Arby's is quickly cementing itself as the gamer's fast-food chain. Over a decade ago, that accolade may have belonged to Pizza Hut when they gave Everquest 2 players the ability to order pizza through an in-game command. More recently, maybe, that distinction belongs to KFC since the release of the KFConsole.
Arby's, however, has slowly been earning its way into gamers' hearts with their concerted effort of gaming-related tweets, memes, and even more importantly, ambitious crossovers.
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Arby's x Super Mario Maker 2
Two years ago, the brand made headlines when Arby's released a Super Mario Maker 2 level. It was a relatively unserious level—built-in Super Mario Bros. 3—that was straightforward and filled to the brim with references to the company's slogan, but the gaming community at large mostly enjoyed it. More importantly, the Arby's level was a deft marketing move that was ultimately a super cost-effective way to get the brand into the mind of thousands of players. In response, another fast-food chain, Wendy's, created a whole slew of Super Mario Maker 2 levels in an effort to cash in on the success of the original stunt, which in turn drew even more attention towards Arby's.
Arby's x Dungeons and Dragons
Its most recent crossover might be one of its best ever. It's a bit hard to explain, but the pairing of Arby's and Dungeons and Dragons is so odd that it simply works. When it was teased, this strange pairing set Twitter on fire, and because of fans' responses, the joke ended up becoming reality. The dice sold out extremely quickly, probably in part owing to the niche nature of the pairing, but also due to the fact that the dice were surprisingly cheap—$12 for the full set—and aesthetically pleasing.
Arby's x Shovel Knight
While Arby's Twitter page can often be seen making reference to hugely popular games like Apex Legends, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Final Fantasy, the company isn't afraid to mix it up with games from smaller developers like Shovel Knight. The Arby's and Shovel Knight crossover allowed customers the chance to unlock in-game loot from Arby's Kids Meals. The reward was a bunch of Arby's themed inclusions into the game such as a flying burger skin that replaced fairies, in-game text changes, and the Arby's logo hat atop the player's character.
Arby's x Cuphead
Like Shovel Knight, Cuphead, while wildly successful, comes from fairly humble beginnings, proving once again that Arby's keeps a close eye on the gaming community. Unfortunately, the pairing of Arby's and Cuphead only came in the form of physical toys from Arby's and had no in-game equivalent, unlike the Shovel Knight crossover. Still, the papercraft bosses and token shooters that were included with the meals are truly nice to look at and fit perfectly with the feel of the game itself. As Cuphead ages and continues to cement its near-legendary status in the gaming community, this crossover may go down as one of the more memorable moves that Arby's made.
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