Before hardware reached today’s level of advancement,game developers had to try to create seamless gaming experiences when loading screens were still a necessity.
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Because platforms of previous generations took longer to load levels, it became a common practice among studios to make loading screens interesting and keep players from getting bored.
As a result, many video games have memorable waiting rooms,making the moments between sequences more tolerable and entertaining, with some developers even integrating them into their gameplay and narrative.
So, from concept art presentations to interactive mini-games,here are ten iconic video game loading screens.
A Classic Within A Classic
Tekkenhas become one of the most legendary series in video games, withiconic charactersandrivalriesthat are now part of our culture.
However, in its early days, Namco established the game’s popularity byintegrating Galaga,a fixed shooter arcade game,as a loading screen.
Before startingTekken, the title allowed you to playGalaxian’sspiritual successor, so you didn’t even realize you were waiting for the game to finish loading.
Therefore,it was not only an effective but fun solution, through which Namco gave prominence to two of its most famous works.
9Resident Evil 2
A Sign of Uncertainty
Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 2is a tension-driven title, so every mechanic is directly tied to making you feel pressure with every step you take.
Building on this idea,the inclusion of first-person doors as loading screens was great. It not only distracted you from waiting but made you feel immersed and tense in an act as simple as moving from one room to another.
In the vast majority of cases, it could be taken as a moment to rest, since normally nothing happens. However,it only takes one door with zombies behind it to make all of them filled with uncertainty.
The doors inResident Evil 2are a great demonstration of how developers had to figure out how to overcome hardware limitations entertainingly and subtly, which is why they are unforgettable.
8Nier Replicant
Terrific Storytelling
NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…
Nier Replicantis asweirdas it is memorable, but the impact its loading screens have on the player’s experience is rarely discussed.
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There’s nothing like witnessing doomsday from the comfort of your own home.
It’s just a succession of images, butthey show the diary of Yonah,our protagonist’s sister and the driving force of the title’s events.
Through the loading screens, we read the little girl’s notes, allowing us to learn more about what she feels about the endless misfortunes they experience during the adventure.
Nier Replicantis a title with a great narrative, andits loading screens are also at the service of a wonderful story that moves you from the beginning.
7Assassin’s Creed
Doubts and Regrets
Assassin’s Creed
Assassin’s Creedis the first entry of one of the most popular series in the video game industry, becoming an essential classic of its generation.
Although the game design is repetitive and has notable imperfections,Altaïr’s adventure is memorable,especially for its setting and plot twists.
Therefore, each Templars' assassination puts a great burden on the player, who can only process their enigmatic words during the loading screens.
In these, the player is trapped in the immeasurable emptiness of the Animus, being able to run and move without really getting anywhere.What at first is an entertaining practice eventually becomes an analogy between Altaïr and his reality.
Perhaps it was unconscious, but Ubisoft created an entertaining loading screen with great philosophical content.
6Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening
A Literal Hack-And-Slash Title
Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening
Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakeningis a video game that exudes personality from every side, so it’s no surprise it has one of the best loading screens of all time.
Since the sequel can’t stop being aniconic hack-and-slash,the loading screen allows you to continue attacking and slashing,but this time directly at its logo.
Eventually, if you have enough speed, you can break the game’s title, a challenge Capcom invites you to complete while playing the perfect soundtrack.
The concept is simple but very effective, beingcompletely consistent with the proposal ofDevil May Cry 3. It’s soentertaining that sometimes you prefer to stay shooting at the title rather than play the game itself.
5Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
A Cinematic Feat
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
Even though it’s been a long time since I was a regular in the series,Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2remains etched in my memory as one of the best cinematic experiences I’ve ever had.
Not only because of the epic gameplay sequences, but especially thanks to the presentations that precede each mission, through which Infinity Ward informs you about the objectives and circumstances.
With excellent pacing, visuals, and narration,each loading screen makes you feel like a genuine soldier who is listening to orders before executing them.
The integration of these screens with the game’s story is perfect from start to finish, so I look back on it with great admiration.
42010 FIFA World Cup South Africa
Impossible To Let Go
Platform(s)
PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PSP and iOS
15 July 2025
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
Multiplayer
Local and online
As a huge soccer fan myself, I doubt I’ll ever forget the loading screens of2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.
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The time of its release was the most enjoyable for me, even more so given that Electronic Arts improved the franchise with each new installment significantly.
The addition of practice sessions to wait for matches to load has been one of the most entertaining mechanics the IP has ever received, and I genuinely think 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa has the best of them.
Considering the tournament’s unparalleled vibes, I think it’s clear why its gaming representative is on this list.
3Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3
Legendary Mini-games
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3
Unlike the vast majority ofDragon Ballfans, I thinkDragon Ball Z: Budokai 3is the most fun video game adaptation of Akira Toriyama’s creation.
Its side-scrolling style and cinematography always made me feel like I was creating my own episodes of the series, but what I miss most about the game are its interactive loading screens.
From Gohan pulling swords out of the ground to dozens of Saibamen sprouting,I may have damaged a couple of controllers trying to break my records, though it was worth every second.
Nowadays,loading screens like that are practically unthinkable, so games likeDragon Ball Z: Budokai 3will remain the last bastions of such an entertaining practice.
2Bayonetta
The Best Training Room
Bayonettais one of thebest action gamesof all time, featuring combat so meticulous, challenging, and fun thatits loading screen style was absolutely necessary.
In these, you take control of Bayonetta to practice all the combos she has access to, which is crucial if you want to master her vast arsenal of moves and abilities.
The animations are so preciseand the effects so flashy that you could spend hours and hours in that endless room without even realizing it.
Since the game keeps track of every button you press, familiarizing yourself with the combos is much easier, soBayonetta’s loading screens play a fundamental role in truly appreciating its full gameplay potential.
1Spec Ops: The Line
Narrative Masterpiece
Spec Ops: The Line
Spec Ops: The Linearrived when generic military shooters took over the interactive medium completely, soI could never have expected the transcendental experience YAGER had created.
The brutality of the title’s war representation on a psychological level is impressive, and even more so when it stands as a critique of the glorification of violence the video game industry usually displays.
Yet,the game does so not only with dialogues or cinematics but through its loading screens, which are a demonstration of the message the developer wants to communicate.
Although they are just dynamic images that change over time,their narrative power and impact on the player show how to tell stories and transmit sensations beyond the usual norms.
