The Best Game Opening: Bioshock Infinite
What is the greatest opening to a game? We’ve all had that moment. You’re sat on the end of your seat, wondering what’s going to happen next. The intensity builds, and all of a sudden, your expectations are shattered, and you’re left with a memory that’ll last a lifetime.
This is, of course, a highly debated topic. One user suggests that the opening to Medal of Honor: Frontline on PS2, where you land on D-Day, is legendary. “The music and the buildup were perfect,” they write. “I remember being so excited to play it. It’s what made me want to play the rest of the game.”
Others agree, praising the old PS2 Medal of Honor games and that epic soundtrack. Others add their own personal favourites, including the slow reveal of Half-Life 2, and Blink’s intro in Horizon Zero Dawn – that iconic first shot of Aloy riding through the plains, with the sun setting behind her.
“The Bioshock opening. Nothing else comes close,” one user writes. Another agrees: “The sense of unease from swimming in the water, and then the first splicer.” Others mention the opening of Dead Space, which manages to quickly immerse you into the horror of that game.
Others mention their favourite game openings, including the monorail interactive cutscene from Half-Life, the raising curtain intro of Prey (2017), and the full circle intro of Max Payne. The Last of Us’ intro gets a lot of love, with users writing how the game managed to establish the character of Joel in a blink of an eye.
Spider-Man (2018) is also recognised for its seamless transition from cutscene to gameplay. One user mentions the transition between the prologue and the main game in Assassin’s Creed 2, where they write how “they literally made you (the player) born” is “daring and memorable”.
The “smash the monitor” intro from DOOM 2016 is mentioned for its clear exposition and motive. Others write about The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, not because it was exceptional, but because it spawned a popular meme. And then there’s Mass Effect 2, which is highlighted for its surprising twist, where the protagonist, Commander Shepard, is killed early on.
“The experience of just walking through the Normandy without a roof is incredible,” one user writes, while another shares their struggles with the opening of Mass Effect 1, but encourages giving it a second chance with the Mass Effect Legendary Edition.
Check out the full thread here, or join in the conversation yourself on our own official Discord server. We hope you enjoy it.
The best opening to a game is…
Bioshock Infinite’s opening, for its atmospheric and awe-inspiring visuals. Plus that song is so good.
