A Must-Read for Browser Game Developers! Passed Google AdSense H5 Game Ads Review
The Monetization Problem in Browser Games
When developing browser games, there's one wall you'll inevitably hit: monetization.
Even if you want to display ads, having banner ads constantly visible in the corner of the screen ruins user immersion. In-game ads are really the best fit for games:
- Display ads on game over
- Show ads after stage clear
- Give in-game items as rewards for watching ads
This kind of natural integration of ads into the game flow is ideal for both users and developers.
No Ad Services for Browser Games!
However, here's the problem:
There are surprisingly few ways to display ads within browser games.
There are plenty of in-game ad services for mobile apps - Unity Ads, AdMob, ironSource... you name it. But for browser games (HTML5 games), options are extremely limited.
Realistically, Google AdSense H5 Game Ads is about the only viable option.
The Mystery of H5 Game Ads
Looking into H5 Game Ads, I found several concerning points:
- Surprisingly little information available
- Still in beta forever
- Rumored to have strict review process
- Can't find implementation examples
Honestly, I was half-resigned to just using regular AdSense for a while.
Results of Applying Despite Low Expectations...
Still, if there's a possibility, why not try? So I applied for the H5 Game Ads review without much hope.
And then...
🎉 I actually passed the review!
Why Did I Pass?
Honestly, I'm not sure why I passed. At the time of application:
- Only one published game: "Deep Sea Octopus"
- Very simple game (Flappy Bird-style action game)
- Limited content on the site itself
Possible factors:
- It was a complete game playable from start to finish
- The game actually worked properly
- The site had privacy policy and terms of service
The rumor about "strict review" might just be due to lack of information and few applicants.
Message to Browser Game Developers
So, if you're developing browser games and struggling with monetization, why not try applying for H5 Game Ads?
📝 H5 Game Ads Application Page (Google Official)
...But There's a Problem
With this, monetization should be set! ...or so I thought. There was one big problem.
The main AdSense review rejected me 😂
Apparently, even if you pass the H5 Game Ads review, you can't display ads without passing the main AdSense review.
The rejection reason was "Low-value content". I'll add more blog posts and content, then try again!
I'll report back on the blog when there's more progress with H5 Game Ads and browser game development. Fellow developers in the same boat, let's keep at it!