First impressions are important. The old adage of never judging a book by its cover holds some truth, but often an eye-catching title can draw readers to the book in the first place. Likewise, gaming title screens can indicate quality and craftsmanship, sending implications about effort or artistic value.

All of this, of course, should be taken with a grain of salt. Some of the simplest title screens have become iconic, and flashy startups mean little if the game is overall underwhelming. Not all title screens are created equal, however, and there are plenty that tower above the rest.

10 Secret Of Mana

• Luscious greens and pinks populate the screen during this opening.
• Fits in with the numerous incredible Square Enix title screens.

While the Secret of Mana remake left a bit to be desired, its title screen faithfully re-created the blissful aesthetic of the original. After a brief scroll of text, the screen splits and reveals a verdant landscape where the main cast of the game stands. As the serene soundtrack hums along and the screen continues to expand, pink birds soar across your view.

It is a simple scene, but it lets the viewer in on the lifeblood of the game, a taste of the soundtrack, and an understanding of the plot. Secret of Mana’s title screen is a perfect example of how to successfully coax a new gamer into the experience.

9 Catherine

• While the title card for Catherine is much more tame than the actual game, it perfectly nails the hopelessness of Vincent’s situation.

Catherine was a sleeper hit from Atlus that saw the puzzle adventurer excel on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game follows Vincent, voiced by Troy Baker, as he navigates his relationships with longtime girlfriend Katherine and a seductive woman with the same name (but spelled with a ‘C’).

The title screen perfectly captures the tone of the game, featuring a strung up Vincent calling angrily the titular character’s name. In the background, the sounds of sheep perforate the scene, with an initially confusing but otherwise fitting piece. It is a screen that will linger with players, and its subtlety makes it a perfect addition to this list.

8 Final Fantasy 3 (SNES)

• A classic of classics and features one of Nobuo Uematsu’s most iconic compositions.
• The title card and moving flames create a feeling of unease that matches the tone of this masterpiece.

Final Fantasy III on the Super Nintendo (truly Final Fantasy VI) stands as one of the greatest entries to the Final Fantasy franchise and is often a longtime fan favorite. It tells the story of Terra and the allies she meets along the way, but the villainous Kefka steals the show and solidifies himself as one of the series’ most iconic and evil villains.

The title screen features ‘Final Fantasy III’ atop a burning visage. The flames inspire an eerie feeling, which sets the tone for the tragedies to come. All of this comes, too, before the game will shift into an infamous opening sequence.

7 Bioshock

• Ominous title screen foreshadows what to expect in Rapture.
• The sinking plane and lighthouse are iconic to the franchise at this point.

Ken Levine’s masterpiece in Bioshock left a long-lasting impression on the FPS genre and gamers alike. Set in a subaquatic land of idealism gone wrong in the way of an Ayn Rand novel, Bioshock was an unsettling mixture of first-person action, atmospheric horror, and elemental combat against the twisted splicers of Rapture.

The title screen is one to remember, too, with the camera treading water with a sinking plane and a lighthouse in view. It sets the opening of Bioshock but retains two of the most important set pieces in Bioshock lore.

6 The Last Of Us

• Simple, lonely, and effective.
• The accompaniment swaying with the curtains sets the perfect picture.

Easily one of the greatest title screens on the PlayStation 3, The Last of Us is simple, beautiful, and lonely, which aptly describes the original post-spore apocalypse. The title screen features an old window with overgrowth from the outside broken through.

White and faded paint sits peeled and crumbling, and the curtains sway gently with the intruding breeze. Outside, the sun is bright and penetrating — highlighting the natural beauty in this terrifying world. A soft and subdued atmospheric guitar moans in the background to top off this gem.

After beating the game, the addition of Ellie’s pocket knife sticking in the wooden window frame adds a subtle but effective touch, reminding the player of their harrowing journey across the U.S.

5 Alan Wake 2

• Alan Wake relies on imagery to help tell its story, and this noire title card fits the author’s thrillers perfectly.
• Implications of the Dark Place permeate the title screen.

The original Alan Wake serves as one of the greatest horror-thriller games of all time and paved the way for Remedy to blossom into the epic developer it is today. Sam Lake’s brainchild features famous writer Alan Wake as he struggles to survive a poorly planned vacation in Bright Falls that goes awry. The power of his writing can shift reality, and he has found himself in the middle of a twisting horror story.

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Alan Wake 2 picks up 13 years after the original, and its title screen fits the experience perfectly. The screen flickers quickly between a shadowy man standing in the doorway of a room that only houses a large desk, a typewriter, and a table lamp. Two large, round windows peer out behind the desk on either side, and the black-and-white aesthetic embellishes the already spooky scenery. The screen continues to shift chaotically to other images, like an eagle mounted to a wall or close up to an obscured face. It is both enveloping and creepy, and serves its purpose in setting the tone for the incredible experience to come.

4 Resident Evil

While the original Resident Evil is a cheesefest of bad voice acting, clunky tank controls, and the worst dad jokes imaginable, its title screen is a thing of legend. The opening sequence sees a man walking through a dimly lit hallway with a camera doing its best Evil Dead impression in reaching him. He spins around and screams in terror before a splash of blood sprays the screen.

When the carnage has settled, the camera remains zoomed in on his eye, and the Resident Evil title card emerges from within it. It is an extremely simple but ultimately effective title screen that gets the terror working before the game even begins.

3 The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past

• Helped immortalize the TriForce.
• Perhaps the greatest Zelda title card yet.

There are few games as influential and enjoyable as The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past on the Super Nintendo. Its title screen is a thing of beauty and irreplaceable, and those who grew up with the game will never forget it. Watching the Tri-Force spin into perfection before the title theme and card appear set the stage for an epic adventure.

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To top it off, the Master Sword pierces the Z in Zelda with the sounds of clashing metal. As it finishes its stroke, the blackened screen brightens to reveal Zelda’s castle and the water and horizon beyond it. When put together, the experience is a near perfect one, and it showcased both the power of an effective title card and what the Super Nintendo was capable of.

2 NieR / NieR Replicant

• When coupled with the dialogue that overlaps the title screen, NieR’s onslaught of an introduction left many stunned into hilarity.
• The simple and artsy title card clashes perfectly with Kaine’s crude monologue.

There are no other title screens quite like Nier. While the initial screen is a simple but artistic NieR in white letters scrawled across a black screen, it soon shifts to Kaine’s rant and attempts to snap Grimoire Weiss out of an afflicted stupor. When loading up NieR for the first time, many gamers were surprised and taken aback by the crude and sudden outburst of expletives on the title screen.

Once experienced, it is one that most gamers will not forget, and it truly captures the essence of the characters that populate NieR’s world. In retrospect, no other title screen could have possibly worked. In fact, a majority of gamers and critics passed or disliked the first round of NieR, and the attention it deserved was not won until the resounding success of Nier: Automata.

1 Xenoblade Chronicles

• The ever-shifting time of day in the title screen is warm and remarkable.
• The accompanying music creates one of, if not the absolute, best title screen and music combinations in the history of gaming.

Sometimes, lists are difficult to populate. In the case of the top ten title screens, there are none better than Monolith Soft’s Xenoblade Chronicles. Originally released exclusively on the Wii (and exclusively by GameStop), Xenoblade Chronicles tells the story of Shulk and the Monado, the only weapon in existence capable of damaging the Mechonis. The game takes place on the backs of long dormant giants locked in the throes of battle, and the title card sees the Monado planted in a field of green with clear blue skies overhead.

The title theme is a blissful orchestral composition that draws in the player. As the title card continues to play, the day shifts into evening and night, all the while matching the increasing emotion of the theme. Few other title screens unleash the same raw emotions as Xenoblade Chronicles, and even fewer experiences can match the greatness of the first title in the Xenoblade Chronicles trilogy.

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