The most popular reveals from The Game Awards 2025 have been tallied, and the results are not what many UK gamers might have predicted. While the ceremony featured major announcements like two new Tomb Raider games and Leon S. Kennedy's return in Resident Evil Requiem, the trailers that racked up the highest YouTube view counts tell a different story, dominated by a superhero and a Chinese action title.
The Unexpected Leaders of the Pack
Topping the chart with a staggering over 3.8 million views is the announcement trailer for Deadpool joining the roster of Marvel Rivals. The hero shooter from NetEase has sustained a solid community since its launch, and the Merc with a Mouth's inclusion clearly generated massive buzz, even if some fans noted the voice didn't quite match expectations.
In a close second place, claiming over 3.6 million views, is the release date trailer for Phantom Blade Zero from developer S-Game. Both top spots share a notable link: they are games from Chinese studios. This has led to speculation that their impressive numbers were amplified by sharing within Chinese gaming communities, despite YouTube being blocked in China without a VPN.
Some observers on forums like ResetEra have questioned the authenticity of Phantom Blade Zero's figures, pointing to a potential disparity between its view count and engagement; the trailer had roughly 5,300 'likes' against its millions of views. Regardless, its popularity is undeniable on platforms like Bilibili, where the same trailer boasts 5.8 million views, suggesting it is poised for a major launch in its home market on September 9, 2026.
Controversy and Expected Heavy Hitters
The third and fourth positions also raised eyebrows. Lords Of The Fallen 2's gameplay trailer, with 2.189 million views, narrowly beat Star Wars: Fate Of The Old Republic at 2.119 million. The former's numbers have been viewed with some scepticism, as versions on other official channels like IGN and PlayStation have significantly lower view counts, and its 'like' tally sits at just 3.7K.
Further down the list, the gruesome reveal for Divinity secured fifth place with 1.5 million views. The PlayStation channel's upload of the Tomb Raider: Legacy Of Atlantis remake trailer took sixth with over 1.4 million views. The remaining spots in the top ten were filled by anticipated sequels: Resident Evil Requiem (1.3M), Total War: Warhammer 40K (1.2M), Control: Resonant (1.1M), and Tomb Raider: Catalyst (832K).
The Notable Absences and a Potential Backfire
Perhaps the most damning story from the data is the performance of Highguard. The PvP raid shooter from the creators of Apex Legends and Titanfall was given the prestigious 'mic drop' closing slot at the show. However, its trailer has struggled for traction, garnering only 293,000 views on IGN's YouTube channel and a mere 75,000 on The Game Awards' own channel.
The engagement ratio on the latter is particularly telling, with 919 'likes' versus 9.5K 'dislikes'. This tepid reception has drawn early comparisons to the backlash faced by Concord, suggesting the high-profile reveal may have backfired. The developers have little time to shift perception, as Highguard launches as a free-to-play title on January 26, 2026.
Other omissions from the top ten include Star Wars: Galactic Racer, which sits just outside with 567,000 views. The full ranking underscores a year where established Western franchises were challenged in the viewership race by live-service updates and the rising influence of Chinese-developed games, setting the stage for a fascinating 2026 release calendar.
