cutscene

noun

cut·​scene ˈkət-ˌsēn 

variants or less commonly cut-scene or cut scene

plural cutscenes also cut-scenes or cut scenes

: a noninteractive video sequence that occurs between segments of a video game and depicts part of the game's background or storyline

Extra bits of story are delivered every two or three levels, each cutscene lasting just a few seconds and providing a further, fleeting glance at the bizarre roster of characters.

—Joe Martin

Excellent cinematic cutscenes are dotted throughout the game, with rebel communications and face-to-face talks giving you hints on your progress.

—Matthew Horan

Ninja Gaiden is also notable for being one of the first action games to have cutscenes between levels.

—Chris Reed

You won't encounter an explicitly relayed narrative—there are no cut-scenes or dialog text; instead, the story is uncovered through the game's lo-fi and maquette-like environments, each filled with sad, funny, and poignant details.

—Lewis Gordon

Examples of cutscene in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Fixes an issue where character models can occasionally display incorrectly after using a Technique while triggering a cutscene dialogue, with the issue possibly persisting even after the dialogue ends. —Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025

But in Origins, executing a special ability pulled you into an elaborate cutscene with animations that look like they were ripped straight out of a wuxia film. —Ash Parrish, The Verge, 20 Jan. 2025

Upon selecting the expedition, a cutscene triggers in which your party of three grabs onto the talons of a giant blue eagle. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025

Performance capture adds a new dynamic to each cutscene, so each cast member gets to showcase their full talent as an actor, to the point where some returning characters from the first game surprised me with their range. —David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1992, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cutscene

• agin
• alkene
• allene
• ameen
• amin
• amine
• arene
• athene
• baleen
• beeline
• benzene
• between