Streets of Rage 2

Outrun


These arcade games had to draw you in immediately and Outrun was excellent. 

@Mummelmann Half-Life has incredible opening levels, the issue I have with them is you can't jump into the action. It's basically a walking sim until you get a weapon. I was gonna say Halo as well, but you don't start on the island until after a long exposition.

Best first levels to me are where you jump straight into the action, which is rather rare nowadays. 

Flower had an amazing opening level

Relaxing to boot up just for the first level.

Sekiro. It's the final boss but I can't think of anything bad about that game once the final world state is triggered. It's immaculate.

DKC games usually have fantastic first levels. The Great Plateau from BOTW is a fantastic tutorial area and I guess I would also have to mention GOW3, I dunno if you could consider that a "level" type thing, but the opening part of the game, fighting Poseidon, is very climatic.

And also, and this is probably a weird pick, but Elden Ring for me, mostly due to efficiency. Theres a mini-tutorial area/cave that you dont have to do if you dont want to, and then the game throws you right into the action. And the first area (Limgrave) is just gorgeous, you immediately fall in love with the game.

Okay. Got one. It's not first but the third level on Super Mario Bros 3. That level is such a fantasticly designed work of art.

More picks from me.

Lakeside Limbo (Donkey Kong Country 3)

Corneria (Star Fox 64)

Inside The Great Deku Tree (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)

Bob-Omb Battlefield (Super Mario 64)

Space Colony Ceres (Super Metroid)