Image via Electronic Arts
Sometimes you have to wait for a game to finish loading content, as all gamers know. What's normally a lackluster experience can be turned into a fun cram session or mini-game with the right developers behind it. Check out this list of our all-time favorite video game loading screens!
The coolest game loading screens ever
Invade a Charge (1987)
Image via Mastertronic Limited
Retro gamers who have had the chance to play on a Commodore 64 are probably pretty familiar with the length of console load times. This is why Invade-a-Load, a loading screen created by a third party, was injected into most games that were on Commodore 64. Very similar to Space Invaders, this simplistic mini-game gave players something to doing while they waited over 5 minutes for The Way of the Explosive Fist to load.
Resident Evil (1996)
Image via Capcom
There are few things scarier than the unknown, and the Resident Evil video game loading screen plays to that. As you begin to load, you get a very wide shot of a doorway in the distance. Slowly, but surely, the player approaches the mysterious door. Sometimes there are eerie cracks and squeals, but other times there is just a deafening silence. When the game finishes loading, the player is thrown through the door and into the chaos of gameplay on the other side.
Crash Tag Team Racing (2005)
Picture via Radical Entertainment
Alright, so this one is a little gross. We had to include it due to the novelty of the loading screen. The Crash Tag Team Racing loading screen features a still image of the characters with a black screen. When players mash any set of keys or buttons (except those that would quit the game, of course), they're greeted with a cacophony of burps and flatulence. The sounds truly embody the childlike nature of the Crash Bandicoot franchise. It's also a weirdly addictive way to kill time while waiting for the real game to begin.
Witcher 3 (2007)
Picture via CD Projekt Red
The dark, cohesive background of a medieval landscape might not be the most inspiring of loading screens, but the details are in the words. Like many other games, Witcher 3 weds useful gameplay information when the game loads the next section. Where Witcher 3 diverges from the wider crowd is the amount of information provided to players. There are over 115 different informative options that will appear on a player's loading screen, ranging from background on in-game lore to simple tips to keep in mind during combat.
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Bayonet (2009)
Picture via SEGA
Bayonetta's loading screen is a popular feature of the game within the community. If you're not too careful during Bayonetta's loading screen, you might be tricked into thinking there's nothing interactive there. But with a simple press of the tab key (our touchpad on other platforms), you can access a detailed practice mode that's incredibly useful for gamers. Try any variety of combos you can think of to see how well they would work in the real game.
FIFA 11 (2010)
Image via Electronic Arts
FIFA 11 players had the advantage of not having to sit idly by while the real game was being prepared. As the game loaded into a match or practice, players had the opportunity to deepen their skills. A screen involving your player appears while standing in front of a guarded goal. The objective is to get the ball into the goal before the game has finished loading. Unfortunately, it appears that this style of loading screen has not carried over into current FIFA titles.
Elder Scrolls: Skyrim (2011)
Image via Bethesda
If you've played Skyrim, you can almost start hearing the soundtrack thinking about the loading screen. Haunting instrumentals lull you from your previous destination to a smoky black screen. This screen will treat players with a moving visual along with information. Sometimes you'll get a 3D model of a Nord with a story about the race, but you're also just as likely to see a Giant with tips on how to beat it. Along with character details, you will also receive simple information about towns, weapons, and organizations.
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The Sims 4 (2014)
Image via Electronic Arts
There's nothing like a classic loading screen that gives you something to look at. When The Sims 4 moved away from the open-world style seen in previous installments. This meant that there were now more times that loading screens were needed. The iconic Plumbob loops as various phrases move downstairs. Blurbs range from helpful The Sims 4 tips to wacky puzzles, and even the famous screen that just says OK.
Civilisation VI (2016)
Image via Firaxis Games
If you're going to wait a while on the loading screen, you might want something to entertain you. Civilization VI had players in mind when they created the UI for the loading screen between game scenes. Players can access extremely detailed pages of real-life lore and historical information. Discover different empires and kingdoms with practical details on how to approach these factions in Civ 6. The best part is that the pages contain so much information that they don't get old quickly.
Fallout 76 (2018)
Image via Bethesda
Fallout 76 has a feature for its loading screens that sets it apart from the rest: you create them. Bethesda designed Fallout 76 to use your in-game screenshots as a slideshow gallery that greets you while processing the game. This can create a gorgeous option if you've taken photos of the detailed American landscape. However, you also have the option of filling it with hilarious out-of-context photos. To top it off, you also get useful game information at the bottom of the screen.
Want to read more lists on the best of the best? If so, check out Best Games on Xbox Cloud Gaming on Pro Gaming Guides.
