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.
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.
10 Ōkami
For many years Ōkami was branded with the bittersweet tagline of being one of the most underrated games of all time, following disappointing commercial success despite the game's high quality. Thankfully, Ōkami eventually 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 fantastic Legend 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.
9 Yakuza 0
The Yakuza series is similar to Ōkami in that the quality has always been clear to see, though it didn't start receiving the commercial success that it deserved until recently. Yakuza 0 is 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 0 is 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 the most ridiculous and hilarious side quests in any open-world game ever released.
8 The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The iconic Legend of Zelda series 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.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is 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 a Legend of Zelda game.
7 Gears 5
Gears 5 dropped the Of War portion 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 5 is a fantastic entry into the long-running Gears of War series. It sets a high standard for the series' presumed Xbox Series X release in the future.
6 Alan Wake
The very start of Alan Wake moves 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 a Stephen King book.
5 Kingdom 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-RPG Kingdom Hearts II since its release.
Sitting through the game's dialogue is certainly worth the effort. Kingdom Hearts II offers a memorable story that justifies its slow pace. Still, that doesn't stop the opening from being too much to bear for impatient players.
4 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is considered to be one of the best movie tie-in games of its era. Granted, that isn't saying much, as the movie tie-in genre became known for its constant low-effort releases. Still, Chamber of Secrets deserves recognition as a genuinely enjoyable action-adventure.
Much of the game's charm is that it provides exactly what players want in a Harry Potter game, 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 the Harry Potter franchise's most notorious villains - the Weasley family's washing machine.
3 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Like Harry Potter in the Chamber of Secrets, EA's Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was 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.
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.
2 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Action-RPG The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, much like its sequel Skyrim, is one of the most beloved RPGs of all time. One significant reason for this is the 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.
1 Red Dead Redemption 2
The Red Dead Redemption franchise is a rare case of an IP being beloved by both hardcore and 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 with Red 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.