Derek Lieu | The Best Game Trailer Length | Video Game Trailer Academy @DerekLieu | Uploaded July 2020 | Updated October 2024, 7 hours ago.
In most cases, game trailers should be 60-90 seconds or shorter.
Original blog post - derek-lieu.com/blog/2018/12/20/ideal-game-trailer-length-and-labeling
The tl;dr:
If you make your game trailer longer than 60-90 seconds and no one recognizes your studio or game name, you're fighting against the norm and increasing the likelihood they'll not watch or stop watching part way unless you have a very strong hook and good editing.
It's better to make a shorter trailer with a lot of variety than a long trailer which repeats itself. If you don't have enough material for 60-90 seconds, make it shorter!
It's also important to label your video properly. Don't call everything a trailer if it's more like a gameplay overview or devlog. That said, good editing can make a longer duration feel short, bad editing can make a short trailer feel long, and if you have a dedicated fan base you have more leeway to do whatever the heck you want.
Weekly trailer tips: GameTrailerTips.com
Support on Patreon - patreon.com/dereklieu
Video Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
00:47 - Make it shorter
01:25 - Length affects the decision to watch
01:52 - Video lengths in terms of "meal size"
02:43 - The title of the video calibrates duration expectations
03:52 - Final takeaways
Original blog post - derek-lieu.com/blog/2018/12/20/ideal-game-trailer-length-and-labeling
Trailers shown (in order of appearance)
Death Stranding Launch Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=tCI396HyhbQ
Firewatch E3 Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=jFWycMs-J4A
Inception Trailer 3 - youtube.com/watch?v=FiM51gvvW_s
Ooblets Announcement Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=AIaGm8JWyEM
Bloodroots Demo Release Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=OIF-gotkE5E
Castle Costume Gameplay Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=8Yhr-t4Ib80
Moving Out Launch Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=WhoMkC9Zvw0
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime First Look Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=NwfRYGVADL0
Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition Launch Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=KfjVIQug6_E
Planet Zoo Announcement Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=naQ0acqONwg
Sekiro Shadows Die Twice Gameplay Overview Trailer -
Golf on Mars Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=EZ3a7KALcTQ
SOMERVILLE Teaser Trailer #2 - youtube.com/watch?v=3Wecsb0EiPc
Untitled Goose Game Pre-Alpha Gameplay Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=eT-vvzCxQWM
Behind the Scenes God of War (2018) Making Of - youtube.com/watch?v=yz4C_ZdFNWw
Hardspace Shipbreaker Gameplay Overview Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=wN82DJGmq7o
Assassin's Creed Freedom Cry Gameplay Walkthrough Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=VsUDGZgHDXw
Ooblets March 2018 Develop! - youtube.com/watch?v=DL8B9zfgUzc
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition New Features Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=PdZGeI1egzQ
Assassin's Creed Revelations E3 Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=HMsbMK9Odoc
Shenmue III The Story Goes on Launch Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=xeME6jLvMOc
Kerbal Space Program 2 Cinematic Announce Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=P_nj6wW6Gsc
Music:
Death Stranding Theme TGA Teaser
Firewatch OST - Camp Approach
Firewatch OST - North Backcountry
Firewatch OST - Stay in Your Tower and Watch
chrisremo.bandcamp.com/album/firewatch-original-score
—
ABOUT ME
Hi, I'm Derek Lieu and I'm a game trailer editor! I got my start in the movie trailer industry as an assistant editor at a house which produced trailers for: The Matrix Trilogy, Spider-Man, Pirates of the Caribbean and many more.
Over many years I worked as an editor, and started making fan trailers for games until eventually I got jobs at game trailer houses in Los Angeles where I worked on games like Mortal Kombat X, Shadow of Mordor and lots of LEGO games. Independently I've helped make trailers for games like: Half-Life: Alyx, Firewatch, Dead Cells, Subnautica, Spelunky 2, Ooblets and BattleBlock Theater.
I'm using this channel to teach people about the art of making trailers via video essays, tutorials, reviews, and behind-the-scenes looks at my own work. I think about trailers a lot both for work and fun, so I have A LOT to say about them.
#gametrailers #indiegametrailers #trailerediting
Website: derek-lieu.com
Twitter: twitter.com/derek_lieu
Cats' Instagram: instagram.com/uniandebi
In most cases, game trailers should be 60-90 seconds or shorter.
Original blog post - derek-lieu.com/blog/2018/12/20/ideal-game-trailer-length-and-labeling
The tl;dr:
If you make your game trailer longer than 60-90 seconds and no one recognizes your studio or game name, you're fighting against the norm and increasing the likelihood they'll not watch or stop watching part way unless you have a very strong hook and good editing.
It's better to make a shorter trailer with a lot of variety than a long trailer which repeats itself. If you don't have enough material for 60-90 seconds, make it shorter!
It's also important to label your video properly. Don't call everything a trailer if it's more like a gameplay overview or devlog. That said, good editing can make a longer duration feel short, bad editing can make a short trailer feel long, and if you have a dedicated fan base you have more leeway to do whatever the heck you want.
Weekly trailer tips: GameTrailerTips.com
Support on Patreon - patreon.com/dereklieu
Video Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
00:47 - Make it shorter
01:25 - Length affects the decision to watch
01:52 - Video lengths in terms of "meal size"
02:43 - The title of the video calibrates duration expectations
03:52 - Final takeaways
Original blog post - derek-lieu.com/blog/2018/12/20/ideal-game-trailer-length-and-labeling
Trailers shown (in order of appearance)
Death Stranding Launch Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=tCI396HyhbQ
Firewatch E3 Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=jFWycMs-J4A
Inception Trailer 3 - youtube.com/watch?v=FiM51gvvW_s
Ooblets Announcement Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=AIaGm8JWyEM
Bloodroots Demo Release Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=OIF-gotkE5E
Castle Costume Gameplay Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=8Yhr-t4Ib80
Moving Out Launch Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=WhoMkC9Zvw0
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime First Look Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=NwfRYGVADL0
Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition Launch Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=KfjVIQug6_E
Planet Zoo Announcement Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=naQ0acqONwg
Sekiro Shadows Die Twice Gameplay Overview Trailer -
Golf on Mars Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=EZ3a7KALcTQ
SOMERVILLE Teaser Trailer #2 - youtube.com/watch?v=3Wecsb0EiPc
Untitled Goose Game Pre-Alpha Gameplay Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=eT-vvzCxQWM
Behind the Scenes God of War (2018) Making Of - youtube.com/watch?v=yz4C_ZdFNWw
Hardspace Shipbreaker Gameplay Overview Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=wN82DJGmq7o
Assassin's Creed Freedom Cry Gameplay Walkthrough Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=VsUDGZgHDXw
Ooblets March 2018 Develop! - youtube.com/watch?v=DL8B9zfgUzc
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition New Features Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=PdZGeI1egzQ
Assassin's Creed Revelations E3 Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=HMsbMK9Odoc
Shenmue III The Story Goes on Launch Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=xeME6jLvMOc
Kerbal Space Program 2 Cinematic Announce Trailer - youtube.com/watch?v=P_nj6wW6Gsc
Music:
Death Stranding Theme TGA Teaser
Firewatch OST - Camp Approach
Firewatch OST - North Backcountry
Firewatch OST - Stay in Your Tower and Watch
chrisremo.bandcamp.com/album/firewatch-original-score
—
ABOUT ME
Hi, I'm Derek Lieu and I'm a game trailer editor! I got my start in the movie trailer industry as an assistant editor at a house which produced trailers for: The Matrix Trilogy, Spider-Man, Pirates of the Caribbean and many more.
Over many years I worked as an editor, and started making fan trailers for games until eventually I got jobs at game trailer houses in Los Angeles where I worked on games like Mortal Kombat X, Shadow of Mordor and lots of LEGO games. Independently I've helped make trailers for games like: Half-Life: Alyx, Firewatch, Dead Cells, Subnautica, Spelunky 2, Ooblets and BattleBlock Theater.
I'm using this channel to teach people about the art of making trailers via video essays, tutorials, reviews, and behind-the-scenes looks at my own work. I think about trailers a lot both for work and fun, so I have A LOT to say about them.
#gametrailers #indiegametrailers #trailerediting
Website: derek-lieu.com
Twitter: twitter.com/derek_lieu
Cats' Instagram: instagram.com/uniandebi
