10 Devastating Video Game Openings That Totally Broke You

8. God Of War

The opening hour of God of War 2018 functions to set a much more serious, sombre tone than the one found in the previous trilogy. Taking its time to even show Kratos properly, as the grand score sets an underlying atmosphere of creeping dread in the background, it's methodical and deliberate, immediately sucking you into this strange new world.

Following Kratos as he chops down a tree - the bandages on his arms hiding his scars threatening to fall away with each new swing - it turns out the Spartan is preparing to bury his wife. Along with his son, he travels back to his home, where his wife's corpse is laying under a blanket surrounded by effigies and tributes.

It's an instantly affecting opening, which continues into a spectacular introduction to the new combat system and one of the most visually striking boss fights the entire generation has seen so far.

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Josh has over 11 years of experience as a published writer, having worked nine of those years as a full-time content producer at WhatCulture. In that period he has created hundreds of articles, videos and podcast episodes for multiple WhatCulture channels, specialising in gaming, horror and film & TV. He now primarily works as a senior content producer and presenter on WhatCulture Gaming where he co-hosts the WhatCulture Gaming Podcast, a top 3 UK most listened to gaming podcast that he co-created in 2018. Over the years he has reviewed several high-profile gaming releases, covered industry events with on-site reporting, opined on breaking news, and even kicked off his interviewing career by chatting to childhood hero, Tommy Wiseau.