Long before the complexity of skill progression, the granular detail of update logs, or the commitment of a hundred-hour odyssey, there is the raw weight of potential. The inaugural seconds of a digital journey. The very first frame of a cinematic epic. The title crawl that lingers in the mind. Even a thoughtfully crafted start screen can be an experience in itself. To welcome the new year, we are diving deep into these foundational moments. This is Dramatic Entrances.
Within this feature, you will discover a curated collection of essays, editorial perspectives, exclusive interviews, and a deceptively challenging opening-shot quiz—all celebrating the art of a masterful start. Despite how daunting they may seem in real life, beginnings are vital. This is why a master like Stephen King dedicates “months and even years” to perfecting a single opening line. They establish expectations and forge a silent pact with the audience. So, let’s engage the start button and honor the best of beginnings.
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The five most influential debut games
As 2025 approached, few predicted that the year’s breakout sensation would be a turn-based RPG centered on French models navigating the existential dread of aging. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 defied expectations, moving 5 million copies and dominating The Game Awards with a historic sweep of trophies, including Game of the Year. It was an unprecedented debut for Sandfall Interactive.
While recent years have delivered exceptional first-time efforts like Balatro and Dredge, few attain the cultural gravity of Clair Obscur. Often, the titles that define a studio’s legacy aren’t their first—Bungie had a long history before Halo, and FromSoftware spent years in the trenches before pioneering the Soulslike. Here are the rare exceptions that changed everything from day one.
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Quiz: Can you guess the movie that launched a franchise by its very first frame?
Reviewing the most legendary genre lineages of the past century, it is striking how many began with humble or even unremarkable visuals. While some boast an immediate iconography, dozens of others start with mundane imagery before escalating into something extraordinary. Can you recognize these foundational shots from the films that sparked massive science fiction, fantasy, and horror universes?
A technical note: We have prioritized the first unique visual that follows the opening credits. Since many cinematic legends begin with a simple void or a generic starfield, we’ve skipped ahead to the first frame that offers a distinct sense of identity. Test your visual memory below.
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hid its twist in plain sight
Endless digital ink has been spilled over Game of the Year champion Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Sandfall Interactive crafted an undeniably haunting experience, but the secret to its immediate resonance lies in its profoundly affecting prologue.
The game begins with Gustave and his former partner Sophie traversing the streets of Lumière on the precipice of the Gommage. Interestingly, Sandfall revealed that allowing players to control Sophie—a vital choice for building emotional stakes—was a late addition to the sequence. The brilliance of this introduction is its restraint; Expedition 33 refuses to over-explain, trusting players to decode the world through environmental cues and cryptic dialogue.
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Inside the helicopter that filmed the opening scene of The Shining
To achieve his uncompromising vision, Stanley Kubrick enlisted MacGillivray Freeman Films—a studio renowned for IMAX documentaries—to capture the sweeping aerials for The Shining. The responsibility fell to helicopter cameraman Jeff Blyth, who had to navigate both logistical hurdles and natural elements to secure the shot.
Speaking with Polygon, Blyth recounts the 1978 production in his own words. From the tight maneuvers within Glacier National Park to the perilous low-altitude flights over active roads, he explores how these iconic visuals were made—and addresses the infamous helicopter shadow that has remained a point of obsession for fans for decades.
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Why Yakuza 0 remains the definitive entry point for newcomers
Set against the neon-soaked backdrop of late-’80s Japan, Yakuza 0 chronicles the formative years of Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima. While Kiryu’s start is gritty and unglamorous, Majima’s entrance in Chapter 3 is a masterclass in cinematic flair, immersing players in the nouveau riche excess of the era.
Through smooth jazz and raining banknotes, the Cabaret Grand is presented as an underworld paradise. We watch through the eyes of a skeptical businessman as Majima effortlessly commands the room, transforming a potential confrontation into a display of absolute hospitality. It’s an introduction that doesn’t just meet the character—it establishes a legend.
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The duality of immersion and frustration in Elder Scrolls openings
Bethesda seems to believe that every great saga must begin behind bars. This recurring motif of formulaic incarceration serves as a paradoxical start to their open-world epics. While the cinematic sequences are often legendary, the mandatory “starter dungeons” can feel like a bottleneck, delaying the very freedom the games promise. It’s a recurring hurdle that sits just inches away from RPG perfection.
Take The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall, which begins with undeniable atmospheric splendor. Amidst a crashing storm, we are pulled into an ancient library where a somber narrator sets the stage for a grand conspiracy. It’s a tantalizing promise of adventure—if you can just make it past the first few corridors.
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The Xenomorph’s entrance in Alien: Isolation is a masterclass in tension
Creative Assembly understands that true horror is built through anticipation. In Alien: Isolation, the creature is initially a ghost—a sound in the vents, a shadow in the corner, or the remains of a brutal struggle. By the time it finally reveals itself to Amanda Ripley, the dread has reached a fever pitch. It doesn’t rely on cheap scares; it relies on predatory grace.
The moment occurs while Amanda is vulnerable, focused on a security terminal. As the Xenomorph unfurls from the ceiling with the fluidity of a gymnast, the game strips away your sense of safety. The transition from cutscene back to player control is seamless, leaving you paralyzed under a desk while the hunter is mere feet away. It’s a reveal that respects the source material’s slow-burn roots.
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Three Xbox Game Pass titles with unforgettable introductions
In the capricious world of subscription services, a game has only minutes to secure its place in your library. Whether through high-octane spectacle or deep character work, an opening must be undeniable. This weekend, we are highlighting three titles on Game Pass that master this hook.
Our recommendations include a vampire-hunting western with immediate teeth, a heartbreaking Metroidvania, and an arcade racer that accelerates from zero to total immersion in seconds. If you’re looking for a new obsession, these are the games that make the best first impressions.
Source: Polygon
