist gamer-inspired designs or limited-edition artwork.

Tech & desk accessories

LED mousepads, controller stands, phone grips, illuminated keychains, or wireless chargers — perfect for gaming setups.

Collectibles & novelty gifts

Figurines, enamel pins, or customized keycaps inspired by game characters or esports teams.

Drinkware for gamers

Tumblers, mugs, and can coolers designed for streamers or gaming lounges.

Gift sets & influencer kits

Curated gamer boxes for product launches, PR packages, or esports tournaments.

Key Trends in Game Merchandise (2026 and Beyond)

The rising market value shows that game merchandise is more than a side business — it’s a mainstream brand strategy. With the market growing rapidly year over year, here are the trends shaping its next phase:

• Sustainability first — eco-friendly materials like RPET, bamboo, and recycled packaging are reshaping how fans perceive value and quality.
• Limited editions & exclusivity — collectible drops and numbered series drive hype, scarcity, and higher engagement.
• Tech-integrated designs — LED lighting, NFC tags, or AR codes merge physical and digital experiences.
• Cross-industry collaborations — gaming x fashion, gaming x lifestyle, and gaming x entertainment partnerships reach new audiences.
• Customization & personalization — player tags, team colors, and unique patterns deepen emotional connections.
• Retro gaming revival — nostalgia-driven designs inspired by 80s and 90s icons appeal to both veteran and new gamers.

These trends reveal one clear insight: gamers want merchandise that feels meaningful, functional, and collectible — not just branded.

How Brands Can Leverage Game Merchandise for Promotion

Game merchandise is now an integral part of how brands engage with digital-native consumers. How brands leverage it:

Design Tips for Impactful Game Merchandise

Creating effective game merchandise isn’t about placing a logo on a product. It’s about designing for culture and connection.

• Align visuals with gamer aesthetics: Neon accents, pixel art, and futuristic motifs resonate strongly with this audience.
• Blend utility with collectibility: Choose items gamers will use and display — at home, in-stream, or on the go.
• Tell a story: Every piece should reflect a campaign theme, milestone, or message — making it feel exclusive.
• Keep branding subtle yet strategic: Gamers value authenticity; designs should complement the culture, not commercialize it.

When done right, merchandise becomes a badge of belonging, not just a promotional giveaway.

Case Studies: How Camel’s Duty-Free Competition Pulls Customers In?

The tobacco business is one of the biggest industries in the world. Having said that, the competition makes businesses think of the best way to stand out over competitors. During our visit to Germany, we found Camel cigarette’s promotion that definitely stunned us. The brand was running a store competition where customers have the chance to win branded game merchandise. Moreover, the GWP promotion of the brand was something exceptional.

Game Merchandise

If you could have the chance to get into the store, you would be delighted with what you will see and experience. Allow us to tell you what’s with Camel’s store competition that pulls customers inside this duty-free store.

Fancy Store Visuals

Visual merchandising makes a store or a shop more attractive and pleasing to customers. Moreover, it helps drive more traffic and encourages impulse buying. Since online stores are becoming popular, it gives store and business owners greater reason to upgrade their store visuals.

Arguably, Camel’s retail space in the duty-free corner of this airport has an excellent visual appeal that can allure passersby to check on what’s inside. The ambience is indeed very inviting because of the creative retail display ideas used.

Game Merchandise

Looking around this duty-free store, Camel is the one that really stunned us and piqued our interest. The lighting, POS displays, the products, and the promotional game matched perfectly together. Though the brand only has limited space, anyone who will see this will be encouraged to check on this brand and product promotion.

Branded Game Merchandise

We’ve also got the chance to play Camel’s store promotional games. We were also excited to get the gaming merchandise to be given away. The game mechanics are very simple. Customers have to purchase a carton of Camel cigarettes to play the game. They have to match 5 Camels to win the prize.

Game Merchandise

The machine works like the usual slot and game machine we see in amusement parks or malls. When luck is in players’ hands, they will be able to get this pair of AirPod.

Game Merchandise

The AirPods to be given away are available in two colours. But what we really love about this game merchandise is that they are very useful to customers. As they are going on a long trip or vacation, having a pair of AirPods in their pocket would be convenient when they have to attend calls or they want to listen to music while on travel.

Camel’s customized game is undeniably engaging. Thus, there’s is no doubt it’s gaining so much attention from anyone inside the store.

Here’s how to play this game:

We’ve also have here another example of an engaging and innovative game inside we found inside a duty-free store before.

Take a look at John Dewar & Sons chicken bingo game inside the wines and spirits section of the Hong Kong Duty-Free store. The promotion is very unique, thus it easily grabbed customers’ attention. The branded game was very interactive, encouraging passersby to stop and check on it.

Excellent Product Display

Product display plays a big part in any marketing activities all across industries. Creative merchandise displays have a significant influence over sales as it helps people get engaged with the brand. The vibrant colours of Camel’s POS display are one of the reasons we checked this promotion.

Game Merchandise

Each item is neatly arranged on the shelf making it more appealing to customers. If you have this OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), you’ll definitely love the brand’s product display idea.

GWP Ideas: Camel’s Additional Product Promotion

Aside from the duty-free competition and game merchandise to be given away, the GWP promotion that Camel has made us even more interested in the brand. The brand is offering awesome merchandise upon purchasing products from the store!

Promotion Mechanics:

1. For every purchase of 1 carton of Camel cigarettes, customers can get a luggage strap for free. The luggage strap is a perfect promotional gift as customers can use it in their future travels.

2. Buy 2 cartons of Camels cigarettes, and get a flask as a free item. The flask is another great and practical product to offer to customers as it can be used to keep them hydrated most of the time.

3. Customers can get the luggage and the flask for free when purchased 3 cartons of Camel cigarettes. Having these two items would make customers feel rewarded. Moreover, receiving these high-end giveaways make them feel that they made the best out of their money.

The truth is, most people are expecting cigarette brands to offer promotional gift ideas and products such as custom ashtrays or cigarette accessories as part of their marketing. But most brands, including Camel, broke this idea as they maximize everything to make their marketing really something. Of all Camel’s promotions we’ve seen before, this Duty-Free competition and GWP promotion are undoubtedly the most exceptional.

If you are wondering what promotional products and campaigns cigarette brands have conducted before, feel free to read these blogs.

This silicone cigarette holder ring is a simple business giveaway idea for the tobacco industry that is flexible, cost-effective, and durable. The cigarette holder can be used as gift with purchase items, business, and marketing giveaways, and on-pack ideas.

This wooden rolling tray is absolutely a great promotional product idea for your tobacco business. Offering this to your customers, makes them patronize your brand even more.

As this product allows them to easily stash their herbs, they would not be forced to use pre-rolled cones anymore. Thus, this rolling tray would intensify your customers’ smoking experience.

What We Found Out

We made our visit last October 2021 during the height of the pandemic. We’ve got a perfect time checking on the promo and enjoying the game as the place is unmanned.

Did you know that Germany is the only EU state that still allows tobacco products to be broadly advertised? But recently, the German government announced it will limit the outdoor advertising of tobacco products from January 2022 after years of negotiations in the country’s governing coalition. After a long delay, a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising is about to be passed. Advertising of tobacco products will only be authorized in tobacco shops. Furthermore, the distribution of free tobacco samples will also no longer be allowed outside of specialists stores, and this duty-free store in Frankfurt airport is one of them.

Thus, if you are a business owner who is planning to conduct such a promotion, you must be aware of the rules implemented in your area. Make sure to follow the regulations mandated to secure your marketing success and your customers’ welfare.

More inspirations about gaming merchandise

If you haven’t seen this gaming merchandise by Candy Crush, then you should check this out! Candy Crushers will definitely love these cool colorful items from their favorite online game. This range of merchandise presented in the UK market recently.

The creators of the famous Mortal Kombat series, have been running a strong marketing campaign for the past few months. This is done in anticipation for their new game, Mortal Kombat X, that will be released on April 15th, 2015.

Games stores in Australia have been advertising the promotional game set, that they title the “Kollector’s Edition” game set. It features numerous innovative promotional gifts.

Micromania is a leading game retailer with 332 stores in France. The company strives to build a strong brand reputation and strengthen their position as market leader. Below are some exclusive collections and branded marketing items found their game promotions.

How Can ODM Help?

Are you looking for a new and creative promotional product idea for your brand? Search no more! Tell us what you have in mind and our team will help you create them. Being in the sourcing industry for years, ODM group is committed to helping businesses produce the marketing tools they need.

Partnered with a team of experienced designers, we are a trusted manufacturer of custom promotional giveaways, gift with purchase ideas, POS display units, and brand packaging designs. Contact us today, and learn more about our services.

At The ODM Group, we specialize in transforming creative concepts into market-ready merchandise through precision printing, professional design, and global manufacturing expertise. Contact us today to learn how we can help you design, source, and manufacture high-quality promotional products that elevate your brand awareness.

• Website: www.theodmgroup.com 
• Email: info@theodmgroup.com 

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