Top 10 Best Video Game Openings of the Decade (So Far)

Through incredible animation, we watch as an old King is murdered in his own bed. And as his council worries over his body, we’re given a taste of the dark political intrigue to come by the very man who committed the crime. Elsewhere, the protagonist travels to the kingdom’s capitol, escaping an attack by bandits and a desert full of monsters. Making it to what should be a safe place, he witnesses firsthand the discrimination and violence so-called lesser tribes experience by those in power, all while his mysterious mission is hinted at by his fairy companion. The visuals are gorgeous, and we’re immediately drawn by the opening worldbuilding.

With an incredible level of detail, “The Great Circle” recreates the opening to “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and one of the most iconic character introductions in film history. Clever camera placement and the first-person view obscure the hero’s face, until he cracks a whip at one of his betrayors. The trap-laden temple is also wonderfully adapted, with its palpable level of tension maintained. As it turns out, this is a dream, and Indy awakes to a new mystery: a ransacked college and a trespasser, played by the late, great Tony Todd. The intro does a great job blending the well-known with the unfamiliar, calling fans to a new type of adventure. And it’s a tantalizing taste of Troy Baker’s take on the character.

Although their first adventure was remade in 2016, Ratchet & Clank hadn’t seen a new game since 2013. And Insomniac could not have given them a better reintroduction. After a brief tease of new character Rivet and her alternate dimension, “Rift Apart” opens with a celebration in the duo’s honor. Bouncing around parade floats as bounty hunters attack makes for a great tutorial. But it’s when Dr. Nefarious appears and steals a device that opens rifts to other worlds when things kick up a notch. The ensuing chase leads to portals opening up everywhere, which is not only cool, but features some phenomenal gameplay. It’s just the type of bombastic fun we’d been missing, ending with a boss fight before Ratchet & Clank are separated.

This revenge tale begins with the inciting incident, but not from the hero’s perspective. A dark, stormy night sets the mood as an elite group of martial artists infiltrate a dojo. The tutorial teaches us the basics of the game’s invigorating combat, having us control the villain as he hunts for his former master. And after finding the school’s sifu, we strike him down before noticing we’re being watched by his child, whose life is also soon taken. Having us be the perpetrator of this act of violence is a fantastic way to begin the story, making it much more distinct. As the hero revives thanks to a mystical talisman, we’re already prepared to do what we must.

The opening of “Resident Evil Village” hits you with different types of thrills to instantly invest you. As Mia Winters reads a dark fantasy tale to her daughter, Rose, it’s accompanied by stunning animation, mixing a storybook aesthetic with classic Tim Burton vibes. After exploring their home, Ethan watches in horror as his wife is gunned down by an attack squad led by series hero, Chris Redfield, who then takes him along with his daughter. Instantly, our minds flooded with questions. What was the deal with that storybook of monsters? Why did Chris kill Mia? And as we awoke on the side of the road by dead soldiers, with Chris and Rose nowhere in sight, we began exploring the nearby village, ready to untangle the mystery.

Even if you’ve never played “Dungeons & Dragons,” the opening of “Baldur’s Gate 3” will get you pumped for an expansive adventure filled with its monsters, races, and settings. The intro cinematic details you, along with many others, captured by a Mind Flayer ship, and infected by a parasite via your eye. Thankfully, dragon-riding Githyanki attack to free one of their own, leading the ship to teleport to the Nine Hells, where a fight against Devils breaks out while you try to escape. It’s an explosive introduction to the wondrously bizarre and fantastical story, while still easing you into the game’s strategic combat. As the ship comes crashing down, with some unknown force saving your life, that feeling of excitement to learn, explore, and grow is undeniable.

Anticipation was high leading into”Tears of the Kingdom,” and things got off to an incredible start. Link and Zelda explore the caves underneath Hyrule Castle and unearth forgotten history, including the mummified remains of an ancient Ganondorf. With the mighty Master Sword powerless against him, the villain causes the ground to crumble. After a jaw-dropping shot of Link failing to catch Zelda as she falls, the Princess disappears in front of his eyes. Awaking on an island in the sky, saved by a disembodied arm that has now replaced his own, the mystery and yearning to find Zelda take hold. With nothing left to do, Link plunges to the tutorial area below, giving us a title drop that gives us goosebumps.

Insomniac’s first take on Spider-Man also had a tremendous opening, so it should come as no surprise that they pulled it off again. As Peter starts his new teaching job at Miles’ school, the duo are pulled away by an attack on the city, led by Sandman. Part tutorial, part giant set piece, this opening boss fight is accompanied by flawless mechanics that showcase developers at the top of their game. It doesn’t hurt that the PS5’s DualSense controller feels spectacular. Switching between both spider heroes, we get a taste of what each can offer with different attacks and abilities, while also being introduced to new features like their web wings. This is how you kick off a superhero game.

From the very start, it was clear that Sucker Punch gave us an amazing Samurai game in “Ghost of Tsushima.” As the island’s defenders meet the Mongol invaders head-on, they attempt to solve the conflict the honorable way. Unfortunately, they’re not dealing with an honorable foe. From horseback to on-foot, the Samurai charge into battle in a strong, cinematic tutorial. But what makes it so interesting is that the Samurai lose. Most of them are slaughtered, Jin is gravely wounded, and his uncle, Lord Shimura, is captured. The story brings its protagonist to his lowest point before he learns that he’ll have to adapt to defeat this new type of enemy. And this makes the opening that much more memorable.

The opening to “Ragnarök” has everything we could want, including a thrilling chase sequence, incredible performances, and deep character writing. As Kratos and Atreus head home in the middle of a blizzard, they’re attacked by Freya. A character who was once warm now sends shivers up our spines; fitting, given the frigid setting. However, we’d rather go toe-to-toe with a vengeful goddess than deal with what comes next. Atreus is forced to say goodbye to his dying pet, Fenrir, a moment that hits you right in the gut. The sorrow isn’t helped by Kratos beckoning his son to continue training, in preparation for a war that he believes will take his life. It’s a powerful, moving beginning, and one that instantly makes its stakes known.


What recent video game opening got you immediately invested? Share your thoughts in the comments!