How to Make a Compelling Video Game Trailer 

The first step to creating a successful video game trailer is deciding on its purpose – this will help you decide how long it should be and what kind of content it should include. If you’re looking for something short and sweet, then aim for between 30 seconds and 1 minute. This should be just long enough to give a brief overview of the game, while also leaving viewers wanting more. If you’re looking for something longer and more comprehensive, then aim for between 2-3 minutes. It is also recommended that you create varying lengths for marketing purposes. You can include some gameplay footage as well as cutscenes or interviews with developers that discuss features of the game in greater detail. It is important to include a variety of content types in your video game trailer, other types of content you could include:  

Live-action: Uncommon but potentially useful. Typically because it's often not the medium that game developers are used to. If done well however, live action will make your trailer stand out, and engage beyond the traditional gamer fanbase. 

Animated sequence: Of course, you can make a custom animation just for the trailer. In this case, the trailer is pretty much one big animated sequence announcing the plot. 

Cutscenes: Cutscenes make for very interesting content, after they've been remixed and edited down into a short sequence. 

Gameplay: The gameplay usually needs a fair amount of editing to fit the trailer format. 

Voiceover: Not all content is visual. A voice-actor recorded soundtrack, is a tested & proven way to tie everything together. 

Text: "Text" can be extremely useful to convey certain aspects of the game. Make sure to stylize the text to match the look and feel of the game.  

Next, decide on what type of trailer you want to create – this will help determine the tone and style of your video. Do you want it to be comedic? Action-packed? Emotional? Think about how best to showcase the key elements of your game within this particular genre so that viewers get a good idea of what they can expect from playing it.  

Once you have a good idea of what type of trailer you want to create, it’s time to start creating the actual video. Look through your footage and decide which clips are most effective in conveying the tone and story behind your game. If you don’t have any pre-recorded material, then consider shooting some yourself or hiring a professional video editor who can help bring your vision to life.  

Some key elements to include:   

• The world  

• The character 

• The obstacles (goals) 

• What will the character do to confront them 

The next step is adding music – this will be instrumental in setting the mood for your trailer and helping viewers connect with its content on an emotional level. Choose music that reflects the overall feeling that you want people to experience when watching the trailer, as well as something that gets their heart racing. This could be anything from a fast-paced rock track to a slow, melancholy ballad. The visuals and soundtrack should artfully sync together as the action ramps up. Sprinkle some sound effects from the game when editing for a dramatic effect.  

Here are some elements that your music and sound effects should support: 

• Atmosphere and tonality 

• Suspense and anticipation (if applicable) 

• Transitions 

• Intensify the impact of the scene/phrase 

• Soften a moment 

• Emphasize a specific emotion