The 10 Best Video Game Opening Scenes of All Time

After much deliberation, arguments, and internal fisticuffs, COGconnected settles on what is believed to be ten of the best opening scenes ever in video games. Are you ready to find out what they are?

[NecrumOddBoy]

BOTW....? LOL, come on with kissing this game's ass. It didn't have much of a beginning at all.

I would have added:
Fallout 3 and God of War

[Theknightofnights]

BotW had a fantastic opening that introduced you to the games mechanics in a myriad of ways without explicitly informing you of what all those mechanics are.

Example: To get to one of the shrines you need to learn about the temperature system in the game, and how cold/heat reactions work. There is an optional quest to get the warm doublet to brace the cold, or you can skip the quest and cook something to warm you up. You can also just carry a heat source around with you, or stock up on enough healing foods/items to make it all the way there. The game doesn't tell you what way is right, or what way is wrong. Heck, just crossing the river to that side of the plateau can go a couple different ways. Personally, I cut down trees to make a makeshift bridge, other people took an entirely different route like scaling the side of the mountain.

[bluefox755]

The BOTW intro was definitely smart and functional, and benefited the player, but there was nothing memorable about it.

[Theknightofnights]

@bluefox

Personally, I disagree. The plateau was a memorable experience for me. Not all games resonate with everyone in the same way though.

Like, I didn't think much was memorable about The Witcher 2's opening, and I'd probably substitute that one for Uncharted 2's opening scene.

[knickstr]

That's not opening scene though. That's their tutorial. This article is for opening scenes.

[Theknightofnights]

@knickstr

I think the opening scene when you are coming out of the cave and see the vast landscape displaying locations like the volcano, hyrule castle, and a forest below you is very well executed and memorable as well :)

[frostypants]

@Theknightofnights, most complex games have that sort of tutorial.

[Theknightofnights]

@frostypants

Not at all. Most games bombard you with icons and text boxes to teach you how to play. BotW smartly guides you through fundamental elements that you can take on in a number of ways without telling you how to do it.

[OMNlPOTENT]

Says "stop kissing this game's ass" literally has numerous comments hating on BOTW and kissing God of War's ass. Both 10/10 games, you're just super salty for no reason.

[-Foxtrot]

He said Fallout 3 and God of War

You act like he just listed like 10 PlayStation only games or something

Says something bad about Zelda = "Hater"

[septemberindecember]

@Foxtrot

Look at NecrumOddBoy’s comment history. I think that’s what omnipotent is addressing.

[SuperSonic91]

Uncharted 2 Among Thieves is unbeatable in this regard.

[SuperSonic91]

And of course God of War 3!!!!!
That opening sequence is colossal and titanic epicly mind blowing!!!!!

[Zeref]

I love BOTW but I have to agree. There wasn't much of an opening scene at all.

[-Foxtrot]

I like how they listed Final Fantasy VII but Final Fantasy VIII opening blew that out of the water...it's the same with Zelda here. With any top 10 list of any kind, people will find a way or will automatically think of adding the most hyped up or praised game in a franchise even if other games did the one thing your talking about better.

[beanplant]

Lol Link to the Past had a way better opening then BoTW in my opinion.

[Kabaneri]

Halo 3 and MGS5 had pretty epic intros.

[capjacksparrow]

Just because it's mentioned in The Last of Us' paragraph, doesn't mean it shouldn't get its own; Uncharted 2 had a phenomenal opening and should have its own mention, not just an afterthought. Way higher than some of the others on the list.

[SuperSonic91]

Exactly! Uncharted 2 opening is still mind blowing in hind sight.
Perfect gameplay, tutorial, breath taking set piece tied into the story, gameplay, scope, scale, tone, acting, presentation, originality, creativity and genius of the game!
It was perfect!

[Smokehouse]

Bioshock is my favorite. The demo hooked me.

[knickstr]

For me it was final fantasy 8, hands down. I'm a FF7 fanboy, but that opening was amazing for FF8. Also, why is BotW on the list?

[Soy]

No game opening left me in awe like Mass Effect 2.

[Last_Boss]

Symphony of the Night
Uncharted 2
God of War 3
Super Metroid
Mass Effect 2
Final Fantasy VI
Resident Evil 2
Just to name a few

CGI wise Onimusha 3 was incredible.

[oIITSBIIo]

For me: Batman Arkham A/C/K, Dus Ex HR, Bioshock 1/ Infinite, The Witcher 2, Dark Souls.

[blawren4]

Arkham game had great openings, especially Asylum for me. Is no one mentioning Half Life?

[guywazeldatatt]

LOL BotW, seriously?

Ocarina of Time.

Xenosaga 1 and 3. Xenoblade 1.

FFX

Skyward Sword (the opening scene is magical regardless of what you think of the rest of the game)

Bioshock Infinite

There are a lot more but this list is pandering.-

[quent]

GOW 3 is also up there

[clubvetseo]

Supaplex in 90s is very exciting opening. Because We were running in 1.44 MB floppy disk. Everyday we opened game, We were thinking , did the disk crash? :)

[The_Hooligan]

DMC 3 and Onimusha 3 opening scenes were badass. Speaking of Onimusha I want a new game or at least a proper remastered kinda like SoC or Crash.

[Gatsu]

MGS2, MGSV, ME2 and FF10 intros are epic.