What game has the best loading screen?
We all hate waiting for a game to load. It’s a fact. But there are some games that have loading screens that are so good that we’re happy to wait a little longer for our next gaming experience.
That’s the question one user on Reddit asks, and it sparks a wide range of replies from other users sharing their favourite loading screens in various games. Some of the suggestions are pretty obvious, while others are more obscure. Here are some of the big four and indie games that get mentions in the thread, along with some personal favourites.
The best loading screen games
Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3 features some of the most iconic, and most ridiculous, fights in video games. The Saibamen will pop up, and you have to fight them, during the loading screen. The faster you spin the sticks, the faster they spawn. Some players would spin them so fast it looked like they were juggling. Who doesn’t love the Saibamen?
Others suggest Tekken, Ridge Racer, and Assassin’s Creed, each with their own interesting loading screen mechanics. Tekken has always had a practice mode during the loading screens, so you can master your combos. Ridge Racer has a mini-game that always changes depending on the car you’re driving. In Assassin’s Creed, you can always see the reflection of your character in the glass while your character stands around waiting for the next cutscene to load.
Some people appreciate the loading screens that just show concept art or behind-the-scenes shots of the game in development. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind is a great example of this, with some absolutely stunning art. It’s not just concept art either, the game has in-game loading screens that just feature a lovely shot of the world you’re exploring.
Dead Space is the only game to come up more than once that actually tries to hide its loading screens from you. Well, from most of you anyway. Some of us actually like watching the animation every time, for no real reason other than it’s nice and calming. The more impatient among us appreciate the quick loading screens of Resident Evil 4, although it does make the Ganado fights feel a little less intense.
The music from GTA 4 is always stuck in my head, and the intense stare of Niko Bellic on the loading screen is always worth a second glance, too. Some of the other games mentioned hide their loading screens completely, so you never have to see them, like Fallout. Others, like FFXIV during Shadowbringers, are missed by some people.
There are also a few games that just offer a small space to play around in, or practice actions, before the game loads. Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends both have little arenas you can fight in, while Portal 2 gives you a little garage full of turrets to play with.
Skyrim’s loading screens are pretty unique in that they have high-quality models of random citizens that you can actually speak to. They’re also pretty funny if you explore their dialogue options, too. Crash Bandicoot’s Wrath of Cortex will sometimes take quite a long time to load, especially if you’re in a hurry to get back to the main game, and even more so if you’re playing on the PlayStation TV.
Spec Ops: The Line is brought up for the loading screens that really leave an impact on you, making you think about your actions and the consequences of the game’s story. Sonic Frontiers is also mentioned, because it has a practice mode during loading, but be careful, because the game will trap you if you don’t notice the loading has finished.
Others mention Warframe, No Man’s Sky, Resident Evil 2, Anthem, and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for their loading screen experiences. You can check out our Resident Evil 2 review to see how we feel about that game’s loading screens.
Spiderman PS4 gets praise for the loading screen where Peter Parker takes selfies to entertain himself while the game loads. Immortals Fenyx Rising is another game that gets a big mention, along with Tetris Effect, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Factorio, which all get praised for their loading screen experiences.
South Park: The Fractured But Whole is another game that gets a lot of love from the comments, as are Arkham City, Hunt Showdown, Metal Gear Solid 4, Roboquest, and Sabre Wulf. You can read our Hunt Showdown review for our feelings about that game’s loading screens.
And, of course, Halo, Fallout (with personal pictures), Call of Duty campaigns, Dragon Age Origins, Tak 1 & 2, and Pong during the loading screen.
Personally, I miss FFXIV during Shadowbringers, and I love the old Resident Evil door loading screens. I’m not sure if I’m the only one who likes seeing the concept art from Morrowind, but I do appreciate it. I also like games like God of War that hide their loading screens completely. GTA 5 with its picture-filled loading screens is a nice touch too.
