In many ways, the first few hours of a video game are its most important. These first hours establish the story, lore, and setting of a game, while also teaching players the core gameplay mechanics. The opening hours of games are more important today than ever before, as subscription services like Game Pass have made it easy for players to switch games if one doesn’t grip them in its opening act.
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Putting a game down in its early stages is a risk. Players could miss out on a memorable experience if they give up too soon. The games on this list are all good examples of this. They’ve all received high praise from fans and critics, despite their slow start.
10Ōkami
For many yearsŌkamiwas branded with the bittersweet tagline of being one of the mostunderrated gamesof all time, following disappointing commercial success despite the game’s high quality. Thankfully,Ōkamieventually began reaping its deserved rewards in the 2010s. The HD remaster brought the game to almost every modern system under the sun.
The game provides a fantasticLegend of Zelda-like adventure, though it can be a slog to get through the opening. The game teaches players the story and gameplay mechanics in an extremely long-winded manner.
9Yakuza 0
TheYakuzaseries is similar toŌkamiin that the quality has always been clear to see, though it didn’t start receiving the commercial success that it deserved until recently.Yakuza 0is also guilty of taking a long-winded approach to setting up its story and teaching gameplay mechanics. In both games, the long-winded approach isn’t helped by the fact that much of the story is told through scrolling text rather than voice acting.
Despite the slow start,Yakuza 0is still a great game for fans of the action-adventure genre. Once the game gets going, it tells an engaging story. Furthermore, the narrative is supplemented by some of themost ridiculous and hilarious side questsin any open-world game ever released.
8The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The iconicLegend of Zeldaseries has maintained its status as one of the most acclaimed gaming franchises over the decades. There are numerous reasons for this, one of which is its continued pursuit of innovation. Despite this, though, the games tend to have one similarity. They begin with Link in a small village with a tight-knit community, which is where the start of Link’s story will be told.
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The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princessis another entry that starts in this way. However, the game goes into Link’s pre-hero side more than ever before. It does a good job in setting the scene, but herding goats isn’t exactly why people buy aLegend of Zeldagame.
7Gears 5
Gears 5dropped theOf Warportion of the franchise’s title, but kept its core gameplay very similar to its predecessors. For this reason, it can be frustrating for experienced players. The first few hours are filled with numerous unskippable tutorials and general hand-holding throughout.
Despite this setback,Gears 5is a fantastic entry into the long-runningGears of Warseries. Itsets a high standardfor the series' presumed Xbox Series X release in the future.
6Alan Wake
The very start ofAlan Wakemoves at a good pace. Players experience a nightmare of Alan’s that offers an insight into what will follow. However, the game soon takes a significant shift in direction, as players must sit through a rather slow and methodical introduction to Bright Falls.
Like many games on this list, the introduction isn’t exactly bad, and taking time to set up a story isn’t inherently a negative thing. Still, it can be rough to get through for anyone who just wants to get to the action and excellent storytelling. Once the game gets going, though, it feels like something straight out of aStephen Kingbook.
5Kingdom Hearts II
As mentioned before, a game taking its time to set up its story isn’t a bad thing. However, when players are still sitting through tons of dialogue to set up a story after multiple hours, it can get tedious. This is a complaint that has been commonly directed towards action-RPGKingdom Hearts IIsince its release.
Sitting through the game’s dialogue is certainly worth the effort.Kingdom Hearts IIoffers a memorable story that justifies its slow pace. Still, that doesn’t stop the opening from being too much to bear for impatient players.
4Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secretsis considered to be one of the best movie tie-in games of its era. Granted, that isn’t saying much, asthe movie tie-in genrebecame known for its constant low-effort releases. Still,Chamber of Secretsdeserves recognition as a genuinely enjoyable action-adventure.
Much of the game’s charm is that it provides exactly what players want in aHarry Pottergame, particularly the ability to explore Hogwarts castle. However, the game takes its time before letting players reach this stage. The opening act takes players to the Weasley’s house where players, for some reason, must defeat one of theHarry Potterfranchise’s most notoriousvillains - the Weasley family’s washing machine.
3The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
LikeHarry Potter in the Chamber of Secrets,EA’sLord of the Rings: The Return of the Kingwas a shining light in a dark time for the movie tie-in genre. The action game revisits some of the most memorable scenes from its corresponding film, such as the battle for Minas Tirith and the fight against Gollum in Mordor.
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Unfortunately, players must go through three of the game’s worst levels before reaching its more interesting points. Following a short tutorial stage with Gandalf, players have three levels to choose from, none of which represent the high quality that is due to follow. The level featuring Legolas, Gimli, and Aragon is particularly tough to get through. Not only does it lack the engagement of subsequent levels, but it also doesn’t fit the film’s narrative.
2The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Action-RPGThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion,much like its sequelSkyrim, is one of the most beloved RPGs of all time. One significant reason for this isthe game’s incredible open world. Players are free to explore and indulge in numerous side quests that can take them on incredible journeys.
Therefore, it’s bizarre that the game begins with players confined to the complete opposite of an explorable open-world: a dingy prison cell. Players will soon break out of their cell; however, they must then escape through a sewer, which doesn’t exactly demonstrate the game’s biggest strengths.
TheRed Dead Redemptionfranchise is a rare case of an IP being beloved by both hardcoreand casual gamers. Consequently, Rockstar Games constantly dealt with a difficult task when developing their latest entry in the franchise. They had to find a careful balance that would appease both parties.
It’s clear that Rockstar Games had its more dedicated audience in mind withRed Dead Redemption 2.The game is unapologetic in its decision to take time setting up its story, before letting players experience the open world. This decision went down well with those who were willing to engage with the narrative. However, many gamers spent the time wondering when they could start the mini-games and side quests.
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