Here at The Nerdi Paradox, we strongly appreciate the cinematically oriented. We enjoy a good movie, TV series, and anything of that ilk. As such, we wanted to take a few moments to highlight the element’s contribution to driving the hype machine that is gaming as we know it.

Be it adrenaline-pumping songs, bass-kicking effects, phenomenal writing, epic cinematography, or incredible visuals, there are more than a few aspects that make up a “good” trailer. Now, we’re no film experts, but we do know what gets us excited.

Needless to say, trailers are often far from representative of the true product. However, despite that, we’ve penned together a catalogue of what we consider, some of the greatest trailers ever made. Grab some popcorn; a large drink, and let’s relive some hype.

There is little-to-no organizational priority outside grouping by developer/publisher. This list is in no particular order. Recency bias may be prevalent, however, marketing/advertising budgets have also skyrocketed over the past 20 years.

Index

Microsoft –

• Halo 3: ODST (Live-Action)
• Halo 3 Announcement
• “Madworld” trailer – Gears of War, Xbox 360
• Halo Wars 2 E3
• Hellblade 2 Reveal

Activision/Blizzard –

• Modern Warfare 2
• Modern Warfare 2019
• Starcraft II Teaser
• “Heart of the Swarm” trailer – Starcraft II
• World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
• Overwatch Reveal
• “Become Legend” trailer (Bungie) – Destiny

Electronic Arts –

• Battlefield 1
• “Deceived” trailer – Star Wars: The Old Republic
• “Knights of the Fallen Empire” expansion trailer – Star Wars: The Old Republic
• Mass Effect 2 Launch trailer
• “Take Earth Back” trailer – Mass Effect 3
• Immortals of Aveum Reveal

CD Projekt Red –

• Cyberpunk 2077 Premier
• Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
• “Killing Monsters” trailer – The Witcher 3

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment –

• Batman: Arkham Origins
• Batman: Arkham Knight

Square Enix –

• Deus Ex: Human Revolution
• Final Fantasy VII Remake

Take-Two Interactive –

• Borderlands 3 Reveal trailer
• Grand Theft Auto V Announcement
• Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 1
• Red Dead Redemption 2 – Official Trailer #3
• BioShock Launch
• BioShock Infinite Save Elizabeth
• BioShock Infinite Premier

Bethesda/ZeniMax Media –

• Fallout 3 Teaser
• Fallout 76
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
• Starfield Teaser
• Prey 2 E3 trailer
• Prey E3 20167
• DOOM Launch

Konami –

• Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain E3 trailer
• Resident Evil VII Launch

Ubisoft –

• Assassin’s Creed: Revelations E3 trailer
• Rainbow Six: Siege Premier
• Farcry 4
• Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

Sony Interactive Entertainment –

• God of War Story Trailer – Santa Monica Studio
• The Last of Us: Part II Reveal – Naughty Dog

Assorted/Miscellaneous –

• Death Stranding – Kojima Productions
• Tears of the Kingdom Untitled reveal – Nintendo
• Frostpunk Launch – 11 Bit Studios
• Dead Island Announcement – Techland/Deep Silver
• Dead Island 2 E3 trailer – Deep Silver
• Half-Life: Alyx Announcement – Valve
• ARK: Survival Evolved Announcement – Studio Wildcard
• No Man’s Sky Gameplay – Hello Games
• Elden Ring Announcement – From Software
• EVE: Valkyrie Gameplay Trailer – CCP Games
• Unreal 5 Engine Reveal

Microsoft

Starting off with one of the greatest live-action game trailers ever made

Maybe it’s just the Halo 3’s?

Nah, that can’t be it…

There is something about Halo, though

Just a little intense

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Activison/Blizzard

The harmonization with Eminem’s “Till I Collapse” for Modern Warfare 2 remains glorious

The return of Modern Warfare was both suspenseful and epic.

One of the most anticipated trailers in the history of RTS titles. And the crowd goes wild.

Blizzard sure knows how to sell Starcraft. Raw, dramatic, explosive, badass scale.

Still gives me chills

And a legend was born

Speaking of legends; ‘Become’ one with the birth of Destiny. This one was a hype (and disappointment) driver!

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Electronic Arts

Now, that is how you synchronize music.

Can I have a whole movie?

Please?

Narration at its best with the legendary Martin Sheen

If you squint hard enough, you can see the budget

And who said originality was dead? (probably one of us)

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CD Projekt Red

Let’s be honest, it got you, didn’t it?

Got me, again.

I don’t know what a Witcher 3 is, but I want one now

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Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Gotham’s finest never disappoint

A beautifully rendered spectacle

Square Enix

Forever known as the Icarus trailer

If you know, you know

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Take-Two Interactive

After a very long wait… Brick on a Saxophone? Sold

Welcome to Los Santos

If you’re not excited for Yee-Haw Simulator 2018, here’s why you should be

Chaotic, strange, and mysterious, our interests were certainly piqued

A sublime use of a great song. Save Elizabeth

Surprise! Another BioShock Infinite trailer

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Bethesda/ZeniMax Media

‘Member this like it was yesterday

Take me home, country roads

“If you want us to stop releasing it, stop buying it”

Insert whippy remark placeholder

Oh, what could have been…

Oh, what was

Incredible audio coupled with brutal visuals for a visceral hype drive that makes you want to
thrash

Konami

Someone let this guy direct a movie already

Spooky use of suspense and a titillating taste of Resident Evil‘s new direction. P.T. vibes, anyone?

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Ubisoft

Yeah, but, WHAT HAPPENS?!

Oh so campy. Oh so cheesy. But damn, did we want some Siege.

Are you the next Vaas?

Looks as good as the movies

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Sony Interactive Entertainment

Dad-Boy God-Sim 2018 stoked the fires of our curiosity

“I walk through the valley of the shadow of death”

Assorted/Miscellaneous

Lookin’ good Mads

That’s, uhh…kinda creepy for Zelda. Sweet!

A personal favourite

This is a legendary trailer and a must-see

Similarly so with its sequel. Gotta reach the high bar previously set!

Holy shit, Half-Life is back. Holy shit. Half-Life is back. Ho. Ly. Shit. Half-Life. is back.

Riding dinos with guns, what more is there to say?

I’m feeling a feel. A feely feel. An exciting feel.

Firmly seated at the throne of hype, we dreamt for the stars.

Oh, you thought we were done?

Bonus Round

Well, that’s it for our mini-catalogue of some of the best game trailers ever made. If you
enjoyed our choices (or we missed any of yours), let us know in the comments. Stay classy, Nerdi Paradox.

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