First impressions are everything. In gaming, the opening 10–15 minutes are critical. A strong introduction doesn’t just set up the story—it teaches mechanics, builds atmosphere, and determines whether players stick around.

Great intros are both cinematic and interactive. In The Last of Us, the player experiences the outbreak through the eyes of a child. There’s minimal UI, no tutorial pop-ups—just fear and confusion communicated through pacing, visuals, and movement. It’s emotionally gripping and mechanically subtle.

Half-Life 2 begins with a train ride into City 17, allowing players to explore a dystopian world while learning the rules organically. The world feels alive before any combat occurs. You know the tone, the stakes, and the power dynamics—all without exposition.

God of War (2018) opens with a boss fight that doubles as a tutorial and a character study. It’s not just about mechanics—it’s about who Kratos is now, what he’s hiding, and the quiet rage that still simmers beneath the surface.

The best game intros do the following:

• Establish tone and theme
• Introduce core mechanics without breaking immersion
• Create stakes or curiosity
• Deliver a sense of agency early on
• Make the player care—about the world, the story, or the character

A weak intro, by contrast, can turn players away before a game even reveals its strengths. In today’s attention economy, a memorable beginning is not optional—it’s a necessity.