Gaming demands a heavy time investment, often causing players to drop titles if the opening hours fail to grip them instantly. Conversely, a phenomenal opening sequence hooks players immediately. There are ten video games whose opening sequences signaled 10/10 masterpieces from the very start.
The Bottom Line
- Opening sequences serve as critical filters for time-demanding modern video games.
- Titles like The Last of Us feature cinematic storytelling and technical excellence from the start.
- Legendary franchises such as Metal Gear Solid 2 and God of War use bold narrative choices right out of the gate.
Cinematic Openings That Defined Generations
First impressions matter profoundly in interactive entertainment. When a game plunges players straight into high-stakes action or deep emotional resonance, it sets an immediate standard for what follows. Ten specific titles achieved this rare feat, ranging from foundational classics to modern blockbusters. For instance, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty arrived on the PlayStation 2 in 2001. Its cinematic opening featuring Solid Snake running across a rainy New York City into the tanker USS Discovery was hailed as a watershed moment for technical detail and serious storytelling.
Similarly, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is a masterful action-adventure game that’s easily among the greatest sequels in gaming history. On the other hand, Ghost of Tsushima came right at the peak of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in 2020, making it abundantly easy for players to invest dozens upon dozens of hours into it.
Subverting Expectations Through Bold Narrative Risks
Some masterpieces establish their greatness by completely upending player expectations in the opening moments. Released in 2010, Mass Effect 2 boldly ambushed and destroyed the SSV Normandy right at the start, killing off the protagonist players had bonded with in the first game. This risky narrative trick allowed for complex storytelling tricks throughout the rest of the science fiction epic. In a different vein, the 2018 God of War moved away from Greek mythology into the realm of Norse gods, opening not with frenetic violence, but with a quietly restrained, emotional funeral scene followed by the arrival of the Stranger.
| Game Title | Release Year | Platform / Publisher | Opening Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty | 2001 | PlayStation 2 | Solid Snake infiltrating the USS Discovery in the rain |
| God of War | 2018 | Sony | Emotional funeral scene and arrival of the Stranger |
| Mass Effect 2 | 2010 | EA | Destruction of the SSV Normandy |
| Uncharted 2: Among Thieves | 2009 | Naughty Dog | Masterful action-adventure opening |
Other titles rely heavily on atmospheric world-building from the seconds the title screen loads. BioShock pulls players through a plane crash, a survivor, a lighthouse, and a descent into a magnificent underwater metropolis. Meanwhile, Red Dead Redemption 2 immerses players in a freezing blizzard as the Van der Linde gang trudges through deep snow. Whether it is the brutality of 2016’s Doom, the heartbreaking prologue of 2013’s The Last of Us, or the minimalist, tutorial-driven wonder of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, these ten openings prove that a game’s destiny is often decided before the first hour even concludes.
