You’ve spent months — maybe years — building your game.
But here’s the hard truth:
If your Steam trailer doesn’t hook the viewer in the first 10 seconds,
they’re gone.
Why?
Because players scroll fast, click faster, and forget even faster.
You don’t have minutes — you have moments.
So how do you make those first 10 seconds count?
1. Start With Movement — Not Logos
No one cares about your studio logo upfront.
Skip the fade-ins, skip the “Presented by…” text.
Open with ACTION.
→ A chase
→ A scream
→ A bizarre creature
→ A strange visual glitch
→ A mystery that begs to be solved
Think of it like a cold open in a movie — drop us straight into the world.
2. Ask a Visual Question
The best trailers make us wonder:
“What is happening here?”
That’s how curiosity works.
Show something players don’t understand — but want to.
Examples:
→ A shadowy figure walking through fire
→ A child laughing in an empty room
→ A glitchy interface with a countdown ticking
→ A monster with too many eyes — that disappears
You’re not explaining.
You’re teasing.
3. Sound Matters — Instantly
Many players watch trailers with sound on.
So use it:
A sharp sting
A heartbeat
An unsettling whisper
Or even a moment of total silence
Bad sound kills tension. Good sound builds pressure.
Make players feel something before they even understand what’s going on.
4. Cut Fast — But Clean
Don’t drag. Don’t over-explain.
In 10 seconds, you might show 2–3 very quick cuts.
Each one should reveal something new, not just more of the same.
Pace matters. You’re not telling the full story — you’re saying:
“Hey, this is different. Stick around.”
5. End the First 10 Seconds With a Question or Shift
If you nail the hook, players will keep watching.
But take it one step further: add a mini “twist.”
→ A sudden sound cut
→ A shocking line of dialogue
→ A screen glitch
→ A visual fade into the game title or tagline
Make that 10th second a pivot point.
That’s when casual viewers become interested players.
Final Thoughts
Your Steam trailer is your handshake to the world.
And the first 10 seconds?
That’s your only chance to make someone stop scrolling.
So don’t waste it on slow fades and pretty logos.
Open with tension.
Deliver curiosity.
Trigger emotion.
And most importantly —
Make them want more.