First day of the new year, so I figured I'd make my first new thread of the year about the best first levels of various games, in no specific order.

Jungle Hijinx (Donkey Kong Country)

Green Hill Zone (Sonic the Hedgehog)

Make Eggs, Throw Eggs (Yoshi's Island)

Mumbo's Mountain (Banjo-Kazooie)

Central Highway (Mega Man X)

So what are your picks for the best first levels in gaming?

Hyrule Castle (A Link to the Past)

The mines of Narshe (FF6)

Inside the Deku Tree (Ocarina of Time)

25m (Donkey Kong) (the barrel level) - probably the first distinctive “first level” I can remember

The Rescue (Cyberpunk 2077)

That's good, you have any others to add?

3D Sonic usually nail the first levels. City Escape, Windmill Isle, Emerald Coast.

More the first world than level but in Kotor I think Taris is my favourite part of the game.

The Great Plateau, The Great Sky Island, Bob-Omb Battlefield, and Cap Kingdom. The first level of Banjo Kazooie also.

Doom



Duke Nukem 3D



MGS

God of War (2005)

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart

Super Mario Bros - World 1-1

Shadow of the Colossus

For me, the most iconic is SMB1. But I'll go with DKC. Once you learn the balloon/espresso/rambi/banana combo, you'll never have trouble beating the game again.

The frigate Orpheon, Metroid Prime.

From your arrival, it's clear something bad has gone down. The wreckage, the bodies, the wounded and crippled pirates who feebly try to fight you off.

The atmosphere drips with dread (heh) and back in 2001 especially it was a mind blowing statement of the game's commitment to immersion and detail.

Bioshock: The Lighthouse/Welcome to Rapture