# Video Game-Inspired Chocolate Ads These New Snickers Ads are Set Up Like Retro Video Games By Riley von Niessen | Published 2017-02-02 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/snickers-ads References: [adweek](http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/snickers-turned-its-preroll-ads-wacky-little-video-games-you-can-actually-play-175751) & [youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7cB6TrrpNU) A series of new [Snickers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/satisfortunes-for-nfl) ads were recently put out by the chocolate brand, one of which surrounds a wrestler and another that follows a rock star. In both ads, the eccentric characters are presented as angry and rebellious, respectively. As the Snickers ads progress, the characters become more crazed as they react to their stressful environments and their growing hunger. In the wrestler commercial, the character grows more angry as he gets hungrier while driving a bus full of school children. With the Snickers ads set up like [retro video games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/droga5s-wake-up), viewers are shown the characters rising anger or rebellious levels on a bar. Once the wrestler gets his hands on one of the brand's [chocolate bars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/snickers-xtreme), he returns to his normal self: a completely calm and happy bus driver. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.4/10 - Popularity: 17% | Activity: 46% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Commercials](https://www.trendhunter.com/commercials) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Retro Video Game-inspired Ads:** Exploring the use of retro video game aesthetics in advertising campaigns to engage viewers and enhance brand recognition. - **Emotional Advertising:** Utilizing portrayals of eccentric and angry characters in ads to evoke emotional responses and create memorable experiences for audiences. - **Stress and Hunger as Marketing Hooks:** Highlighting the effects of stress and hunger in advertising campaigns to promote products as solutions for real-life problems. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Advertising and Marketing:** Incorporating retro video game aesthetics and emotional storytelling techniques in ad campaigns to attract and engage customers. - **Food and Beverage:** Creating ad campaigns that emphasize the role of food products in alleviating stress and hunger to target consumers seeking instant relief. - **Entertainment and Gaming:** Collaborating with brands to develop interactive video game-inspired ads that resonate with the gaming community and drive engagement. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Football-Based Chocolate Bar Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/satisfortunes-for-nfl.md) - [Humorous Game-Day Chocolate Commercials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chocolate-lava.md) - [Wrestler-Themed Chocolate Commercials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tonys-chocolonely-advertisement.md) - [Gamer-Centric Fast Food Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/burger-to-king.md) - [Nostalgic Gaming Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gaming-snacks.md) - [Video Game-Themed Candy Branding](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-hershey-company-and-nintendo.md) - [Tastebud Training Programs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tastebud-training-program.md) - [Video Game-Themed Chocolates](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/slime-valentines-day-chocolates.md) - [Dramatized Caramel Candy Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reeses-big-game-ad.md)