Most Iconic Tutorials In Games, Ranked: Which Of These Iconic Tutorials Do You Remember Fondly?

Summary

Tutorials might feel tedious in most games, but some titles bring a welcome twist to them.
The best tutorials teach game basics and scale, like Skyrim’s Prisoner Start.
Iconic tutorials are fun and informative, like GTA 5.

Many video game aficionados tend to prefer a hands-on approach rather than being guided extensively. Consequently, tutorial segments are often less favored in games since players enjoy diving right into the action without every detail of the gameplay being overly explained. In essence, most games aren’t as complex as rocket science.

It’s true that many games offer a tutorial, guiding players through the basics. Fortunately, there are some games that manage to make these tutorials enjoyable as well as informative, and they can even become legendary. Here, we’ve gathered some of the most legendary tutorials in video game history. Note that these aren’t necessarily the best tutorials, but rather those that have left a lasting impression on players.

10. The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

Sticks To The Franchise Prisoner Tradition

As a devoted fan, I’ve always appreciated how The Elder Scrolls series immerses players into its world by starting them as prisoners. This initial setup, whether it’s in Morrowind, Oblivion, or Skyrim, serves as an engaging tutorial. For instance, in the dramatic events of Skyrim, the Dragonborn is bound and facing imminent execution – a thrilling introduction that gradually introduces players to essential skills like combat, stealth, and lock-picking.

Following Alduin’s appearance and initiating a dragon-roast for Imperials, Skyrim’s learning process commences by familiarizing players with fundamental skills like movement, jumping, sprinting, and escaping from the game’s oldest dragon. As the player reaches safety, additional aspects such as inventory management, lock-picking, combat, and stealth are gradually introduced. Known for its iconic opening scene (an encounter no Skyrim player soon forgets), this tutorial, however, isn’t as warmly recalled these days. It tends to be lengthy and less enjoyable upon repeated playthroughs, leading many players to install mods that allow them to bypass it when revisiting the game. Consequently, we can say that Skyrim’s tutorial ranks at the bottom due to its widespread desire for skipping.

9. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

Introduces Players To A Massive World Without Overwhelming Them

Crafting an effective tutorial for a game like “Breath of the Wild” isn’t straightforward due to its expansive sandbox nature and interwoven systems. The challenge lies in presenting these complexities in a clear manner to prevent newcomers from feeling overwhelmed, while also accommodating veterans who prefer a more self-directed experience without being overly guided.

In Breath of the Wild, Link is placed in a spacious environment that serves as a training ground for players to refine their skills before embarking on their adventure. Once they collect the materials needed for Link’s glider, players are free to depart whenever they wish. Some may complete this in just a few minutes while others might spend hours delving into the tutorial area to uncover all its hidden treasures.

Breath of the Wild stands out as one of the best Zelda games for exploration, and its innovative tutorial has become a benchmark for how massive open-world games should begin their storylines. However, it receives a lower ranking due to its relatively recent release, which means it hasn’t had enough time to establish itself as an iconic title in gaming history.

8. Grand Theft Auto 5

North Yankton Introduces The Game’s Major Mechanics Organically

In Grand Theft Auto V, the initial story segment during the botched North Yankton heist serves as an excellent demonstration of incorporating a narrative into teaching players how to master the game. This introductory phase introduces essential skills such as combat techniques, driving controls, and the unique character-switching feature exclusive to GTA V. The tutorial in this game showcases many aspects that make GTA V one of the most exceptional Grand Theft Auto titles, emphasizing its exceptional gameplay.

In an authentic and thrilling setting that maintains a balanced pace without feeling excessively scripted, GTA 5’s Yankton section keeps players engaged, making repeated playthroughs feel fresh. With over 205 million copies sold, the tutorial has become a recognizable part of the game, having been experienced by countless players worldwide.

7. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Hone Your Skills Before Going To War

Back in 2007, “Call of Duty 4” felt remarkably innovative. It essentially laid the foundation for many contemporary military first-person shooter games and introduced features like Aim Down Sights (ADS) and crouching or going prone to enhance weapon precision. While these elements are commonplace nowadays and seldom require an introduction, back then even experienced FPS players weren’t accustomed to them.

Through its daily mission during training, the game challenged them by having Soap navigate a military-style obstacle course reminiscent of those used in actual militaries. This obstacle course was timed, adding an extra layer of excitement as players tried to better their scores by going through it multiple times. Just like how Modern Warfare 2 did something similar and contemporary shooters such as Titanfall 2 incorporate similar training stages.

6. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Uses Vader To Teach The Ways Of The Force

Many action RPGs introduce players to their powerful protagonist initially to guide them through the fundamentals, then gradually take away most of those abilities. This approach ensures the tutorial isn’t overly challenging and offers a glimpse of what’s coming. It also feels great to be overpowered (OP). Yet, it can be disheartening to lose all that power and return to the basics. The tutorial for The Force Unleashed, however, deviates from this norm.

Instead of immediately providing the player with a fully-trained Galen Marek, the game begins with Darth Vader making a landing on a rebel planet and getting down to business. From the outset, Vader is an overwhelming force, serving as a tutorial for the essentials of movement, combat, and force abilities. Vader’s power is undeniable, and the opening scenes of the game are nothing short of iconic. Upon taking control of Galen, players find themselves eager rather than disappointed, knowing that their mission is to strive for equal strength against Vader by the end. It’s unfortunate that other Star Wars games haven’t experimented with a comparable approach.

5. Assassin’s Creed 2

Ezio Before He Became An Assassin

Assassin’s Creed 2 represented a substantial improvement over its predecessor, incorporating numerous novel mechanics to educate players. The storyline unfolds around Ezio Auditore, a young, rebellious nobleman from Renaissance Italy who isn’t an assassin initially. Instead, he’s a privileged troublemaker. Developers use this backdrop to familiarize players with the game’s fundamentals.

In this church race with his brother Federico, Ezio learns enhanced climbing and parkour techniques. He picks up the fundamental three-strike combo, defending against attacks, and engaging multiple opponents simultaneously in a brawl against Pazzi family adversaries. The tutorial also includes lessons on synchronization spots, stealth fundamentals, and even looting fallen enemies. Notably, this interactive learning session is enjoyable and significantly contributes to making Ezio one of the most charming characters within the franchise.

4. Fallout 3

A Lesson On How To Grow Up Fast And Survive The Wasteland

Many games provide tutorials that assume gamers are infants, but Fallout 3 goes a step beyond this. Instead of starting with the usual tutorial, the game simulates the player’s birth and uses the stages of growth as a means to teach the basics. This includes learning to walk, talk, and even handle firearms.

From infancy, the game’s protagonist learns to walk behind their father, Liam Neeson’s character, and at a birthday celebration, they start learning social interaction and dialogue within the game. Later on, they receive their first weapon, a BB gun, and are shown how to eliminate radroaches. This initial segment also serves as a guide for understanding the game’s decision-making mechanics. By the end, when the player is expelled into one of the most compelling post-apocalyptic worlds, they’re well-prepared for the challenges of the Wasteland. It’s worth noting that while some fans might favor Fallout: New Vegas, many would agree that Fallout 3 likely has the most effective tutorial in the series.

3. Dark Souls

Throwing The Player In At The Deep End

The Dark Souls series is renowned for its extreme difficulty, yet it seldom feels unjust towards the player. When a player dies, it’s their responsibility to improve, and this was effectively communicated by the original game. To begin with, the tutorial zone offers a manageable challenge, offering helpful tips like how to attack, execute specific moves, and restore health. Despite this, the standard enemies in the initial area can still pack a punch, but they’re not particularly demanding.

In my gaming adventure through the haunting world of Dark Souls, I stumbled upon a colossal room where an ominous “Get Away!” warning echoed. The next instant, the chilling figure of the Asylum Demon descended upon me. This demon is no walk in the park; one or two hits from it and I’m toast. Although it may not be the hardest boss in the game, its health bar seems like a towering mountain that could take an eternity to deplete. At first glance, it feels incredibly unfair. But then, I realized, the Asylum Demon was there to teach me one of Dark Souls’ core principles – sometimes, it pays off to retreat and return stronger later. Even the most seasoned players might manage to conquer this beast on their initial attempt, but for the rest of us, we’ll need to regroup and come back when we’re better prepared.

2. Driver

The Hardest Tutorial Ever Made

Not every well-known item is automatically excellent. For instance, while the original “Driver’s Tutorial” is renowned, it has earned that reputation for all the wrong reasons. The purpose of a tutorial is to help us learn how to play the game smoothly and intuitively. Unfortunately, “Driver” introduces its newcomers to a list of tasks to complete, followed by a stringent time limit and harsh penalties if even minor mistakes are made.

The opening level of the game “Driver” was exceptionally tough back in the 90s, to the point where many gamers had to use cheats or enlist the help of an expert friend just to progress beyond it. This challenging tutorial left such a strong impression on a whole generation of gamers that it became iconic, earning a runner-up spot in the rankings.

Or, more casually:

Back in the 90s, getting past the opening level of “Driver” was no easy feat for most gamers. They had to either cheat or get help from a skilled friend, as this tutorial was infamously tough. It left such an impression on a generation of players that it’s considered iconic and ranks highly among gaming challenges.

1. Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon

Press A To Demonstrate Your Ability To Read

In a somewhat different wording, it could be stated as follows: Typically, a DLC featuring a tutorial might seem superfluous, given that players have already played the main game. However, an exception to this rule is found in ‘Blood Dragon’, an outstanding DLC expansion for ‘Far Cry 3’ (a standout among open-world games). Its tutorial stands out as one of the best and most memorable because it understands that veteran gamers dislike being guided too closely.

The game’s tutorial right from the start seems overly sarcastic towards players, implying they are incompetent, with General Rex, the protagonist, expressing his impatience to get to the action and disdain for tutorials. The witty humor in Blood Dragon satirizes typical tutorials while effectively instructing newcomers on the game’s mechanics. It’s legendary, and no other game has managed to surpass its unique and entertaining tutorial yet.

2025-01-16 04:37