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

WatchMojo

When it comes to games of the 2020s, these sucked us in immediately. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best video game openings of the decade so far.

Transcript

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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