15 Games That Will Hook You in the First Few Minutes

Half-Life

1998’s Half-Life set the standard for cinematic, atmospheric intro sequences in games. Gordan Freeman’s orientation through the Black Mesa research facility sets up the the plot brilliantly. A host of background activity is present as you travel through the cavernous tunnels in a tram en route to work. The scripted background activity serves as a kind of camera movement tutorial, but it’s so organically done as to be totally immersive.