Video game menus have a tough job, as they’re designed to grab your attention for a brief moment in time. They’re an art form to successfully pull off, and on social media, people are taking notice of them. One of the new trends emerging currently is IRL video game menus, as people are turning themselves, friends, and cats into stars for custom-made interfaces for games that sadly don’t exist.
That doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy these quick breaks from reality, and some of these menus are very slick. They embody some of the coolest designs seen over the years, with games like Batman: Arkham City, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, and God of War’s 2018 reboot serving as inspiration. Those games–and many others–all have a similar main-menu vibe, as they constantly switch between 3D models that are barely frozen in time, highlighting several action-packed scenes and poses.
We’ve gathered up a few examples below, as well as a few tips on how you can make your own video for your own social media profile.
You can also see a few more of our favorites here, here, and here.
One of the main things you’ll want to do with this trend is have a short video of your subject, preferably in slow-motion. Depending on the aspect ratio–we’re going to assume you’re going for a 9:16 format that suits Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. One of the things you’ll want to be wary of is the positioning of your subject, as you’ll want enough room to position the text next to them. Ideally, you’ll want to break this up with a character on the right of the screen and text on the left. Keep your custom game logo on the left as well, but make it big enough while also ensuring that it doesn’t distract from your video. Two to three shots over 10 seconds appears to be the go-to formula, and the music used is Worry (Ultra Slowed) by Lonown.
Color is also essential, and if you’re shooting with a predominant color, that also helps to make an impact. Most phones feature built-in tools that allow you to do this instantly and easily through the use of filters, while paid apps also have robust toolsets to play around with. I used Prequel for my own experimentation on my smartphone to help push the saturation on a video by selecting a specific filter and then fiddling with the various options, but if you don’t feel like dropping some cash on a program like that, Instagram has no shortage of tools to help you out.
These include text and basic animation effects, so you can easily whip something up from the comfort of your couch. The main thing is, you’re going to want something that’s striking and an attention-grabber. Look at any recent video game for the menu options you need, and you’re good to go.