If it must work as a work of art absent of all cultural context, I’d say… Clock Town from Majora’s Mask. Scenic little medieval town, but the oncoming angry moon tells a story
If art-that-only-works-with-cultural-context is valid… E1M1, that first moment with the blue carpet and such. I can think of very few more iconic starts to a game. Look at it and you know exactly what you need to do with the game.
If it must work as a work of art absent of all cultural context, I’d say… Clock Town from Majora’s Mask. Scenic little medieval town, but the oncoming angry moon tells a story
If art-that-only-works-with-cultural-context is valid… E1M1, that first moment with the blue carpet and such. I can think of very few more iconic starts to a game. Look at it and you know exactly what you need to do with the game.