Video game trailers have a special ability to create hype, draw emotions, and set expectations for what players can expect on an upcoming game, a new piece of content, and more. While the top trailers of 2019 were remarkable, 2020 did its best to outdo it.
The best trailers for 2020 are exceptional for various reasons. Some of them reveal a long-awaited announcement with levels of hype that darn-near make the internet explode, while many others (and some announcements too) are just so remarkably shot with gorgeous visuals and music that they create a spine chilling feeling for fans. 2020 was filled with all of this and more, making the best trailers of the year truly stand out. PLEASEÂ NOTE: the following trailers are listed in no particular order.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - Official Minecraft Steve Reveal Trailer
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate just celebrated its two-year anniversary. Leading up to the release of the game, Nintendo's crossover fighting game had some absolutely epic trailers, including the glorious reveal trailer showcasing the Inklings getting their first taste of Smash Bros. action. Since then, the remarkable reveal trailers have continued to shock and amaze. Whether it was the nostalgic reveal of Banjo and Kazooie or the shocking first look at Joker, Nintendo often puts together exciting trailers to showcase which fighter is joining the bout. But the most recent reveal may be the best yet.
Players have wanted Steve from Minecraft to join Smash Bros. for years, and they finally go their wish. Not only did the trailer show off a moveset that somehow manages to perfectly represent Steve's actions in Minecraft, but it also was one that built up anticipation and intrigue before the big reveal. Complete with a remarkable trailer, it's hard to imagine this announcement being any better.
Demon's Souls - Announcement Trailer | PS5
The Demon's Souls remake announcement trailer did more than just blow the minds of fans of the original who have been anticipating a remake for years, it instantly showed what the PlayStation 5 was capable of. Indeed, it was the powerful and breathtaking visuals of the remake for Demon's Souls that made the console look truly next-gen. From the music to the art-style, the trailer is jaw-dropping. The remake for Demon's Souls went on to receive universal acclaim critically, which is not a big surprise with how much the game was enjoyed back in 2009.
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales - Gameplay Demo | PS5
The reveal of Spider-Man: Miles Morales was great, as it came with a flurry of awesome announcements at the PlayStation 5 reveal event. But it was the gameplay demo from a few months later that really showcased what the game was all about. Leading up to the release of the web-slinging title, many wondered how long it would take to beat Spider-Man: Miles Morales, if it was a true sequel, or even if it would simply take place in the same New York City.
The gameplay answered some of that, but mainly it let fans know how Spider-Man: Miles Morales would play differently than 2018's Marvel's Spider-Man. Miles Morales is Spider-Man, but he is his own unique Spider-Man. He comes with his own style and flair, his own personality, his own backstory, and his own convictions. All of this was on display in the gameplay trailer for Spider-Man Miles Morales.
Ghost of Tsushima - Official Story Trailer
One of the games that helped "close" the PS4 generation with honor, Ghost of Tsushima is a gorgeous and emotionally impactful game. The story trailer shows exactly this, and much more. Told in a fictional narrative of the historical Mongol invasion of Japan, Ghost of Tsushima follows a young Samurai who is faced with conflictions about the respect and honor of being a Samurai with the brutal reality that he faces on the battlefield. The story trailer shows players what they would be able to embark in once the title released, and all of this is done in the amazing backdrop of beautiful Japan.
Horizon Forbidden West - Announcement Trailer | PS5
While Horizon Zero Dawn was brilliant, brutal, and beautiful in cold futuristic Colorado, Forbidden West travels to brand new locations that expand beyond anywhere the first game dared go. Everything shown is this trailer manages to capture that unexplored feeling, while offering players beautiful environments, shots of underwater exploration, and daunting new machines that capture the imagination. Simply put, the trailer is one of wonder and adventure. Aloy says herself, "there's nothing I wouldn't do to save this world, no depth that I won't explore, no secret I won't unlock, and no barrier I won't cross."
Far Cry 6 - Official Cinematic Reveal Trailer
It's not always easy to do a cinematic trailer right. When it comes to the reveal of a game, fans can quickly get annoyed when seeing a CGI cinematic instead of in-game gameplay, as they wonder who much of the trailer will represent the final product. However, Far Cry 6's cinematic reveal manages to capture the best of the best a CGI trailer can offer, subtly showing Giancarlo Esposito in the role of Anton, revealing a beautiful paradise at war, and taking the franchise's basic approach to a whole new level. The video is tense, emotional, and ends with a cliffhanger, potentially setting the tone for what Far Cry 6 will be.
Deathloop - Official Gameplay Reveal Trailer
Looking back, the Deathloop gameplay trailer is eye-catching because of what how much of the game it seems to capture. First, it highlights one of the more interesting gameplay loops in any trailer of the year. The story and the gameplay itself will all be wrapped into the loop that the player goes through, which each death seemingly restarting a "run" of the game. It can be tricky to persuade fans about a product and tell the story of what the title is all about with a simple trailer, but the Deathloop gameplay reveal does just that.
Half-Life: Alyx Gameplay Video 1
Half-Life: Alyx is one of the highest-rated VR games of 2020. Just like the original games set a standard in narrative-based first-person shooters, Half-Life: Alyx has done the same in the world of virtual reality. While there was certainly excitement when the game was first revealed, there was also some doubt. Many wondered if the game would be a fully-fledged title and not a half-baked VR experience. The first gameplay trailer puts all doubts to bed. The trailer drops directly into eerie gameplay with all the environmental story-telling that Valve is known for with this series, and it never lets up.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity - Announcement Trailer
There is such a craving for all things Breath of the Wild. The 2017 action-adventure game is considered an instant classic, and the hype leading up to the launch of the Breath of the Wild sequel is hard to quantify. That may be, at least in part, why the reveal trailer for Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity was so remarkable for so many. It opens up talking about the history of Hyrule, with clear elements pulled from Breath of the Wild, but the 180 is that the game is actually the next entry in Hyrule Warriors.
Thankfully, due to its beautiful gameplay, how it reimagines these characters, and manages to showcase how it builds on so much fan-loved lore, and more, the trailer its breathtaking. And now that the game is out, the eventual Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel may be better thanks to Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity in many ways.
The Last of Us 2 Official Story Trailer
There is no doubt that the story trailer for The Last of Us 2 deserves praise. It is gripping, brutal, horrifying, and beyond emotional. All of that should come as no surprise, however, because the game itself could be described with the same words.
Bugsnax - Announcement Trailer | PS5
Some of the best trailers are of comical and whimsical nature, and the Bugsnax announcement trailer took the internet by storm when it dropped. The premise of the game is explained very quickly, and it just seems too wonky to even be true. Bugs are made up of food, said bugs can be eaten, and those who eat the Bugsnax bugs start to transform into the food itself. All of this is shown with a few hotdog jokes and funny remarks, but more importantly, the theme song that plays over the trailer is extremely catchy. If there is a reward for most unique trailer of the year, Bugsnax likely runs away with it.
League of Legends - Season 2020 Cinematic "Warriors" Trailer (ft 2WEI and Edda Hayes)
League of Legends has been going strong for over a decade, having started in 2009. It's not easy to keep a game alive for so long, but continuing to build up hype for upcoming content is a wonderful way to do so. The cinematic trailer for the 2020 season of League of Legends is one that is absolutely breathtaking. The effects and the quality are top-notch, but it's the music featuring 2WEI and Edda Hayes that really sets it apart.
Doom Eternal - Official Launch Trailer
The Doom Eternal launch trailer does everything a launch trailer needs to. It shows frenetic gameplay, it is high on the action, and of course, because it is Doom, it also has over-the-top metal music. Another fun thing about the game is that it didn't exclusively launch in March, because Doom Eternal is now available on the Nintendo Switch.
Resident Evil: Village - Official Reveal Trailer | PS5 Reveal Event
The reveal trailer for Resident Evil: Village, also referred to as Resident Evil 8, may be the most atmospheric of the year, and it also could be the one with the biggest and best surprise ending. The nearly three-minute-long video shows off horrifying imagery and gameplay, with moments that make the hair on the back of one's neck stick up. The visuals, sound effects, and quality are good enough to make the list, but the ending is what solidifies it. Watching long-time hero Chris Redfield seemingly cross to the dark side has eyebrows raised, interested and ready to see how the story combines with the beauty show before it.
It is a bummer that 2020 took away press conferences, as this was the type of trailer that likely would have received an uproar of emotions and screams at an E3 stage. But regardless of how crazy 2020 has been, it has still given gamers some awesome video games to enjoy and some fantastic trailers to celebrate.