Could be a console startup, title screen, intro cutscene, etc. I just got wired off an energy drink so I apologize in advance if this post is unhinged.
I personally associate it with Kirby Super Star’s intro, the Sega CD boot screen (non-US, I associate the US ones with Christmas), and the original Xbox startup.
Halo CE, BF2 and WoW
For me it was the Star Wars Rebellion main menu. I played that game tons back in the day on a PC that couldn’t handle much more. Starting it up locked me into just wanting to finish a game in one night.
Loved that game!
I actually recently bought it on CD after both the Steam and GOG versions gave me visual glitches. It’s really great even if the enemy AI has infinite resource cheats.
Definitely tf2
Usually community servers are empty but pub players are practically infinite
Minecraft, satisfactory, factorio are ones that come to mind that keep me up too late as an adult. The TES games are ones I remember from my childhood. Morrowind was my jam back in the day, as was NWN.
Guild wars 1
Command and conquer : red alert
Diablo (the original)
Hands down, the Descent 2 PC/DOS intro, game released in 1996. They were ahead of their time, awesome game still to this day in my book.
Nier
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8XTbluLDyE
The opening rant of Kaine refers to something in the late game and it’s soulcrushing, but I love it and how they chose to scream at you on the first launch of the game when you don’t even know who’s speaking. That sets the tone.
Tribal Wars
None. I get hit hard by melatonin and can’t stay up no matter how jazzed I am playing a game. Latest for me was probably like 1:30a and Resident Evil or Tomb Raider. I do remember sleep overs where a friend was still playing when I woke up. Don’t remember the game though … probably Final Fantasy VII.
Resident Evil
A Cobra Mark III rotating on the screen as a green wireframe model on black background.
Starcraft 1 & Warcraft 2
