5 ‘90s RPGs With a Perfect Opening 30 Minutes

Too often, RPG players hear that a game from their preferred genre only gets good after a handful of hours. I don’t know about you, but that’s an instant turn-off. If an RPG can’t nail its opener, I’m not going to slog through a dozen hours to wait for it to hook me. Thankfully, the ’90s have a solid lineup of RPGs that don’t waste your time. These games kick things off right away, getting you into the action while delivering a compelling start to the story. Here are five ’90s RPGs that will wow you from the jump.

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5) Wild Arms

The Wild Arms series is often cited as one of the best openers in RPG history. Every game in the series knows exactly how to get players into the action, but it all started with the 1996 original. What makes the Wild Arms opener so good is that it figures out exactly what makes its protagonists tick, and then gives you a brief introduction to all of them.

For the original Wild Arms, that means three protagonists, each with their own captivating backstory. Instead of dropping that out piecemeal over the course of the game, you get a quick rundown of each character, introducing you not only to their story but also to their playstyle. It’s exceptionally well done and gets you into the action almost immediately. If you’re not raring to go after the first half-hour, you must not have a pulse. Thankfully, if you want to continue the series, you’ll enjoy similar intros, making this a series that’s easy to jump into.

4) Xenogears

Xenogears seems almost angry at games that waste your time getting to the good stuff. It kicks off with an opening cutscene that lays out everything you need to know, but also leaves you with plenty of questions. It’s the perfect way to get you hooked, and then it really brings the heat with a shocking turn that gets you into the action almost immediately.

It’s like the developers studied every great page-turner and distilled that into Xenogears‘ opening. You’re left wanting to know exactly what happened, which means you’ll never put this RPG down. That’s what makes this opener so great. It’s not just that Xenogears presents an intriguing story, but it perfectly catapults you into the mix, forcing you to stick with it so you can uncover its secrets. Just a picture-perfect way to open an RPG from a storytelling standpoint. Then, you get into the combat and 3D environments, and you’re in it for the long haul.

3) Secret of Mana

Secret of Mana might be the quickest game on this list if you’re looking to get right into the action. There’s a nice, little cutscene giving you a basic picture of the world with just enough hints toward what’s coming. Then, you’re tossed into your first boss battle after only a few short minutes. Granted, that fight isn’t a tough one, but it lets the developers almost instantly throw you into the action.

You’re not menuing through dialogue to learn how everything works. You are in the fight within the first 15 minutes or so, learning on the fly. It’s a refreshing way to kick things off, and it’s no surprise that Secret of Mana is able to keep up the momentum throughout. I’ve mentioned developers not wanting to waste their players’ time in several entries on this list, but Secret of Mana almost feels like the developers have money on how quickly they can get you into the thick of things. For that, I thank them.

2) Final Fantasy VII

Final Fantasy VII isn’t as zippy as Secret of Mana, but that’s for a very good reason. Square needed to take some time to show off the spectacle of the world they’ve created. Remember, this was the first time Square was stretching its legs with a 3D world. Final Fantasy VII was their showpiece, giving fans a look at what the PlayStation 2 was capable of.

That said, it’s not an extended sequence. You get a crash course in what’s going on with Avalanche and more than a few hints at Cloud Strife’s combat prowess, as well as his quickly deteriorating mental health. Then, you run into the excellent boss fight against the Guard Scorpion, before the pace is taken to the max after you set off a bomb and race out of the facility. It’s bombastic. It’s completely captivating. It’s Final Fantasy at its best. Thankfully, the Remake did a great job capturing that same feel, even if the sequence is a little longer nowadays.

1) Planescape: Torment

Planescape: Torment is a slow burn of a video game, so you might not think it deserves a spot on this list. However, that opener has such a strong hook that I couldn’t help but include it. Sure, you’re not tossed into the action right away (Planescape features a lot of text, after all), but if you aren’t fully on board within the first few minutes, Planescape probably isn’t going to be a game for you.

The story starts with you waking up on a mortuary table. Your character remembers nothing about their life and is covered with scars and tattoos. That, on its own, is one of the best hooks in gaming history. You’ll instantly want to know what happened to you, and then Planescape takes it a step further by introducing your first companion, a floating skull named Morte. It’s got everything players love about Planescape within the first few minutes: a compelling story, great companions, and plenty of mystery. The action might not be there, but it rarely is in Planescape: Torment.