What makes a good Steam trailer? The first video on your store page (2026)
A Steam store page trailer, step by step: gameplay in the first 5 seconds, text that reads on mute, one wishlist call, how many videos to upload and in what order. A checklist for indie and small studios.
A Steam trailer answers one question: what do I actually do in this game? The first video on your store page often decides, within 10–15 seconds, whether a visitor wishlists the game. So a good Steam trailer opens with your best gameplay moment rather than a logo, reads with the sound off, and ends on a single call: Wishlist now.
A Steam trailer is not an ad
They can come from the same capture, but they have different jobs:
| Steam trailer | Social ad | |
|---|---|---|
| Viewer | Came to your page on purpose | Scrolling, doesn't know the game |
| Length | 45–90 s | 15–30 s |
| Ratio | Horizontal 16:9 | Vertical 9:16 |
| Opening | Strongest gameplay moment | 2–3 second hook |
| Close | Wishlist / release date | Install / Play now |
In an ad you have to stop the viewer. On Steam they've already stopped; the goal is to explain and persuade.
First 5 seconds: gameplay
A visitor on your Steam page already sees the name, the capsule art and the tags. Spending the first seconds on a studio logo, an "A game by…" card or a slow cinematic wastes the most valuable part of the video. The first frame should show what the player does: fight, build, escape, solve.
Make it readable on mute
Some store visitors watch with the sound off. We put 2–4 word titles over each section, like "Build your colony" or "Upgrade everything", so the story flows without audio, and music and SFX reward those who turn it on. More on audio: Music and sound in game trailers.
Steam trailer checklist
- Real gameplay. Players want to play what they see; cinematics can support, but gameplay carries the trailer.
- Clean UI. No tutorial pop-ups, debug text or notifications. Capture guide: Capturing gameplay for game ads.
- A first scene that names the genre. Roguelike, strategy, horror: clear within 10 seconds.
- Pacing locked to music. Cuts on the beat make 60 seconds feel short.
- One call. "Wishlist now" or a release date. Two calls side by side weaken each other.
- 1080p or higher, horizontal. The Steam player is wide; vertical footage leaves empty space.
- End card: logo, one-line promise, platforms and date.
Order and number of videos
The order matters; the first video is the most watched. Our suggestion:
- First: gameplay trailer (45–90 s)
- Second (optional): announcement or story trailer
- Later: update, demo or festival videos
How the trailer types differ: Game trailer types. Store art matters too: Game key art and store visuals.
One capture, many formats
A clean capture for a Steam trailer also feeds YouTube, TikTok/Reels ads and store previews. For Per Regna we cut vertical 15 + 30 s and horizontal 15 + 39 s versions from the same capture. See what we can do for your game: Game trailers.
Trailers and ad creatives cut from real gameplay, with a strong first three seconds and readable with the sound off. Vertical + horizontal, 15 / 30 / 40 s.
What’s in it 5
- Gameplay capture (we can record it for you)
- One promise per video: growth, adventure, alliance…
- 9:16 and 16:9, 15 / 30 / 40 s cuts
- Custom music + sound design, −14 LUFS
- With-sound and silent versions, end card and CTA
Frequently asked
1.How long should a Steam trailer be?
For the main store page trailer, 45–90 seconds is a good range. Most visitors decide within the first 10–15 seconds, so the real work happens at the start; the length only needs to be enough to explain the gameplay.
2.Should a Steam trailer open with a logo?
No. On Steam the visitor is already on your page, with the name and capsule art right above the player. Give the opening seconds to your best gameplay moment and save the logo and studio name for the end card.
3.How many videos should I upload to Steam?
One main gameplay trailer is a solid start. As content grows, an announcement or feature video can go second. The first video is the most watched, so it should carry the clearest gameplay.
4.Who makes Steam trailers?
Creatune builds trailers and ad creatives from real gameplay for Steam, YouTube and social media. Send your Steam page or a capture over WhatsApp and we'll come back with a scope and quote within 24 hours.
