The 10 Greatest Video Game Intros of All Time

The greatest video game intros pull you in instantly. From BioShock’s eerie descent to The Last of Us’ heartbreaking prologue, these openings are legendary.

A great video game intro isn’t just about spectacle—it’s about player onboarding, storytelling, and setting the stage for what’s to come. 

The last thing game developers often create for the game is the intro because they want all their experience to grab you by the collar and demand your attention. Here’s our Top 10:

#10: BioShock (2007) – Welcome to Rapture

No guns. No explosions. Just pure world-building.

A plane crash. Fire on the ocean. A mysterious lighthouse. And then—Rapture.

Descending into Andrew Ryan’s underwater city is breathtaking, eerie, and unforgettable. The moment you hear "Is a man not entitled to the sweat of his brow?" and see the decayed beauty of Rapture, you know you’re in for something special. No other intro in gaming immerses you so completely, so quickly.

#9: Resident Evil 4 (2005) – The Village Attack

This was an intro that redefined survival horror.

Leon S. Kennedy arrives in a quiet, eerie European village. But within minutes, the tension skyrockets. The villagers aren’t human anymore, and Leon is fighting for his life. It’s an intense, overwhelming opening that introduces Resident Evil 4’s new action-horror gameplay while keeping its survival horror roots intact.

#8: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017) – Link’s Awakening

Now this was the definition of awe and freedom.

Link awakens in the Shrine of Resurrection, steps outside, and—boom—the vast, open world of Hyrule spreads before him. No long cutscenes, no hand-holding—just pure adventure waiting to be discovered. It’s skillfull restraint in environmental storytelling, using visuals and exploration rather than dialogue to immerse players.

#7: Final Fantasy VIII (1999) – Liberi Fatali

Was this cinematic storytelling at its finest? Maybe.

Before you even press a button, Final Fantasy VIII delivers a visually stunning, action-packed cinematic. The battle between Squall and Seifer, the stirring Latin choir of Liberi Fatali, and the sheer drama make this one of the most unforgettable RPG intros ever.

#6: Halo: Combat Evolved (2001) – The Pillar of Autumn

You went from cryosleep to legendary hero in minutes.

Master Chief awakens aboard the Pillar of Autumn, immediately thrown into the chaos of a Covenant attack. The escape is frantic, but the real magic happens when players crash-land on the Halo ring. That first step onto the massive, mysterious world? Pure sci-fi perfection.

#5: God of War III (2010) – The Fall of Olympus

Come on, this intro was so epic, it felt like the final battle we were waiting for.

Most games build up to fights against gods—God of War III starts with one. Kratos leads the Titans in an assault on Mount Olympus, battling Poseidon in an earth-shattering opening sequence. Massive scale, cinematic intensity, and sheer brutality—this intro is God of War at its peak. Don’t forget to check out our three recent God of War videos!

#4: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009) – The Train Wreck

Wake up. Bleeding. Hanging off a derailed train. Welcome to Uncharted 2.

Nathan Drake regains consciousness in a train dangling off a cliff, and players are instantly in control, climbing for survival. It’s both a tutorial and an adrenaline rush, delivering a blockbuster action-movie experience within the first five minutes.

#3: Mass Effect 2 (2010) – The Normandy’s Destruction

So… not many games kill you in the first ten minutes.

Shepard and their crew are casually going about their day when—out of nowhere—the Normandy is destroyed. The explosion shocks players, forcing them to scramble for survival in a desperate, suffocating sequence. Shepard’s death sets the stakes sky-high, proving this game isn’t messing around.

#2: The Last of Us (2013) – The Night Everything Fell Apart

Man, this is one of the most emotionally devastating openings ever.

Joel, his daughter Sarah, and his brother Tommy try to flee a city collapsing into chaos. The panic feels real, and Sarah’s tragic fate is one of gaming’s most heartbreaking moments. It’s a gut punch of an intro that perfectly establishes The Last of Us’ bleak, emotional tone. Stay subscribed and notified, because we are going to be covering The Last Of Us 2 on the channel real soon.

#1: Half-Life (1998) – The Tram Ride into Black Mesa

The greatest intro in gaming history? Absolutely.

Most shooters start with action—Half-Life starts with a tram ride. The slow, methodical journey through Black Mesa makes you feel like just another scientist showing up to work. But the sense of mystery and unease is palpable, and by the time the experiment goes wrong, you’re completely pulled into the world.

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A legendary video game intro isn’t just about starting a game—it’s about creating an experience that stays with players long after they’ve finished. Whether through jaw-dropping cinematics, heart-wrenching storytelling, or adrenaline-fueled gameplay, these ten intros prove that the first moments of a game can be just as impactful as the last.

This is just our list, what’s your pick for the best video game intro ever? Let us know in the comments!

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