25 Best Tutorials Hidden In The Story

The best onboarding often happens when a game quietly teaches you while the plot pulls you along. These story led intros introduce core systems through set pieces, character goals, and early missions that feel like real stakes instead of classroom drills. You learn movement, combat, and progression as you chase villains, escape disasters, or complete your first quests. Everything sticks because the mechanics are tied to what the characters are doing and why it matters. Here are standout examples that fold tutorials into the narrative in a way that feels natural and memorable.

‘Marvel’s Spider-Man 2’ (2023)

The opening Sandman rampage walks you through web swinging, midair tricks, and tag team combat as the story sends both Spider Men across the city. Context prompts cue web line setups and finishers during live objectives. Side activities appear as story relevant pings from allies to introduce suit tech and gadget upgrades. The first boss phases demonstrate parry timing and environmental use while advancing character arcs.

‘God of War Ragnarök’ (2022)

The early hunt and home attack sequence introduces tracking, sled traversal, and companion commands while the plot builds immediate tension. A guided sparring segment explains shield types and guard breaks through in character dialogue. The first realm visit folds puzzle rules into rune stories and device lore. Progression through crafting is presented as natural stops with Brok and Sindri tied to quest needs.

‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ (2023)

The Nautiloid escape teaches turn order, advantage, and surface effects through urgent objectives to reach the transponder. Party management arrives as you recruit companions whose abilities solve immediate obstacles. Conversations show skill checks inside branching story beats that change outcomes. Resting, item use, and terrain are taught by encounters that mirror later dungeon situations.

‘The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’ (2023)

Great Sky Island shrines each map to a new ability with story guided tasks that require creative combinations. Zonai devices appear as solutions to travel goals rather than standalone lessons. Environmental hazards demonstrate temperature and stamina through path choices that complete a narrative checklist. The final leap down establishes open world rules right after you use everything you learned.

‘Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’ (2024)

The Kalm flashback and early region quests introduce party synergy and field traversal through character driven objectives. Combat tutorials surface as banter during boss phases that mirror past events. Materia links are taught by quests that require specific status or elemental setups to progress. Minigames arrive as plot activities that reward progression items and maps.

‘Final Fantasy XVI’ (2023)

Story battles layer Eikon abilities and stagger rules into cinematic encounters that follow Clive’s timeline. Active Time Lore appears during missions to explain terms while you practice new moves. Training prompts unlock right after narrative milestones so you can test skills introduced in the preceding scene. Hunt boards are tied to quest lines that demonstrate build choices and rewards.

‘Elden Ring’ (2022)

The Cave of Knowledge frames basic inputs as a choice inside the opening storyline of the Tarnished. Early field bosses near the first churches show spacing and spirit ash use through map hints and NPC comments. Weapon arts and guard counters are introduced by enemies placed to encourage those responses. The legacy dungeon tutorializes vertical shortcuts and ambush patterns through item placement.

‘Horizon Forbidden West’ (2022)

The prologue expedition with Varl teaches new climbing, pullcaster use, and workbench upgrades as part of a recovery mission. Machine encounters are staged to demonstrate acid and purgewater effects through quest targets. The Daunt region introduces salvage contracts that explain parts farming and tear damage. Tallneck and rebel camp objectives show stealth routes and override timing during story operations.

‘Resident Evil 4’ (2023)

The village siege tutorializes barricades, kick staggers, and inventory quick swaps under a timed survival objective. Merchant interactions unlock with narrative beats that add upgrade paths tied to upcoming threats. Treasure routes teach backtracking and key item logic through requests that match new areas. Enemy mix and arena design show crowd control tools before later set pieces expand them.

‘Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’ (2023)

The Coruscant heist uses chase sequences to teach wall runs, grapples, and force pulls while objectives move the crew forward. Combat lessons arrive during story duels that highlight stance strengths. Puzzle doors and shortcuts loop back to hubs to demonstrate route planning. Workbench upgrades appear at narrative pauses that match the next biome’s challenges.

‘Alan Wake 2’ (2023)

The opening case introduces investigation boards that teach evidence linking inside a live murder inquiry. The Mind Place tutorials are delivered as part of profiling rather than separate menus. Light based combat concepts are introduced through scripted encounters that escalate with new tools. Manuscript pages foreshadow mechanics you immediately apply in the next scene.

‘Hi-Fi Rush’ (2023)

The stage one concert setup explains beat synced attacks as part of Chai’s escape. Environmental cues pulse to the soundtrack so timing lessons happen while pursuing story goals. Companion assists unlock during cutscenes that lead straight into arenas designed for their abilities. Upgrades are introduced by narrative stops that preview combos against specific enemy types.

‘It Takes Two’ (2021)

Each chapter aligns a new co op gadget pair with relationship themed objectives that demand coordination. Hazards are arranged to teach handoff timing and role swapping while advancing the story. Boss mechanics combine both tools to reinforce what the level introduced. Minigames appear in narrative spaces that encourage practicing skills without breaking character.

‘Metroid Dread’ (2021)

The first EMMI zone teaches stealth and escape routes within the mission to reach central units. Counter windows and slide use are demonstrated by enemy types placed at choke points. Aeion abilities unlock through story devices that immediately gate progress until you apply them. Map upgrades and teleporters are introduced as you reroute to objectives that require new paths.

‘Super Mario Bros. Wonder’ (2023)

Early courses present badge abilities through level goals that highlight their strengths. Wonder effects teach temporary rule changes while tying them to course completions. Secret exits explain exploration logic inside playful setups that lead to reward maps. Difficulty ramps through world order that matches the badge lessons you just learned.

‘Sea of Stars’ (2023)

The opening trials teach timed hits and mana cycling under mentor guidance. World navigation introduces traversal abilities through story errands that open new routes. Status effects and combos are explained by enemy shields that match ability symbols. Camps and cooking appear as part of travel scenes that link recovery to pacing.

‘Sifu’ (2022)

The prologue dojo establishes structure for parries and push offs through a narrative confrontation. The age mechanic is taught by an early defeat that loops directly into the next attempt. Level routes demonstrate shortcuts that preserve progress between story beats. Focus moves unlock during encounters designed to highlight their specific crowd control use.

‘Returnal’ (2021)

The crash landing guides scanning, map reading, and fabricators as part of Selene’s first survey. Death and persistence rules are taught through logs that reference your own loop. Biome transitions introduce new enemy patterns that mirror recent upgrades. House sequences deliver mechanics context that ties collectibles to progression.

‘Cyberpunk 2077’ (2020)

Lifepath intros teach stealth, hacking, and conversation checks inside origin specific jobs. The montage that follows introduces driving and gunplay while building your crew. Quickhacks are explained during missions that require cameras and cover to complete. Cyberware upgrades tie into story clinics that preview upcoming threats.

‘Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’ (2020)

Norway’s opening raids introduce stamina, guard breaks, and crew calls during story targets. Settlement growth explains crafting and buildings through quests that unlock new systems. World events teach social stealth and exploration without separate tutorial boxes. Weapon styles and runes are folded into loot tied to narrative arcs.

‘Dragon’s Dogma 2’ (2024)

The gaol escape introduces vocation basics and pawn commands as part of a rescue. Early contracts guide you through climbing large beasts and targeting weak points. Camps and oxcart travel appear during quests that require rest and route planning. NPCs teach vocation swapping and augmentation at story hubs that gate new regions.

‘Lies of P’ (2023)

The opening at Krat Central Station explains perfect guards and dodge timing through scripted duels. Legion arm functions unlock as you encounter obstacles designed for each tool. Weapon assembly and scaling are introduced by blueprints tied to story finds. Stargazer checkpoints teach upgrade loops as you push toward story bosses.

‘Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon’ (2023)

Early sorties teach assault boost, stagger, and target prioritization within mission contracts. The garage introduces part swapping right before encounters that favor those changes. Arena simulations mirror upcoming enemy builds to demonstrate counters. Briefings and debriefs frame objectives that reinforce ammo management and repair choices.

‘Starfield’ (2023)

The miner prologue teaches scanning, digging, and environmental hazards before the artifact discovery. Ship travel and grav jumps are introduced during a story escort that leads to a city hub. Faction quests unlock crafting and research loops by tying upgrades to narrative rewards. Outpost systems appear through missions that require resource automation.

‘Stellar Blade’ (2024)

The Eidos landing establishes dodge windows, perfect parries, and beta energy through boss style encounters. Traversal tools unlock as story objectives open multi path arenas. Gear upgrades are introduced by settlement vendors linked to mission progress. Optional training is surfaced through character conversations that reference upcoming fights.

Share your favorite story embedded tutorials in the comments and tell us which openings taught you the most without feeling like a lesson.