When Cutscenes Truly Stole Attention
Some video game moments etch themselves into memory for all the wrong reasons—awkward voice acting, clumsy pacing, or visuals that shatter immersion instead of building it. But others deliver scenes so powerful they demand your attention every single time. This list looks at both extremes of storytelling, exploring sequences that broke tension as well as those that elevated entire adventures. Let’s begin with the worst.
Final Fantasy X - Laughing Scene by Romangelo
1. Resident Evil's Master Of Unlocking Mockery
In 1996’s Resident Evil, Barry’s awkward line—“Jill, you’re the master of unlocking”—landed so stiffly it shattered the game’s tense atmosphere. Wooden delivery and bargain visuals stripped the scene of dread. It left players disappointed when they had expected genuine survival horror.
♦01 Resident Evil HD (The Master of Unlocking) by SK0RRK33P3R
2. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance’s Nightcrawler Nonsense
Nightcrawler dazzles in a flashy display of teleportation, only to collapse moments later. It teases content that fans could never access in the base game on many platforms. That drawn-out scene was even paired with melodramatic music. Modders later restored him as a playable character.
Nightcrawler Destroys Dr. Doom's Robots - Marvel Ultimate Alliance by Wray Empire™
3. Fallout 2's Shotgun Wedding Blunder
Fallout 2 broke its promise of freedom when it forced players into an unwanted marriage cutscene. The awkwardness in Modoc dialogue only worsened things, and speedrunners gleefully discovered they could kill their spouse immediately afterward for dark comedic flair.
Fallout 2-03-Shotgun Wedding by Krum Prodanov
4. Final Fantasy X's Laughing Lunacy
Players watched Tidus and Yuna force out bizarre, unnatural laughter while staring blankly at each other. Misguided voice direction buried the emotional goal. And that infamous laugh exploded online, inspiring countless parody compilations.
Final Fantasy X - Laughing Scene by Romangelo
5. Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero's Acting Abyss
This game delivered 1997’s most unintentionally hilarious cutscenes, where stiff line delivery collided with painfully obvious green-screen effects. Characters appeared to float against cheap backdrops, with awkward costumes and strange makeup. Instead of tension, players were left laughing at the spectacle.
Mortal Kombat Mythologies SUB ZERO - Let's Play Friday. by 616Entertainment
6. Zelda: Wand Of Gamelon's Animation Atrocity
The 1993 Zelda: Wand of Gamelon remains infamous for cutscenes that looked like rejected cartoons, complete with shrill, amateur voice work. A muddled story of Zelda rescuing Link left players bewildered. But at least Link’s ridiculous “I wonder what’s for dinner” line found immortality as a fan-favorite running joke.
All Wand of Gamelon Cutscenes HQ by iTakeBothsInDeeLaKe
7. Destiny’s Repetitive Story Mission Replay
Destiny tested patience by locking players into unskippable cutscenes every time story missions repeated. Veterans grinding for loot groaned at identical lines, though some communities cheekily turned the interruptions into coffee-break timers during long Discord raids.
8. Sonic Adventure’s Speedless Superhero
Sonic zooms impossibly fast in cutscenes, yet the gameplay never matches that burst. The bad CGI models only amplified the awkwardness, and the clumsy dialogue fell flat. Fans later modded this “True Sonic” speed within the gameplay.
9. Hotel Mario's Instruction Book Insanity
Hotel Mario’s CD-i intro from 1994 instantly ruined immersion as Mario bizarrely urged players to “check the enclosed instruction book.” Combined with stiff animation and dreadful monotone acting, the scene trashed his heroic image. Somehow, Luigi’s absurd “lotsa spaghetti” outburst became an early internet meme that fans still quote.
Hotel Mario - All Cutscenes Full Movie HD by ProsafiaGaming
10. Kingdom Hearts II’s Corridor Of Cutscenes
In Kingdom Hearts II, brief stretches of gameplay often collapse under the weight of constant cutscenes, with Goofy’s needless chatter dragging out the slow walk through Twilight Town’s corridors. Speedrunners jokingly dubbed this section “Corridor Hell.” Originally, players couldn't even skip it.
Twilight Town Sora Awakens Kingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix HD Cutscenes by OzBroGaming
After all these letdowns, it's time to remember the cutscenes many gamers would watch again and again.
1. Portal 2’s Moonshot Masterpiece
Nobody expected Chell to blast a portal into the moon, yet the move delivered one of gaming’s sharpest twists. The balance of humor, tension, and awe made it unforgettable. Fans later unearthed moon rock hints, which fueled long-running Reddit theory threads.
Portal 2 Final Scene (open a portal at the Moon) by Eren Algan
2. Asura’s Wrath’s Epic Arm Extension
In this cutscene, Asura stares down a god and hurls a fist across the heavens. Cinematic visuals crash against pounding music to amplify the scene’s scale and fury. The whole sequence was dubbed the “punch heard ’round the cosmos,” and it still inspires dramatic cosplay reenactments.
Asura's Wrath PS5 - Asura vs Augus Boss Fight (4K 60FPS) Remastered by Shirrako
3. God Of War’s Spartan Rage
When Kratos finally unleashes Spartan Rage against Baldur, the moment hits like a war drum. Roars sync perfectly with the score and visuals, then flow straight into gameplay without a pause. Christopher Judge’s powerful delivery proved so demanding that he required vocal rest afterward.
God of War Spartan Rage by MountainTopGamer
4. Alan Wake 2’s Herald Of Darkness Harmony
Just when the story feels darkest, the game flips into a rock opera with “Herald of Darkness.” That bold shift dazzles with choreography and lighting. And later, the Old Gods of Asgard performed the piece live at The Game Awards.
Alan Wake 2 - Herald of Darkness Musical Scene (4K) Old Gods of Asgard by Dan Allen Gaming
5. Kingdom Hearts III’s Union Cross Finale
In Kingdom Hearts III, the sight of countless keyblade wielders arriving through the “Union Cross” connection floods the battlefield with power and emotion. Years of setup pay off in dazzling visuals, and real player names etched into the scene sparked tearful celebrations across fan communities.
Kingdom Hearts 3 - Sora Uses Union X Power VS Darkness by Shirrako
6. Xenoblade Chronicles 2’s Emotional Epilogue
After sixty hours of battles and bonds, players received an epilogue that tied every single thread together with care. Tender, heartfelt farewells between Pyra and Mythra struck deeply, leaving countless devoted fans openly weeping at their final words.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Cutscene 172 - Credits & Ending Part 2 One Last You (Pyra) by Helsionium
7. Final Fantasy VII’s Aerith’s Farewell
Players gasped when Aerith’s death arrived without warning; its permanence broke RPG convention in 1997. The minimalist MIDI score and restrained visuals made the grief sharper. Though modders built “Aerith lives” patches, most fans believe her loss defines the game’s emotional legacy.
Final Fantasy VII (PS1) - Aeris' Death (1997) by Wendell J. Silva
8. Red Dead Redemption 2’s Arthur’s Last Ride
Arthur’s farewell unfolds on horseback, with a background drenched in light, as That's the Way it is plays with haunting beauty. Player choices subtly shape his fate to ensure each ending feels intimate. The scene’s cinematic framing rivaled classic Westerns and inspired countless fan renditions of the song.
Arthur Last Ride Red Dead Redemption 2 by Ratchet Gaming
9. Beyond: Two Souls’ Revenge Redemption
This climax scene stands as one of the game’s most resonant payoffs. Jodie’s pivotal “Revenge” choice delivers a finale that mixes raw emotion with cinematic spectacle. Elliot Page’s layered performance grounds the drama, while branching dialogue variations highlight player influence.
Beyond Two (2) Souls - ALL ENDINGS + CEMETERY SCENE by EntoanThePack
10. The Last Of Us’ Hospital Showdown
Joel’s desperate dash through the hospital in The Last of Us (2013) delivered unbearable tension. Music and pacing pressed the urgency of his actions, leaving players conflicted long after. Keen-eyed fans even spotted a hidden giraffe plushie that sparked a lasting Easter egg hunt.
Joel Saves Ellie From The Hospital - Full Ending Scene - The Last of Us by Binge Gaming
