E3, or the Electronic Entertainment Expo, always manages to excite gamers for the future. Even the less exciting years still manage to intrigue fans of the medium. This year’s showing was a purely distanced affair, with all the press conferences being video presentations instead.
Like most other E3 presentations, we were bombarded with trailers. This list will ignore the the less memorable ones; instead, we will be looking to the best previews for the hottest releases of 2021, 2022, and beyond. We are also judging the trailer alone, so while games like Forza Horizon 5 had incredible presentations, the small trailer preceding the gameplay demonstration was nothing to write home about.
10 Stalker 2: Heart Of Chernobyl
After more than fifteen years of fans wishing for it, Stalker is finally receiving a sequel. The trailer for the FPS excellently sets the mood for the atmospheric shooter. Some have voiced displeasure at the choice to have the trailer in Russian, however. The game is set in Ukraine, so it arguably makes more sense for the actors to be speaking Ukrainian or Surzhyk, a mixture of both languages spoken in some areas of the country.
9 Starfield
Microsoft acquiring Bethesda really shook up the gaming world, and this year’s E3 presentation showed the seeds of what the partnership will sow. We already waited more than three years to see more Starfield, and fans are finally excited to see a solid release date for the science fiction RPG.
The trailer was fantastic, but the lack of gameplay prevents the trailer from nabbing a higher spot on the list. Regardless, we cannot help but be excited for Bethesda’s first new IP in decades.
8 Mario + Rabbids: Sparks Of Hope
Nintendo keeps its properties close by, rarely ever handing them out for crossovers. This makes the first Mario + Rabbids so surprising and special. To see the strategy game receive a sequel is even even more unexpected. The cinematic trailer already implies a larger scope than its predecessor. It lacks dialogue, instead relying on the charm of the Rabbids and Mario to convey a sense of joy and wonder. Even though Rabbids are an Ubisoft property, they fit right in with Mario.
7 Evil Dead: The Game
Bruce Campbell recently announced he was retiring the character of Ash Williams. Fortunately, the actor was not entirely true to his word. He is voicing the character in the upcoming game, and narrates the E3 2021 trailer for Evil Dead: The Game. Coming from Saber Interactive, the trailer showcases more intimate combat than the developer’s other co-op shooter, World War Z. The trailer shows an intense dedication to the source material, so the game will surely be a fan’s dream come true.
6 Outer Worlds 2
Despite showing no gameplay, the Outer Worlds 2 trailer already shows a dedication to the first game’s unique brand of humor. All the same, it is difficult to become too excited for a game clearly years away. As a piece of comedy, though, it is something worth watching several times over. It is hard to tell if the game’s announcement falling into the traps and tropes it is describing makes the trailer more or less funny.
5 Death Stranding: Director’s Cut
Announced during the Summer Game Fest, Hideo Kojima had a small chat with Geoff Keighley before revealing the trailer to Death Stranding: Director’s cut. The game promises more stealth gameplay, and the trailer shows Sam Porter Bridges contemplate using a cardboard box, similar to Solid Snake from the Metal Gear franchise.
However, he puts the box back where it was before continuing, perhaps symbolizing Kojima truly putting the past on the shelf and leaving it behind.
4 Halo Infinite Multiplayer
The story trailer for Halo Infinite was fine, but it was the multiplayer trailer and reveal that really put fans’ jaws on the floor. The snapshots of quick battles show a multiplayer that stays faithful to what makes Halo so special. It does not appear to be conforming to modern multiplayer conventions. The free-to-play nature of the title means no Xbox owner has any excuse not to play it.
3 Metroid Dread
Nintendo fans are anxiously awaiting any Metroid Prime 4 news. This new 2D entry in the franchise, Metroid Dread, took everyone by surprise. Heavily rumored for decades, this is the first time it was officially announced. Billed as the conclusion of a saga started with the franchise’s debut entry, Metroid Dread looks to bring back the series’ 2D glory while also expanding on the classic. The trailer conveys a sense of urgency which players will no doubt feel when they are running away from pursuing enemies.
2 Breath Of The Wild’s Sequel
Zelda fans are so hungry for some news on the Breath of the Wild sequel, even this small sneak peak at some gameplay almost stole the show. New elements include floating pieces of land in the sky and new powers for Link to use. There is no concrete release date, but the trailer gives a vague 2022 release window. We still have tons of questions about the upcoming release, and answers might not come soon.
1 Elden Ring
FromSoftware’s new game has been on the top of gamers’ minds for two years. The developer finally opened up the gates with this beautiful trailer showcasing gorgeous environments, monsters, and some gameplay. We also have an exact release date. It gives just enough without giving too much away. FromSoftware’s reputation is such that gamers do not need to see anymore and are ready to put their money down for the project.
