Which recent game had the strongest first two hours, and did it keep that energy?

We've all been there. You boot up a new game, and within minutes you're hooked. The tutorial is smooth, the cutscenes are gripping, and the combat clicks instantly. You text your friends: "This is the one."

Then hour three hits. Then hour five. And suddenly, that initial spark starts to flicker.

So let's cut to the chase: which recent game gave you the most electrifying first two hours – and did it actually sustain that momentum all the way through?

What makes a truly great opening two hours?

Not every strong start is created equal. Some games are front‑loaded with cinematic spectacle, while others earn their hooks through smart mechanics or world‑building. Based on recent releases, I think a great opening does three things well:

It teaches you without boring you

The best tutorials weave mechanics into action. You're not reading text boxes; you're parrying, dodging, and solving puzzles while learning organically. If I'm still staring at control prompts after thirty minutes, the opening has already failed.

It establishes stakes that matter

I need a reason to care. Whether it's a personal revenge arc, a mysterious disaster, or simply a character I instantly like, the opening has to make me invested in what happens next. Without that emotional anchor, the prettiest scenery feels hollow.

It gives you one memorable set‑piece

Just one. A boss fight, a chase sequence, a moral choice that made me pause – something I'll remember after I put the controller down. That moment is the hook that keeps me coming back for the next session.

Which recent games nailed their first two hours?

I've been sampling a handful of August's biggest releases, and the opening experiences vary wildly. Here are the ones that stood out – for better or worse.

Mortal Shell II – a blistering start that slowly loses steam

The opening area is a masterclass in atmosphere. You wake up in a crumbling cathedral, the lighting is moody, and the first enemy encounter forces you to use every new ability. The parry window feels generous, the shell transformation is visually stunning, and the first boss – which you meet within an hour – is a genuine adrenaline rush.

For the first two hours, I was convinced this was my game of the year.

Then came the open swamp zone. Suddenly, the tight design gave way to sprawling, empty space. Enemy variety dropped off. The narrative, which had been intriguing, became cryptic in a way that felt like padding, not mystery. By hour six, I was running past enemies to find the next objective marker. The energy didn't just dip – it flatlined.

Verdict: Strong start, weak middle. It kept me for exactly two hours, then lost me in the third.

Big Walk – joyful co‑op energy that scales with your group

If you have a friend beside you, the first two hours of Big Walk are pure delight. The tutorial drops you into a whimsical landscape with no hand‑holding – just exploration and silly physics puzzles. Every discovery feels shared, and the laughter is constant.

But if you're solo, that same opening feels empty. The puzzles are clearly designed for multiple players, and the silence amplifies the loneliness. The energy is completely dependent on your company. With a partner, it sustains beautifully for hours. Alone, it fades after the first hour.

Verdict: Depends entirely on your co‑op status. With friends, it's a marathon; alone, it's a sprint.

Hell Let Loose: Vietnam – an intense start that burns out fast

The opening match is unforgettable. Dropping into a dense jungle with 50 other players, hearing the distant crack of sniper fire, crawling through mud to flank an enemy position – it's visceral and terrifying. The first two hours are a blur of adrenaline and chaos.

But once the novelty wears off, the cracks appear. Matches are long, respawns are slow, and the learning curve is brutal. If you're not a mil‑sim veteran, you'll spend more time staring at a death screen than playing. The initial intensity doesn't translate to sustained engagement – it just becomes exhausting.

Verdict: Explosive opening, but not built for casual sessions. The energy is real, but it drains quickly.

Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy – a slow burn that gets better

This one flips the script. The first two hours are actually the weakest part – they're heavy on exposition, and the new combat system feels clumsy at first. I almost quit.

But I stuck with it. And somewhere around hour four, everything clicked. The story deepened, the action sequences became more creative, and the emotional weight started to land. The opening didn't blow me away, but the game grew into something much stronger.

Verdict: Weak start, strong finish. The opposite of front‑loaded – it earns your time later.

Black Myth: Wukong – a stunning spectacle that mostly delivers

The first two hours are pure cinema. The intro boss fight is jaw‑dropping, the graphics are next‑level, and the combat system feels fluid and responsive. It's the kind of opening that makes you forget about your backlog entirely.

And the good news? It mostly holds up. The boss fights remain spectacular, the world stays beautiful, and the challenge curve is fair. There's a slight dip in the middle where exploration gets repetitive, but the core combat loop stays engaging well past hour ten.

Verdict: Strong start, strong follow‑through. One of the few that actually kept its promise.

Did they keep the energy? A quick scorecard

How to spot a front‑loaded game before you commit

If you've been burned by strong openings before, here are three red flags to watch for in the first two hours – signs that the energy might not last.

The tutorial lasts too long

If you're still being introduced to basic mechanics after 90 minutes, the game is stretching thin content. A good opening teaches you everything you need in under 30 minutes and lets you loose.

Every set‑piece happens early

Watch out if the first hour has three huge cinematic moments, and then the next two hours have none. That's a budget allocation problem – the studio spent their best ideas upfront to sell pre‑orders.

The dialogue is front‑loaded with exposition

If characters are dumping lore non‑stop in the opening, it's a sign that the narrative team didn't trust the gameplay to carry interest. Great games reveal story through action, not monologues.

What's your experience? Which game had the best opening – and did it last?

Now I'm genuinely curious about your recent adventures. Think back to the last two or three new games you started.

• Which one had you completely gripped in the first two hours?

• Did that excitement survive the third, fourth, and fifth hours?

• Or did you find yourself checking the clock and wondering when it would "get good" again?