Video game openings are a make-or-break moment that can shape the entire experience. Buying a game is a costly investment, not just in money, but in time. Spending $70 on something that turns out to be just okay is a disappointing thought. To feel like the game was worth it, players need to feel drawn in early and motivated to keep going.
Playing through a true masterpiece is a gratifying experience. There’s something magical about recognizing from the very beginning that players are about to experience something special. Whether it’s a powerful scene or a small, striking moment, the best openings grab attention and set the tone for what’s to come. The realization that a game might be something life-changing is a rare and powerful feeling. These titles are some of the best games of all time, and they also managed to hook players from the very start.
10 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s Open World Delivers Freedom Right Away
What’s effective about The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s opening minutes is how it conveys the sense of openness for the player. It starts with Link awakening in a cave and practicing some basic moves for the tutorial. Then, the moment when Link exits from the cave and sees the world around him is awe-inspiring. The game points out what players could do, but players will quickly register that there’s much more freedom to play within the classic Zelda formula.
One of the genius aspects of Breath of the Wild is how open the world is and the amount of freedom players get compared to other games in the same genre. It’s not a bombastic way to introduce the game, but the ambient sounds of nature and exploration show that Breath of the Wild is something special.
9 Batman: Arkham Asylum Opens Like Batman: The Animated Series
Before Batman: Arkham Asylum, superhero games weren’t regarded as particularly good. Besides the occasional good game like Spider-Man 2 back in 2004, superhero games were seen as hastily made to make a quick buck. That attitude changed with the release of Batman: Arkham Asylum, as the love and care for the Batman lore we’re shown from the beginning. Rocksteady was wise to take inspiration from Batman: The Animated Series and other stories based around Arkham Asylum.
Players see Batman driving Joker in the Batmobile to Arkham Asylum and handing him over to the authorities. The exchange between Batman and Joker as he’s wheeled in is beautifully acted by Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill. The twist that Joker planned everything, including releasing all the prisoners, is a fantastic hook for the game. Any perception of this being a simple cash grab is quickly dismissed as Batman: Arkham Asylum sets the stage for one of the best Batman stories ever told. It’s just a small taste of what’s to come from a game-changing title.
8 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Quickly Established Itself As Game of the Year
Some might say this selection is recent bias, but Expedition 33 is a masterpiece. In the opening, players are introduced to Lumière and the event of the Gommage, and in a short time, it delivers a sense of beauty and dread in a world that the Paintress determines. Hearing the song “Lumière” from Lorien Testard and Alice Duport-Percier sends chills as the game takes the player through the island.
If players skip the side fights, they’ll see the Gommage happen, and it’ll leave anyone with a mess of emotions. To see people fade away into roses with the music playing works on many levels. It’s not just a heartbreaking scene, but it perfectly shows why this team needs to stop this before they’re next.
7 2018’s God of War Opens In an Unexpectedly Quiet and Beautiful Way
With 2018’s God of War, Kratos is coming off an eight-year hiatus. Players didn’t know what Kratos would do in a new saga of his life. In this new start, players see a quiet Kratos cutting down a tree as he prepares funeral arrangements alongside his son for his deceased wife.
It’s a powerful and emotional scene that’s brought to another level thanks to Bear McCreary’s incredible score. Beyond that, it reveals a side of Kratos that players have never seen, and it’s handled perfectly. It’s a fantastic start that perfectly sets the tone for Kratos’s new journey.
6 Ghost of Tsushima Begins With a Thrilling Battle
Ghost of Tsushima jumps straight into the action with a battle against an invasion led by Khotun Khan. In the first few minutes, Ghost of Tsushima effectively builds up the invaders as a compelling and terrifying threat. Jin charges into battle, and the combat makes players feel like a true samurai. Unfortunately for Jin, the Mongol forces prove too overwhelming as they advance and conquer the island.
It’s a gripping start that makes players wonder how Jin is going to get out of this. He’s a broken man left to die, forced to rebuild himself while facing new enemies. The battle superbly sets up his motivation, not just for the character but also for the gamers playing one of the best PlayStation games of all time.
5 Marvel’s Spider-Man Swings Into Action
It’s daunting to introduce a new Spider-Man to audiences, especially without telling a full origin story. The opening minutes of Marvel’s Spider-Man perfectly establish Insomniac’s take on the character. The camera pans across Peter’s desk, showing various items from over the years that subtly recap his origin without a single word, like Uncle Ben’s passing, gadget prototypes, different suits, and signs of his financial struggles.
The tone shifts when Peter hears he finally has a shot at taking down the Kingpin. Players are immediately thrown into the action, wearing the classic suit and swinging across Manhattan. From the first moment of web-swinging, it’s clear this is the definitive Spider-Man experience. Swinging through the city and fighting enemies feels incredible, delivering a high-octane start to one of the best Spider-Man games ever made.
4 The Final Fantasy VII Opening Remains a Classic
Even after nearly 30 years, Final Fantasy VII still has one of the best intros in gaming history. While some players may find the graphics outdated, they were revolutionary for their time. Even if the visuals don’t hold up for everyone, the phenomenal score by Nobuo Uematsu perfectly sets the mood. It starts off mysterious, focusing on Aerith and her flowers, then zooms out to reveal Midgar in all its industrial glory.
After the title card, the game focuses on a train as the action starts. The music, combined with the turn-based battles, provides the right energy that shows that players are in for something special. FF7 remains an essential JRPG that everyone should play at least once in their lives.
3 Bioshock Introduces Players to the City of Rapture
Bioshock’s introduction of the underwater city of Rapture is still one that’s ingrained in a lot of gamers’ minds. The reveal of Rapture remains awe-inspiring and sparks a lot of interest in this new world. It takes the player through a journey into Rapture along with Andrew Ryan’s monologue and Garry Schyman’s haunting score.
The stunning Art Deco designs of the buildings, combined with the city’s underwater nature, make it instantly memorable. Rapture remains one of the best locations in gaming to this day. All it took was the first couple of minutes to show that Bioshock is a work of art.
2 The Last Of Us Launches With a Thrilling and Emotional Punch
While The Last of Us is often compared to other zombie properties, the opening gives its flowers to a thriller classic. It starts quietly with Joel returning home in the middle of the night with his daughter, Sarah, waiting for him. It cuts to a couple of hours later, with chaos erupting over an outbreak as Joel, his brother Tommy, and Sarah are trying to escape.
The opening is very similar to the one-take car scene in Children of Men. Society starts to crumble around them, and the infection spreads as the main characters drive around. The cinematography of the one-take will make everyone’s heart pound with anxiety. Even though the most memorable part of The Last of Us‘ opening happens after 10 minutes with Sarah’s death, the lead-up will be ingrained in players’ minds for a long time.
1 Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Still Remains One of the Best Openings in Gaming History
Uncharted 2 opens with Nathan Drake sitting on a train, only to realize he’s injured. To make matters worse, the train is dangling off a cliff with seconds to spare before it falls. Many questions arise about how he ended up in this situation. Before the player can even think of the answers, Nathan begins his escape from the wreckage. It’s a thrilling, blockbuster sequence that elevates the sequel within minutes.
Even the climbing feels better as players scale up the train, especially when things are falling down, which is satisfying. It’s intercut with flashbacks that show how Nathan first got caught in this mess. It’s both thrilling and draws an immediate hook into the story. This opening remains effective to this day, and it’s good enough to make anyone want to dive right into one of the best video-game sequels after playing the intro chapter.
