Memorable Moments In Gaming
Cutscenes can turn a game into a riveting cinematic experience, but some can also just take things way too far. These extended sequences often leave players talking long after the credits roll. To give you a sense of which games stretched storytelling to its limits, here’s a list of twenty of the longest cutscenes in gaming history that truly stand out.
KINGDOM HEARTS III – Gameplay Overview Video by KINGDOM HEARTS
1. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots
Metal Gear Solid redefined gaming narratives with its reliance on cienemtic cut scenes dating back to its first 3D iteration on the PS1. The creator, Hideo Kojima, is major movie buff and leaned hard into creating unmatched storytelling in his games. After the final boss, players are treated to a 71-minute epilogue sequence that even earned a Guinness World Record.
FIRST TIME Playing Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots (Pt 1) by Krysttl
2. Star Ocean: The Last Hope
The unskippable pre-final boss exposition stretches an astounding 46 minutes, filled with key story beats. Edge Maverick’s unforgettable name sets the tone for this sequence, while cosmic explosions and sweeping visuals help paint the dramatic narrative canvas.
Star Ocean: The Last Hope - It Stands Out for One Big Reason... by Xygor Gaming
3. Yakuza 0
Set in the neon streets of 1980s Japan, Yakuza 0 spins its tale of crime and redemption. A 42-minute post-credits epilogue ties up Kiryu and Majima’s arcs with emotional weight, balancing the game’s mix of heavy drama and playful side stories.
YAKUZA 0 Walkthrough Gameplay Part 1 - Opening (Yakuza Zero) by theRadBrad
4. Death Stranding
Actor Norman Reedus headlines Death Stranding alongside Mads Mikkelsen. Its most significant non-interactive sequence runs for 31 minutes, carefully exploring grief and connection at the two-hour mark of gameplay. This moment highlights just how cinematic the experience truly is.
So I played DEATH STRANDING for the First Time... by Retro Rebound
5. Kingdom Hearts III
The beloved series pushes boundaries in Kingdom Hearts III. Disney and Final Fantasy characters unite in a finale spanning 28 minutes total—18 core, 10 additional. Nostalgia blends with closure to send fans on a whirlwind of heartfelt and complicated story beats.
Kingdom Hearts 3 (6 Years Later): An Unforgettable Experience by ProdigyxCD
6. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
This game features a powerful 25-minute debriefing and deployment cutscene. Its Cold War backdrop adds tension, enhanced by a James Bond-inspired theme song. Together, these elements create an unforgettable espionage introduction.
METAL GEAR SOLID 3 Gameplay Walkthrough FULL GAME (4K 60FPS) REMASTERED by Shirrako
7. Xenosaga Episode III
The ambitious story of Xenosaga culminates in a 25-minute alien encounter. Androids, lost planets, and space conflict collide, wrapping up years of narrative. Across the trilogy, over 400 cutscenes bring this deeply philosophical sci-fi world to life.
8. Quantum Break
In Quantum Break, time itself fractures. A 25-minute live-action segment bridges gameplay chapters, directed by lead actor Shawn Ashmore. The sequence highlights the game’s unique hybrid format—half video game, half television drama—where choices influence both sides.
Quantum Break - FULL GAME Walkthrough Gameplay No Commentary by Gamer Max Channel
9. Yakuza 2
The saga continues in Yakuza 2, this time spanning Tokyo and Osaka. Its dramatic centerpiece comes in a 23-minute cutscene that rivals TV crime dramas in tone and style. Side activities like karaoke might charm, but the heavy story moments truly anchor the game.
Yakuza 2 REMAINS Impressive 18 Years Later... by Chole
10. Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core
This game closes Zack Fair’s story with one of gaming’s most heartbreaking finales. After a 23-minute post-battle sequence following Genesis’s defeat, Sephiroth’s shadow looms. The prequel sets up unforgettable ties to the main Final Fantasy VII.
11. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty
Metal Gear Solid 2 shocked players by revealing Raiden as its protagonist. The game’s focus on digital control and manipulation pays off in a 20-minute ending cutscene, which tied together its ambitious commentary on information and power.
METAL GEAR SOLID 2 Gameplay Walkthrough FULL GAME (4K 60FPS) REMASTERED by Shirrako
12. The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Of Cold Steel III
Trails of Cold Steel III eases newcomers into its sprawling narrative with a 20-minute lore cutscene. As a school-based RPG with deep political and magical systems, this introduction ensures even fresh players understand the vast, interconnected world before diving into combat.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III - Launch Trailer | PS4 by PlayStation
13. SOMA
The finale of SOMA unfolds through a 22-minute cutscene examining artificial consciousness. Stripped of action yet rich in unsettling dialogue, it pulls players into a chilling meditation on identity, morality, and humanity’s fragile existence.
SOMA (FULL GAME) by jacksepticeye
14. Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward
This mind-bending visual novel delivers a 20-minute cutscene where multiple timelines collapse into one. The scene takes place in an elevator and unpacks quantum theory, betrayal, and identity in a single, uninterrupted dialogue-heavy sequence.
Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward - [43/88] - [G-OLM] - PC English Walkthrough by Andrea Pannocchia
15. Lost Odyssey
The emotional RPG Lost Odyssey includes a 20-minute cutscene where Kaim reads from his “Thousand-Year Dreams.” Presented like a visual novel, with simple visuals and haunting music, the scene feels meditative and unique among traditional cinematic sequences.
Lost Odyssey (PART 1) - Clemps by Clemps
16. 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
Rather than wrapping things up quickly, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim lingers on its ending. Thirteen storylines crash together during a 21-minute sequence where betrayals and time travel twists reach their breaking point. It unfolds less like a video game and more like an animated drama.
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim Gameplay | PlayStation Underground by PlayStation
17. Asura’s Wrath
In Asura’s Wrath, the DLC climax stretches into a 23-minute confrontation against Chakravartin. Each sequence grows larger and more chaotic until Asura’s final act ends everything on a tragic note, creating a finale that feels truly unlike anything else in gaming.
THIS GAME IS INSANE! | Asuras Wrath [EP. 1] by KAGE SMG
18. Baldur’s Gate III
Baldur’s Gate III ends with the 22-minute “Ascension” sequence, where player choices finally carry their full weight. Conversations decide fates, and the Mind Flayer threat reaches its conclusion in a character-driven ending that honors every decision made along the way.
Baldur's Gate 3 - Let's Play Part 1: Infected by WolfheartFPS
19. The Order: 1886
At the story’s peak, The Order: 1886 slows down for a 19-minute cutscene. The steampunk world peels back layers of the Lycan conspiracy to weave political intrigue with sharp visuals that feel closer to a film sequence than standard gameplay.
The Order: 1886 - Launch Trailer | PS4 by PlayStation
20. Detroit: Become Human
Kara’s escape sequence abandons heavy interaction, instead delivering a near movie-like experience. For 20 minutes, Detroit: Become Human follows her desperate bid for freedom, turning the recycling center into one of the game’s most emotional, cinematic moments that prioritizes storytelling over constant decision-making.
