How to Make An Entrance
A great video game intro does more than start the story; it sets the mood, teaches you what kind of world you’re in, and gives you a reason to lock in as soon as things kick off. While most games achieve this to some degree, some intros are so explosive, so mysterious, that they’re downright unforgettable. Let’s dive into the 20 best examples of intros we fell for hook, line, and sinker.
1. The Last of Us
The intro to The Last of Us is one of gaming’s most emotionally powerful openings (though it pains us to talk about). It puts you directly inside the panic of a crumbling world. You experience the outbreak through Sarah’s perspective, which only makes the chaos worse, and by the time the title appears, the game has already made it clear that its story won’t pull any punches.
2. BioShock
BioShock begins with a plane crash in the middle of the ocean, so it’s already insane enough…but then it quietly pulls you toward one of the most memorable spots in gaming. The slow descent into Rapture is filled with a growing sense that something has gone terribly wrong, and the opening makes you uneasy almost immediately.
3. God of War III
God of War III starts with a massive assault on Mount Olympus, and it wastes no time showing you the scale of its conflict. You’re thrown into a battle with gods, Titans, and overwhelming destruction in an intro so huge that it gives you a clear sense of the rage behind the story.
Paulo Guereta from São Paulo on Wikimedia
4. Final Fantasy VII
The opening of Final Fantasy VII moves from a quiet view of Aerith in Midgar to a sweeping shot of the city—simple enough, right? Well, not so fast. You’re then dropped straight into a mission, introduced to the world, the music, and the stakes with remarkable confidence.
5. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
You know, Snake leaping onto that tanker immediately felt stylish and cinematic, didn’t it? We had everything to make it a masterpiece: the rain, the music, and insane camera work that made the mission feel dangerous before anything even went wrong.
Antonio Fucito from Terni, Italia on Wikimedia
6. Red Dead Redemption 2
What? No more John? RDR2 had to come in hot, introducing us to a new cowboy, and they did masterfully. Trapped in a brutal snowstorm, the gang is already struggling to survive, but rather than rushing into action, the opening establishes our desperation. You can feel the weight of the journey ahead, and you have no idea how many more storms await.
7. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Skyrim starts with a peaceful cart ride that quickly turns into one of the most famous intros in modern games. Forget the scenery; you’re a prisoner on the way to execution, right before a dragon interrupts everything. It’s a clever setup when you think about it: we scored the world, your vulnerability, and the central threat all at once.
8. Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 begins with the supposed death of Commander Shepard, which is a bold way to start a sequel. But hey, this is a second installment, and the stakes are high! The intro immediately makes returning players feel like anything can happen, and it also sets up the game’s darker tone.
Alex from Calgary, Canada on Wikimedia
9. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Nathan Drake is no stranger to injuries, but seeing him confused inside a train, and hanging off a cliff? Well, now we’re in danger. You have to climb your way out while everything threatens to collapse around you, and it’s a pretty thrilling way to kick off a video game.
10. Batman: Arkham Asylum
What could possibly go wrong with Batman escorting the Joker back into the asylum? A lot, as it turns out. You know something’s up, but the game takes its time letting the trap close. It’s a fantastic little intro reminding you that the Joker is always several steps ahead.
11. Kingdom Hearts
The intro to Kingdom Hearts is dreamlike, almost instantly memorable, which is exactly what the series needs. Sora’s dive through stained-glass platforms is beautiful, unusual, and still one of the most distinct openings Square Enix has ever made.
12. Grand Theft Auto V
We’re back to Rockstar, and we’re back to criminals in snowstorms. You barely get time to think once the game boots up, forced into a failed robbery in North Yankton that gives you an early taste of the chaos to come. It’s a sharp beginning that makes the later return to Los Santos even more loaded.
13. Ghost of Tsushima
The opening of Ghost of Tsushima puts you on the battlefield as the Mongol invasion begins, and it isn’t shy about selling the scale of the threat. Jin Sakai’s world is shattered in minutes, all in an intro that combines spectacle and personal loss.
14. Halo: Combat Evolved
Sorry, there’s no time to explain: you’re thrust aboard the Pillar of Autumn as the ship comes under attack. Welcome to Halo! The intro also happens to introduce Master Chief, and once you step out onto the ring world, the opening has already done its job beautifully.
15. Resident Evil 4
You never know what to expect with a horror game’s intro, but we wish there was a little more hand-holding in this nightmare! Leon moseys his way into a remote village, where the tension rises from suspicion to full-blown panic pretty quickly. By the time the encounter ends, you understand that there’s nothing but a nightmare ahead.
16. Portal 2
Portal 2 did something incredible with its intro: it managed a strange wake-up sequence that was funny, unsettling, and informative all at once. Wheatley’s arrival brings immediate personality to the room, while Aperture’s broken-down condition only hints at a larger mess. You’re reintroduced to the world but still left wondering what happened after the first game.
Digital Game Museum on Wikimedia
17. Assassin’s Creed II
Oh, Ezio. If only your life were a series of scaled chapels and jokes with Federico. Instead, you meet him as a young man who still has plenty to learn, which only makes his transformation more satisfying. It’s a strong beginning, though, giving you a reason to care about this free spirit—and what happens to his family.
18. DOOM Eternal
Oh, hi. We didn’t see you there. Don’t mind us, we’re just dealing with Earth already under a demonic invasion. Like it or not, the intro doesn’t waste time explaining why there’s danger; it lets the music, editing, and action do the work.
Pelle Wessman from Malmö, Sweden on Wikimedia
19. NieR: Automata
NieR: Automata begins as a shifting sequence of shooting, hacking, and close-range combat. It’s chaotic, but it also immediately shows the game’s willingness to change perspective and genre without slowing down. Beneath the presentation, there’s also a strange sadness that hints at the deeper concerns.
20. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
We love a game that dazzles us from the first scene. There Link is, waking from a long sleep and stepping into a world filled with possibility. Sure enough, the moment he reaches the cliff and sees Hyrule spread out below him, it just feels incredibly effective. It’s a graceful intro that trusts the world to speak for itself, and it does.
