20 Most Iconic Title Screens In Gaming

Some title screens do more than greet you. They set the tone, teach the rules, or even change as you play. The best ones blend music, visuals, and subtle interaction so well that the opening menu becomes part of the experience. Here are twenty title screens that players can still picture the moment someone mentions the game.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

A black screen with a rotating emblem sits over drifting smoke while a single theme builds from a low chant to full choir. The camera never moves from the emblem and the stillness lets the music carry everything. A simple menu fades in with clean options and a dragon emblem highlight. The lack of background footage keeps load speed fast and avoids spoilers for first time players.

Halo: Combat Evolved

A ringed world rotates slowly in space while the choir theme starts soft and rises. The camera pans to reveal the Halo superstructure and its blue atmosphere as menu options appear. Button prompts are minimal and keep the view clear of clutter. The attract mode rolls to gameplay footage if you wait, which was common in console menus of the time.

Metal Gear Solid

The screen opens on a biometrics styled menu with a green scan line effect and a pulsing logo. A steady ambient track plays while the memory card and options screens use the same clinical design. Each selection has a distinct audio chirp that feeds into the interface feedback. Idle time triggers character themed codec beeps as a subtle loop.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Link rides across Hyrule Field at dawn while the camera tracks the horse from several angles. The sun rises and sets on a loop that highlights the day night cycle before you even start. Pressing start overlays simple golden text and transitions to the file select. The title screen shows water, grasslands, and sky to preview the game’s biomes.

Final Fantasy VII

A meteor streak crosses the night sky as the camera pulls back to the city skyline. The logo enters with a white flash that syncs to the first chord of the main theme. Menu items sit on the lower edge to keep the logo unobstructed. Letting it idle rolls a cut of Midgar with traffic hum and reactor noise.

Resident Evil

A stark doorway fills the frame with heavy reverb on the title callout. The logo slam and voiceover label the game mode selections with different intonations. Menu text is large and uses high contrast for old televisions. Idle time plays a montage of mansion rooms and enemies that hints at puzzle locations.

Silent Hill 2

Fog drifts over a washed out background while a single piano motif loops. The logo flickers with slight texture noise to match the grainy filter. The menu cursor moves with a soft scrape sound that fits the atmosphere. If you wait, a cryptic video plays that includes the lake and silhouettes without direct spoilers.

Dark Souls

A black background and serif logo appear with a faint ember effect that glows and fades. The minimal layout keeps load time and visual noise low. The title theme enters with strings only after a beat of silence, which heightens attention. The menu stores multiple save slots to reflect character builds central to the game.

Bloodborne

The title sits over a rain soaked backdrop with subtle ripples and a distant bell. Ambient audio layers wind, water, and church chimes into the loop. The menu highlights have a faint slash sound to match the weapon focus. Leaving it idle plays brief shots of Yharnam streets and interiors that teach the visual language of lanterns.

Doom

The screen shows the marine holding ground on a platform surrounded by demons while the logo caps the frame. The palette and sprite art match the in game assets to set expectations. Pressing start jumps straight to episode and difficulty selection without extra screens. The highest difficulty is hidden off to the side to reduce accidental picks.

Super Metroid

A laboratory chamber displays a floating lifeform in a glass capsule with monitors flickering. The camera slowly pushes in while a choral pad sets a cold tone. Menu options appear in the lower third and use sharp beeps that echo the tech theme. Idle mode runs a short sequence of corridors and doors that preview map doors and item gates.

Super Mario 64

Mario’s 3D face floats in space and reacts to input by stretching and snapping back. The main menu appears after a short beat and shows save slots as large icons. The interactive face demonstrates analog stick control on the hardware. The opening jingle and voice lines act as a sound test for speakers.

Street Fighter II

Character portraits animate as the camera lands on a world map with blinking stage markers. The logo flashes with a quick thunder sound while the menu offers modes with big readable text. Attract mode fights start if you wait, showing move lists and stage variety. The map highlights also teach the concept of choosing opponents by location.

Chrono Trigger

A pendulum swings across the screen with a tick that matches the music tempo. The swing acts as a visual metronome and anchors the logo. The menu is simple and places New Game and Continue directly below for quick input. Idle playback cycles through party members and locations to preview time travel themes.

Persona 5

Bold red, black, and white graphics slide across the screen with comic panel transitions. The menu cursor bounces with a small drum hit that matches the soundtrack’s rhythm. Settings and Load sit on the same layer for fast access without nested menus. The background art rotates character silhouettes to hint at the cast without narrative details.

Nier: Automata

A monochrome interface places the logo over a calm machine ruins backdrop. The menu integrates save data as chips and announcements that match the in universe UI. Starting a game from the title requires confirmation about data management that ties into later systems. Idle time runs grayscale footage with film grain that stays consistent with the aesthetic.

BioShock

Ocean waves roll under a dark sky while the logo glows faintly. The sound of surf and distant thunder sets the audio mix before any music plays. Menu items sit high on the screen to keep the horizon visible. Waiting triggers a cut to the lighthouse introduction which blends directly into the opening scene.

Undertale

The title sits above a small field of golden flowers with simple pixel art. The heart icon used for the soul serves as the menu cursor for every selection. As you progress, the title screen changes to reflect major outcomes and characters met. The save files and true reset options reinforce how choices persist across sessions.

Shadow of the Colossus

A lone horse stands in a vast landscape with soft light and drifting clouds. The menu uses a thin serif font that echoes stone carvings found in the world. The camera holds on the horizon to emphasize scale while ambient wind plays. Letting it run cycles shots of ruins and plains that teach the world’s emptiness.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Silhouettes of riders move across a red and black motif while the score plays a slow build. The menu sits on the left with large text and clear subtitles toggles. Pressing start leads to story or online selections without extra branding screens. Idle mode shows vignettes of camp life and travel that foreshadow core activities.

Share your favorite title screens in the comments and tell us which openings you never skip.