00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at the strongest opening sequences to video
00:14games that have been released since 2020.
00:17Whether through engaging gameplay or remarkable storytelling, these games grabbed us instantly.
00:2610.
00:27Metaphor Re-Fantasio
00:41Through incredible animation, we watch as an old king is murdered in his own bed, and
00:45as his council worries over his body, we're given a taste of the dark political intrigue
00:49to come by the very man who committed the crime.
01:07Elsewhere the protagonist travels to the kingdom's capital, escaping an attack by bandits and
01:11a desert full of monsters.
01:13Making it to what should be a safe place, he witnesses firsthand the discrimination
01:17and violence so-called lesser tribes experience by those in power, all while his mysterious
01:23mission is hinted at by his fairy companion.
01:25The visuals are gorgeous, and we are immediately drawn by the opening world-building.
01:299.
01:30Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
01:52With an incredible level of detail, The Great Circle recreates the opening to Raiders of
01:56the Lost Ark, and one of the most iconic character introductions in film history.
02:01Clever camera placement and the first-person view obscure the hero's face, until he cracks
02:06a whip at one of his betrayers.
02:17The trap-laden temple is also wonderfully adapted, with its palpable level of tension
02:22maintained.
02:23As it turns out, this is a dream, and Indy awakes to a new mystery, a ransacked college
02:28and a trespasser, played by the late, great Tony Todd.
02:31The intro does a great job blending the well-known with the unfamiliar, calling fans to a new
02:36type of adventure, and it's a tantalizing taste of Troy Baker's take on the character.
02:478.
02:50Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart
03:08Although their first adventure was remade in 2016, Ratchet & Clank hadn't seen a new
03:12game since 2013, and Insomniac could not have given them a better reintroduction.
03:18After a brief tease of new character Rivet and her alternate dimension, Rift Apart opens
03:22with a celebration in the duo's honor.
03:35Bouncing around parade floats as bounty hunters attack makes for a great tutorial, but it's
03:40when Dr. Nefarious appears and steals a device that opens rifts to other worlds when things
03:45really kick up a notch.
03:46The ensuing chase leads to portals opening up everywhere, which is not only cool but
03:51features some phenomenal gameplay.
03:52It's just the type of bombastic fun we'd been missing, ending with a boss fight before
03:57Ratchet & Clank are separated.
04:037.
04:06Sifu This revenge tale begins with the enticing
04:17incident, but not from the hero's perspective.
04:19A dark, stormy night sets the mood as an elite group of martial artists infiltrate a dojo.
04:24The tutorial teaches us the basics of the game's invigorating combat, having us control
04:29the villain as he hunts his former master.
04:31And after finding the school Sifu, we strike him down before noticing we're being watched
04:35by his child, whose life is also soon taken.
04:45Having us be the perpetrator of this act of violence is a fantastic way to begin the story,
04:50making it much more distinct.
04:52As the hero revives thanks to a mystical talisman, we're already prepared to do what we must.
05:006.
05:03Resident Evil Village The opening of Resident Evil Village hits
05:16you with different types of thrills to instantly invest you.
05:19As Mia Winters reads a dark fantasy tale to her daughter, Rose, it's accompanied by
05:23stunning animation, mixing a storybook aesthetic with classic Tim Burton vibes.
05:34After exploring their home, Ethan watches in horror as his wife is gunned down by an
05:38attack squad led by series hero Chris Redfield, who then takes him along with his daughter.
05:43Instantly our minds are flooded with questions.
05:46What was the deal with that storybook of monsters?
05:48Why did Chris kill Mia?
05:50And as we awoke on the side of the road by dead soldiers, with Chris and Rose nowhere
05:53in sight, we began exploring the nearby village, ready to untangle the mystery.
06:025.
06:05Baldur's Gate 3 Even if you've never played Dungeons & Dragons,
06:16the opening of Baldur's Gate 3 will get you pumped for an expansive adventure filled
06:20with its monsters, races, and settings.
06:23The intro cinematic details you, along with many others, captured by a mind flayer ship,
06:28and infected by a parasite via your eye.
06:31Thankfully, dragon riding Githyanki attack to free one of their own, leading the ship
06:34to teleport to the Nine Hells, where a fight against devils breaks out while you try to
06:39escape.
06:40It's an explosive introduction to the wondrously bizarre and fantastical story, while still
06:53easing you into the game's strategic combat.
06:55As the ship comes crashing down, with some unknown force saving your life, that feeling
06:59of excitement to learn, explore, and grow is undeniable.
07:124.
07:15The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Anticipation was high, leading into
07:29Tears of the Kingdom, and things got off to an incredible start.
07:33Link and Zelda explore the caves underneath Hyrule Castle, and unearth forgotten history,
07:38including the mummified remains of an ancient Ganondorf.
07:41With the mighty Master Sword powerless against him, the villain causes the ground to crumble.
07:56After a jaw-dropping shot of Link failing to catch Zelda as she falls, the princess
08:00disappears in front of his eyes.
08:02Awakening on an island in the sky, saved by a disembodied arm that has now replaced his
08:06own, the mystery and yearning to find Zelda takes hold.
08:09With nothing left to do, Link plunges to the tutorial area below, giving us a title drop
08:14that gives us goosebumps.
08:203.
08:25Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Insomniac's first take on Spider-Man also
08:39had a tremendous opening, so it should come as no surprise that they pulled it off again.
08:43As Peter starts his new teaching job at Miles' school, the duo are pulled away by an attack
08:48on the city, led by Sandman.
09:00Part tutorial, part giant set-piece, this opening boss fight is accompanied by flawless
09:04mechanics that showcase developers at the top of their game.
09:07It doesn't hurt that the PS5's DualSense controller feels spectacular.
09:11Switching between both Spider-Heroes, we get a taste of what each can offer, with different
09:15attacks and abilities, while also being introduced to new features like their web-wings.
09:20This is how you kick off a superhero game.
09:282.
09:32Ghost of Tsushima From the very start, it was clear that Sucker
09:50Punch gave us an amazing samurai game in Ghost of Tsushima.
09:53As the island's defenders meet the Mongol invaders head-on, they attempt to solve the
09:57conflict the honorable way.
09:59Unfortunately, they're not dealing with an honorable foe.
10:09From horseback to on foot, the samurai charge into battle in a strong cinematic tutorial.
10:14But what makes it so interesting is that the samurai lose.
10:17Most of them are slaughtered, Jin is gravely wounded, and his uncle Lord Shimura is captured.
10:22The story brings its protagonist to his lowest point, before he learns that he'll have
10:26to adapt to defeat this new type of enemy.
10:29And this makes the opening that much more memorable.
10:531.
10:54God of War Ragnarok The opening to Ragnarok has everything we
11:06could want, including a thrilling chase sequence, incredible performances, and deep character
11:10writing.
11:11As Kratos and Atreus head home in the middle of a blizzard, they're attacked by Freya,
11:15a character who was once warm now sends shivers up our spines.
11:19Fitting, given the frigid setting.
11:22However, we'd rather go toe-to-toe with a vengeful goddess than deal with what comes
11:33next.
11:34Atreus is forced to say goodbye to his dying pet Fenrir, a moment that hits you right in
11:38the gut.
11:39The sorrow isn't helped by Kratos beckoning his son to continue training, in preparation
11:43for a war that he believes will take his life.
11:46It's a powerful, moving beginning, and one that instantly makes its stakes known.
11:57What recent video game opening got you immediately invested?
12:00Share your thoughts in the comments.
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