It is tempting to judge a game by its first few hours. When a title fails to grab our attention, the impulse to simply uninstall and move on is strong. However, some of the most highly regarded experiences in gaming history hide their best qualities behind notoriously slow or uninspired openings. If you find yourself hitting a wall with a new purchase, you might be missing out on a fantastic adventure.

Wolfenstein: The New Order

The early stages of Wolfenstein: The New Order are set in the trenches of World War 2. Because the FPS genre has been saturated with WW2-era games, this opening feels derivative. The game only finds its footing when the timeline shifts to the 1960s, allowing the characters—specifically protagonist B.J. Blazkowicz—to reveal depth that isn't apparent in the initial combat sequences.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Widely considered one of the best games of its generation, Red Dead Redemption 2 is infamous for its glacial start. Players spend the opening hours trapped on a snowy mountain completing rudimentary missions with characters they have yet to bond with. While this sequence can be a slog, powering through leads to a much more engaging open-world experience. Interestingly, on a second playthrough, the prologue feels much better because the player already understands the character dynamics.

Assassin's Creed 3

The structure of Assassin's Creed 3 creates a significant pacing issue. The game begins with a lengthy sequence playing as Haytham Kenway to teach mechanics, only to force players to watch his son, Connor, grow up from childhood. This transition feels slow and linear, occurring just when players expect the world to open up. This tutorial-heavy structure often drives players away before the main game truly begins.

Pokemon Sun and Moon

Modern entries in the Pokemon series, including Sun and Moon, suffer from an abundance of early-game tutorials. Between the cutscenes and the dialogue explaining basic concepts, it takes a long time to get into the action. While the series is not traditionally narrative-focused, these scenes can feel tedious, though the underlying adventure is worthwhile once the hand-holding finally stops.

Other Notable Slow Starters

  • Spec Ops: The Line: Starts as an average third-person military shooter, but evolves into a psychological experience that messes with the player's mind as the story progresses.
  • Yakuza 3: The early hours are spent running an orphanage and completing mundane tasks. The game only becomes interesting once you leave this setting.
  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: The iconic storytelling doesn't truly kick in until you leave the White Orchard prologue area and begin the hunt for Ciri.
  • Heavy Rain: The game forces players to perform mundane chores like brushing teeth and showering to learn controls, which can be dull compared to the later murder mystery.
  • Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain: Unlike its predecessors, this entry begins with a slow, linear sequence where the protagonist struggles to move after waking from a coma.
  • Driver: The original PS1 title is notorious for an impossible-to-pass tutorial sequence that requires specific maneuvers within 60 seconds, causing many players to quit before the actual game begins.