The 13 best video game intros

polygon.com:

Introductions and tutorials are key to drawing players into games and setting them up for success. But game openings have been lackluster in recent months. Already in 2022, games like Dying Light2 and Horizon Forbidden West, despite their overall quality, offer laborious intros that spend too much time on linear exposition.

These game openings may just be a small part of a sprawling experience, but they’re absolutely crucial. When games aren’t good until five, eight, or 10 hours in, there will always be a chunk of players unwilling to push through the boring parts, no matter what excellence might lie ahead.

But for all the recent failures, there are plenty of games that nail their openings. Dozens of games out there let players immediately jump into their worlds, or offer an interesting, but evocative experience — it’s not about whether it’s fast or slow, but how an intro uses its time to excite players about what’s ahead of them.

Despite the downward trend video game openings have had over the past few years, there are loads of games that nail those first few hours. Here are our 13 selections for the best game openings ever made:

Stardew Valley has the perfect start to a simple video game. It’s not flashy like some of the others, but it does an excellent job of pulling you into its world and not letting you go.

After inheriting a farm from your dead grandfather, you leave your desk job and move to the country. The game quickly introduces you to a few characters and gets you started with your farm. You’re able to venture out, meet new people, and learn as you go. You can experiment with new crops or stick with your parsnips. Efficient players can push to get as much done as possible in a single day, while the more