These missions are standout moments in incredible games. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're exploring missions in video games that have released since 2000 that showcase masterful level design, emotional storytelling, and groundbreaking gameplay.
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00:00You killed my sons!
00:01Oh, and I will surely kill the rest of them unless you start talking.
00:06Oh, I know your time, common scum.
00:12Where is the boy?
00:15Welcome to WatchMojo and It's Dangerous to Go Alone.
00:18Take this.
00:19These are the 20 best video game missions of the century so far.
00:23We're going to just stretch the definition of mission ever so slightly to include quests
00:27and levels, but I'm sure nobody will complain because these moments are as good as it gets.
00:31Let's do it.
00:33The Village, Resident Evil 4.
00:38Half of that intro explanation was just to justify putting this moment in the list,
00:46and I refuse to apologize.
00:49I'm sorry.
00:49An intro sequence can either draw a player in or lose them instantly.
00:53The Village segment in Resident Evil 4 stands out as one of the most unsettling and terrifying
00:58intro missions in gaming.
01:00From the moment you begin, you're completely off guard.
01:02Playing as Leon Kennedy, you arrive at a small populated village, and within minutes the village
01:07transforms into a goddamn nightmare.
01:09Panic sets in as Leon scrambles to survive, barricading doors and desperately searching
01:14for ammo, tools, and resources to fend off the zombie horde.
01:18The tension never lets up.
01:19In fact, it only gets worse.
01:21Also, you have no idea what you're supposed to be doing except survive.
01:24This moment reshaped the series and sticks with every player to this day.
01:35The Ghost of Yarikawa, Ghost of Tsushima.
01:41This moment in Ghost of Tsushima has everything a siege battle should.
01:51Slaughtering enemies as they breach the gates, archers covering your back, a stealth section
01:55where you take out siege weapons, and then shredding through the remaining soldiers.
01:59The best moment for the mission and the game overall was the introduction of the new technique,
02:03the Ghost Stance.
02:05Jin mercilessly decapitates the general, activating the Ghost Stance, which you'll have for the
02:09rest of the game, giving you the first chance to fight through mongols using the technique's
02:12instant kill.
02:14Jin's famous speech at the end of the mission ties a bow on one of the best missions of all
02:18time.
02:19You say you are not soldiers.
02:22You are warriors.
02:24We can defeat the invaders and save our home, but only if we stand together.
02:33The Battle at Hulao Gate, Dynasty Warriors 2.
02:43Do Not Pursue Lu Bu is the objective of the mission, the Battle of Hulao Gate in Dynasty
02:48Warriors 2, and the first time I'd ever seen an objective in a game be to not do something.
02:53And when they say do not pursue, they really mean it, because this guy will kiss you good
02:57night.
02:58The line has become legendary, and the mission itself deserves a lot of credit too.
03:02While it's more straightforward than many others on this list, it's still one of the
03:05most iconic missions of its time.
03:07It's a repeated trope and repeated quest across the series, with Lu Bu always appearing to
03:12ruin your life.
03:13But that first time will never be forgotten.
03:23The campaign of Titanfall 2 has already received a lot of well-deserved praise, but this particular
03:37mission stands out as one of the best FPS missions from the last 10 years.
03:41By essentially creating two levels in one to deliver this experience shows just how incredibly
03:45clever the game is, and introducing the ability to move back and forth between the two time
03:49periods is such a cool, thought-provoking mechanic that I don't believe has ever been executed
03:55this well.
03:56Well done, Titanfall 2.
03:57House Beneviento Resident Evil Village
04:11Just when we thought Resident Evil Village had completely let go of the horror of their
04:20seventh entry in favour of the action of their fourth, we were introduced to House Beneviento,
04:25not just one of the scariest moments of the game, but one of the scariest moments of the
04:29series.
04:30After going into the basement, you lose all of your gear, leaving you with that modern
04:34horror feeling, the feeling of total vulnerability.
04:36Just when you think it couldn't get worse, the player is caught off guard by the terrifying
04:40sight of a giant screaming fetus monster.
04:44While the concept of a giant baby as a horror villain seems absurd, Village makes it work
04:48and made me poo.
04:55And the truth will set you free, Red Dead Redemption.
04:59Now before I shoot you myself, let me just point out the obvious.
05:05The one person we have left that can appeal to Mr. Vanderlyn is the last person we know
05:10who knows him.
05:13Your wife.
05:15That won't be necessary.
05:17Mr. Ross, Captain, let's go.
05:20There are plenty of amazing missions in RDR 1, but everything in this game kind of builds
05:25towards this moment, and it feels like the culmination of an entire story, and the kind
05:29of mission where most games would typically end.
05:32You and your team all gear up and ride towards Dutch's stronghold in the mountains, with
05:36the game's epic theme playing in the background.
05:39What follows is one of the most intense shootouts of the era, as you fight your way to face Dutch.
05:44This interaction with Dutch is made even heavier after experiencing the prequel that is RDR 2,
05:49true, but even without it, this moment feels as heavy as a wet towel.
05:52I don't doubt it.
05:56We can't always fight nature, John.
06:00We can't fight change.
06:03We can't fight gravity.
06:06We can't fight nothing.
06:10My whole life, all I ever did was fight.
06:14Then give up, Dutch.
06:16But I can't give up, neither.
06:20I can't fight my own nature.
06:22Going Hunting Battlefield 3.
06:24Elit has sat images.
06:26They think they know where Al-Bashir is.
06:32So, get your fangs out, Hawkins.
06:34Even if you've never played Battlefield 3, chances are you've come across clips or videos
06:38of the Going Hunting mission online.
06:40This mission places you in the cockpit of a fighter jet aboard an aircraft carrier.
06:44The slow walk to the flight deck, the fierce winds and the crashing waves create an incredibly
06:49immersive atmosphere.
06:51From take-off to dogfight, the mission is unforgettable for its sense of realism.
06:55The seamless transition from ground combat to aerial combat is one of the coolest gaming
06:59moments of 2011.
07:00The Battle of Kaia Moorhen, The Witcher 3, Wild Hunt.
07:16The Battle of Kaia Moorhen stands as one of the most emotional and action-packed moments
07:31in The Witcher series, being the confrontation between the Witchers and their allies against
07:35the forces of the Wild Hunt.
07:37Also, the whole game was leading to this moment.
07:39A theme on this list.
07:40Before the battle, Geralt must rally his allies from across the continent to unite against
07:45the threat, which is what makes this sequence so compelling.
07:48This connection that the player has with the characters, which was built slowly across anywhere
07:52between 20 and 100 hours.
07:54The battle is epic.
07:56The sacrifices are plenty.
07:57The game is dope.
07:59Escaping from Darth Vader, Star Wars Jedi, Fallen Order.
08:17I've carried so much hate for you.
08:29The build-up to this shocking moment is 90% of what makes it so incredible.
08:46After a long campaign without any indication that you're ever going to encounter him, Darth
08:50Vader makes a terrifying appearance in Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order as the game's final
08:54unwinnable encounter.
08:56And we truly mean unwinnable.
08:57After protagonist Cal Kestis defeats the second sister, Vader arrives, effortlessly overpowering
09:03both Cal and her.
09:05His immense presence combined with the game's cinematic tension forces players into a desperate
09:10escape rather than a traditional fight.
09:12Vader's overwhelming power is showcased as he tears through the environment with ease.
09:17This moment reminds players that even though they are pretty damn powerful, that there is
09:21always a stronger opponent.
09:23And in this game, you'll never have the opportunity to beat them.
09:27Here, just get out of here now.
09:30Keep moving, come.
09:37Ravenholm Half-Life 2
09:39Oh yes, this is the other entry that my opening was there to justify.
09:47Back off.
09:48Among this game's many standout moments, Ravenholm remains one of the most memorable.
09:53It's the first area where players get the gravity gun, and instead of relying on firearms,
09:58they must improvise with scarce ammo and environmental weapons.
10:01What begins as a tense, horror-like experience soon transforms into a chaotic playground of destruction.
10:07Ravenholm is fun, and scary.
10:09And fun, and then scary again, showing off the themes and gameplay in a mishmash that feels as beautifully planned out as it is chaotic.
10:16Kill Ocelot Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns of the Patriots
10:27Rise and shine, Snake.
10:31Look.
10:32Ocelot was introduced in Metal Gear Solid in 1998, and since then has become a fan-favorite villain,
10:37appearing in all five numbered entries, even with four different protagonists across them.
10:42After absorbing Liquid Snake's spirit, or soul, or essence, or something,
10:46he basically becomes two great villains for the price of one,
10:49and a hand-to-hand fight reminiscent of the last fight of MGS1
10:52was no better way to face him at the end of Metal Gear Solid 4,
10:55our latest canonical Metal Gear Solid game.
10:58I said Solid!
10:59Stop typing out the comments about Revengeance being the latest canonical Metal Gear Solid game,
11:02like in my last Metal Gear related video.
11:04That's Metal Gear Rising, not Metal Gear Solid.
11:06I'm so sorry, I don't know where that came from.
11:09This final fight with Ocelot takes you on an audio and visual journey through this series,
11:13changing the heart and music to represent the previous three games.
11:16It is awesome.
11:25The Sickness God of War
11:36Few moments in the God of War series rival this one, in terms of sheer epicness.
11:53After Atreus collapses, Kratos learns that the only cure is the heart of a bridgekeeper,
11:58and of course, they can only be found in Helheim.
12:00Setting off by boat, he quickly realizes a major obstacle.
12:04His Leviathan Axe is useless in that realm.
12:07After brawling his way through enemies,
12:09Kratos returns home and retrieves the Blades of Chaos,
12:11triggering one of the most unforgettable gaming moments of 2018.
12:15This sequence alone makes the mission incredible,
12:18but the real payoff comes when you descend into Helheim,
12:20wielding the iconic blades to wreak havoc.
12:23Just follow this bridge.
12:24It could lead us straight to it.
12:25See that?
12:26One of the many reasons we went back for those blades.
12:29Truck Chase Uncharted 4 A Thief's End
12:31There are a lot of epic moments in this series that combine the environment and the gameplay
12:45into moments that rival million-dollar action films.
12:48This sequence encapsulates everything that makes the series great.
12:51Nathan Drake is thrust into a high-speed pursuit through Kings Bay, Madagascar,
12:55as he fights to rescue his brother from shoreline mercenaries.
12:58The mission's brilliance lies in its fluidity,
13:00swinging from a grappling hook,
13:02leaping between moving vehicles and gunning down enemies without a second to breathe.
13:06The adrenaline-fueled chase never slows until a shocking reveal at the end,
13:09cementing this as one of Uncharted's most unforgettable moments.
13:13It also hides its intentional and placed moments so well
13:15that you truly feel like you made everything happen.
13:18I'm going as fast as I can!
13:22There's going to be clocked!
13:23Three Leaf Clover, Grand Theft Auto 4
13:33None of you f***ing f***s move!
13:39Get on the floor!
13:40Three Leaf Clover is easily one of the most iconic missions in Grand Theft Auto 4,
13:44and arguably the entire GTA series.
13:46This high-stakes bank heist in broad daylight sees Nico and the Irish crew rob the Bank of Liberty,
13:52only for the job to spiral into a chaotic shootout with law enforcement, obviously.
13:56Inspired by classic films like Heat,
13:58the mission delivers an intense gunfight through Liberty City's streets, alleyways, and subway tunnels.
14:04With police closing in from every direction,
14:06the escape feels desperate and exhilarating,
14:08making it one of the most challenging and unforgettable moments in the franchise.
14:11Some argue that the love for this mission inspired the entirety of GTA V.
14:16Nice, Nico.
14:17You're a damn good man.
14:18I wasn't just driving you two.
14:20The money was in the car as well.
14:22Kick the Hornet's Nest Far Cry 3
14:24Mash up the place, turn up the base.
14:26Rude boy!
14:27Kick the Hornet's Nest in Far Cry 3 is as chaotic and explosive as a mission gets.
14:32Jason Brody is tasked with burning down Vass' drug fields using a flamethrower,
14:37and he does this all to the soundtrack of Skrillex and Damien Marley's Make It Bundam.
14:41Hence why you aren't hearing any audio from this gameplay.
14:44As flames engulf the fields, enemy reinforcements arrive,
14:47forcing players into intense combat while the music fuels the adrenaline.
14:51The fiery visuals coupled with the dynamic gameplay
14:54make it one of the most memorable missions in Far Cry 3.
14:57It also had me doing a borderline offensive Jamaican accent
14:59for the entirety of my senior year of high school.
15:02Ah, 2012.
15:03What a different time.
15:04Dragon Rising The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim
15:08I'm sure there will be a lot of people who don't rank this as the best mission of the game,
15:20but give me a chance, hear me out.
15:22Although Skyrim is packed with countless epic quests,
15:25including its unforgettable opening,
15:26there's something really, really special about slaying that first dragon.
15:31The thrill of the battle and the awe of the guards as they witness you absorb its soul
15:35make it an undeniably game-defining moment.
15:38No matter how many times I play, I always look forward to it.
15:41This encounter not only marks the first true test against a dragon,
15:44but also sets the stage for the overarching narrative,
15:47cementing your role as the dragonborn in one of the game's best quests.
15:50I can't believe it.
15:52You're Dragonborn.
15:55The big score, Grand Theft Auto V
15:57Alright.
15:59Hurry up.
16:00Get changed, alright?
16:01This is the biggest day of your sorry little life.
16:05Hey, man.
16:06So we're really doing this s***?
16:07Alright, come on.
16:08Next door.
16:08As I mentioned previously,
16:10GTA V is all about pulling off high-stakes heists,
16:13and the final one, the big score,
16:15is easily the most memorable.
16:16You can choose between a subtle gold transport robbery or all-out guns blazing vault break-in,
16:22both offering completely different experiences.
16:24The obvious approach, however, is pure chaos.
16:27It kicks off with a giant drill tunnelling into the vault,
16:29leading to a massive shootout as Trevor airlifts the gold.
16:33Then comes an all-out war in downtown Los Santos,
16:35where Michael tears through waves of enemies.
16:38Finally, Trevor and Lester take down enemy helicopters
16:40before escaping by dumping the gold onto a moving train.
16:43What the f*** just happened?
16:45Toward my train, I'm guessing that's you.
16:48Set down the metal and I'll warehouse it.
16:50Package one is down!
16:54The silent cartographer, Halo Combat Evolved.
16:57The island level in Halo Combat Evolved
17:10is where everything great about Halo comes together.
17:13The objective is simple.
17:14Locate the Halo installation's map room,
17:17but getting there means storming a Covenant beachhead,
17:20breaking through defenses,
17:21and fully embracing the game's open-ended combat.
17:23The level offers a perfect mix of vehicles, weapons, and strategy,
17:27with an unforgettable opening cutscene,
17:29an epic soundtrack,
17:29and such good pacing that game developers should study it,
17:33especially JRPG developers.
17:35Some argue that the entire series peaked with this fourth mission,
17:38and agree or disagree,
17:39you can't argue it stands out as one of Halo's most iconic moments.
17:43The Covenant are putting up a real fight.
17:48The cartographer must be here.
17:50My analysis indicates...
17:51All ghillied up Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare.
17:54When I said the topic, best video game missions,
18:03I promise this mission appeared in the brain of more than half of the audience watching this video.
18:08Few missions in gaming are as iconic as all ghillied up from Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare.
18:14This mission highlights the brilliance of the early Call of Duty games by completely changing the pace.
18:19Instead of the usual fast-paced combat, it offers a tense, stealth-focused experience
18:24set in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone,
18:27where you and Captain Price must assassinate an arms dealer.
18:30Dressed in ghillie suits and using silenced weapons,
18:33the mission requires sneaking through heavily guarded areas.
18:36The tension is palpable,
18:37and the shift to strategic stealth over action makes it one of gaming's best missions.
18:42It truly separates the boys from the men,
18:44and the girls from the women.
18:45Play, adapt, grow.
18:49Okay, let's move.
18:56Nice and slow.
18:58Before we continue,
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19:14Blood Feud Ancient and Modern Red Dead Redemption 2
19:17Red Dead Redemption 2 is, no hyperbole,
19:30one of the greatest games of all time,
19:32and it's filled with some of the most memorable missions of all time.
19:35But one stands out above the rest.
19:37Blood Feud Ancient and Modern.
19:39This mission is packed with pure, unadulterated emotion and a gripping storyline,
19:45with earlier quests building up to its explosive conclusion.
19:48The Vandalin gang must rescue Jack Marston from the Braithwaite family,
19:52and the entire sequence feels like a true western.
19:55The ride to the manor is one of the most electrifying moments in gaming,
19:58followed by an intense shootout driven by a heart-pounding soundtrack.
20:02By the end, the mission perfectly captures the escalating tension between the gang and their
20:06enemies, setting the stage for the gang's eventual collapse.
20:10Visually, it's like the greatest western film ever written,
20:13and plays like the greatest western ever developed.
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