Games that Changed the World of Gaming
This is ordered by year of release. Comments/suggestions are welcomed, but doesn't guarantee an addition.
A game does not necessarily need to be good to change the world of gaming; it just has to be influential, which can either be negative or positive.
A game does not necessarily need to be good to change the world of gaming; it just has to be influential, which can either be negative or positive.
140 Games
Laid down the foundation for future games involving discovering secrets and hidden items. Direct influence on Legend of Zelda and Ys, as two examples.
The first commercially produced arcade video game rendered entirely with real-time, flat-shaded, 3D polygon graphics. 3D games before this would use vector lines, instead.
I think the first adventure game to have a controllable character that could actually move throughout the scenic backdrops.
The fighting game that started it all. The first to reach international success. Originally made in Japan, but became the most monetarily successful arcade cabinet in the US in 1985, and the best selling home computer game in both the US and UK until 1989.
Being a game that focused on the sport of karate resulted in Karate Champ establishing and popularizing the genre of one-on-one fighting games. It is the first game to allow two players to fight against each other, learn special move-sets, and have a “best out of three” format. It can be seen as a direct influence to series such as Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and Virtua Fighter.
Being a game that focused on the sport of karate resulted in Karate Champ establishing and popularizing the genre of one-on-one fighting games. It is the first game to allow two players to fight against each other, learn special move-sets, and have a “best out of three” format. It can be seen as a direct influence to series such as Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and Virtua Fighter.
The first game succeeding with the idea of using controllers that interacted directly with the television screen based on the controller’s position. Directly influenced the eventual creation of the Wii (2006).
The first game to allow players to take control of the creative aspect and make their own levels to play/share with others. A modern comparison would be Super Mario Maker (2015).
Introduced the concept of button-mashing translating into speed. The faster you bash the buttons, the faster your character goes! Became a staple in a lot of competitive mini-games, especially sport ones.
What I imagine is the first "restaurant-simulator" kind of game. If not, it's definitely the first commercially successful one. Serve your customers before they get angry and storm out!
Helped define the visual novel genre, while also being the start to a lot of things we now are used to seeing in story heavy gaming. Examples include: nonlinear gameplay in addition to nonlinear storytelling (allows multiple ways to complete an objective), branching dialogue options, simple player-friendly action and dialogue text boxes/menus, and a fun twist ending! A very story heavy video game which we see went on to influence more games than I can count, including Horii’s own future works, like Dragon Quest. There’s more I can add to Portopia’s accomplishments, but I’ll leave that for a future review.
The first commercial game where you helped others to a common goal, rather than attacking or avoiding them. What we now more commonly refer to as “escort missions”.
An insanely successful hit in Japan that influenced a significant amount of Japanese arcade games (Bubble Bobble creator Fukio Mitsuji references it as influencing his career).
Credited for being one of the first games in Japan to have a final boss, pre-rendered graphics, and an enticing storyline.
Credited for being one of the first games in Japan to have a final boss, pre-rendered graphics, and an enticing storyline.
Seen in pop culture as the straw that broke the camel's back and helped to destroy the home gaming market until Nintendo came to revive it a few years later.
A box-pushing puzzle game that was so successful it's first time around that we're still seeing the exact same puzzle put into games 40+ years later (Big Brain Academy, Baba is You, etc.) It's one of the first games to get researchers fascinated in how complex the game gets later on and how it requires human skill past the capacity that machines can stumble to figure out. Some of the most complex levels can take hours or even days to complete! Read more here.
The first racing game to feature a track based on real racing circuits. The most popular racing game until Midway appeared 10 years later.
The first successful home console platforming video game.
While superior to the original Pac-Man in almost every way, Ms. Pacman was influential in the fact that it cemented video games as more than just a fad, with the arcade cabinet being able to be found in practically every mall, arcade, bowling alley, bar, etc. Many Americans in the early 1980's first arcade game.
One of the most successful arcade cabinets throughout the entirety of the 80's, and is considered a big push to keeping space shooters a popular genre throughout, as well.
An RPG which helped create a crazy boom of popularity and solidify the creation of the genre - Along with Ultima, Yuuji Horii and Hironobu Sakaguchi both state that this is the game that influenced them to make RPGs for home consoles. The best selling computer RPG from 1981 to 1985. Additionally, it is the first CRPG to add a party system.
The game that started Nintendo's success as a video game company. While not the literal first, Donkey Kong is often considered the first successful mainstream platformer.
One of the first definitive commercial computer RPGs, but more importantly, the first open-world computer game that you were able to actually see and interact with. Might be the first game to include a visible outdoor/indoor change in setting as you moved, as well as having the ability to have conversations with NPCs... will need to triple check.
Not the first game to scroll the player sideways, but absolutely the one that cemented it into the shooter genre, even hatching its own sub-genre of solely horizontal scrolling shooters.
The original Roguelike.
Popularized the core mechanic of a last boss battle in gaming.
The first video game to really tackle current world news events rather than shooting aliens, etc. Based around the time's fear of the Cold War, evolved to all the countless modern war FPS series we now see.
First mascot in gaming and the most monetarily successful arcade game of all time. The start of “Pac-Man Fever” and the gameplay trope of needing to collect all of an item (balls, gems, rings, etc) in order to move to the next level.
Added graphics to text-based adventures for the first time.
Sure, space shooters had their try at the video game market since 1973, but Asteroids is the one that made it popular and made space shooters the most popular type of game for the next 10 years.
One of Namco's first independent releases, and what a home-run! Full color display (pretty unheard of in the 1970s), unique enemy movement, and is one of the first arcade cabinets to feature a theme tune! Went on to influence later works by them such as Pac-Man and Galaga.
The reason why MUDs are called Multi-User Dungeons. The start of what we now call MMORPGs.
The game so popular it created a national coin shortage in Japan, as well as started the golden age of arcade gaming.
Popularized the idea of a saved high score, as well as shooters in general. Miyamoto, Kojima, and John Romero make mention that it was the game that introduced them to the concept of video games, making them fall in love with the concept and eventually creating their own.
Popularized the idea of a saved high score, as well as shooters in general. Miyamoto, Kojima, and John Romero make mention that it was the game that introduced them to the concept of video games, making them fall in love with the concept and eventually creating their own.
Took what Pong introduced and completely flipped it on its head… literally! Breakout also really confirmed that video games had made it when the Yakuza tried to get their hand into the game. Japanese arcade owners of the game begged for companies in the West to take arcade cabinets of it in order for the Yakuza to have less control over the game.
You may know the creators better as the eventual inventors of the Apple II, Macintosh, and iPhone.
You may know the creators better as the eventual inventors of the Apple II, Macintosh, and iPhone.
The original dungeon crawling video game. It heavily influenced DND (1975), Colossal Cave Adventure (1976), Zork (1979), and Adventure (1980).
The first ever FPS and first online game ever as well!
The first video game that had people realize the market that video games had. The first video game to create fights and lawsuits over trying to get your name in at the start, as Pong revealed that video games were something that was going to stick around for a long, long time. Many people in the 1970's first experience with an arcade cabinet.
A game prepackaged with computers given to schools resulting in influencing an entire generation of children.
First coin-operated arcade cabinet.
The original pong! The original idea of a ball flying across a screen - also the first game on the first home console, where it was eventually ported to the Magnavox Odyssey.
One of the earliest digital computer video games. Arguably the first arcade cabinet.
First ever computer game with controls.
One of the earliest computer games in existence.
23 Comments
Hi friend! Just finished the current list (still need to add notes for many but eh another day lol) - will definitely look into Xevious!
funny that all ocarina’s achievements were done before by mario 64
Resident Evil or Resident Evil 4
Hi friends - didn’t expect this to get so much attention. I’m still very much in the middle of working on this and adding games and all that. I put games i thought would fit and would rearrange and possibly take out later (hence the three elder scrolls - left them there to decide later which one to add, I go on Backloggd every now and then hence the WIP being left for a bit).
Mario 64 was one I was going to add after I wrote out notes I was happy about to explain why I added it. The very lovely passive aggressive comment I got about Ocarina of Time I do not understand as Mario 64 did NOT have a day-night cycle on the 3D graphics and was not open world in the way Zelda was, instead keeping you contained to the painting or castle you are currently in. But I know Mario 64 has a very… passionate.. fanbase so I will tread lightly with that, though I do find it influential.
Thank you for your comments - I work until 11pm EST and will continue adding notes and arranging things then. Thank you.
Mario 64 was one I was going to add after I wrote out notes I was happy about to explain why I added it. The very lovely passive aggressive comment I got about Ocarina of Time I do not understand as Mario 64 did NOT have a day-night cycle on the 3D graphics and was not open world in the way Zelda was, instead keeping you contained to the painting or castle you are currently in. But I know Mario 64 has a very… passionate.. fanbase so I will tread lightly with that, though I do find it influential.
Thank you for your comments - I work until 11pm EST and will continue adding notes and arranging things then. Thank you.
Small update of with descriptions added and a few more games added. Still massive WIP.
Super Mario 64, Halo, Devil May Cry, and Cave Story all seem to belong.
This is quite an ambitious list, let me give some suggestions:
- Ultima Online
This basically laid down the template for the RPG genre even before Dragon Warrior did it.
- Colossal Cave Adventure
First text-based adventure game.
- King's Quest
Popularized the adventure game genre.
- Half-Life
Basically laid out the blueprint for modern single player FPS games.
- Warcraft 3
It lead to both WoW and DOTA, the latter of which was the birth of the MOBA genre
- Fortnite
Whether we like it or not, Fortnite's monetization model has basically become the standard for every single live service game, not to mention it's one of the biggest factors in companies becoming more willing to let their properties crossover into other games.
- Ultima Online
This basically laid down the template for the RPG genre even before Dragon Warrior did it.
- Colossal Cave Adventure
First text-based adventure game.
- King's Quest
Popularized the adventure game genre.
- Half-Life
Basically laid out the blueprint for modern single player FPS games.
- Warcraft 3
It lead to both WoW and DOTA, the latter of which was the birth of the MOBA genre
- Fortnite
Whether we like it or not, Fortnite's monetization model has basically become the standard for every single live service game, not to mention it's one of the biggest factors in companies becoming more willing to let their properties crossover into other games.
8/16/23 updated - still WIP
List is officially off WIP! But I am still researching and looking at different thing to add, as there really is no limit to how many games influence the industry! I feel my list is very US-focused currently, so I'm looking into very influential Japanese and European games! Hope you enjoy - see you all around 👋
What about BioShock?
I know Catacombs 3-D and Doom are already included, but I believe Wolfenstein 3D is just as important, I consider it the first FPS that feels like the FPS genre we know today, and of course there would be no Doom without it. Also a little tid-bit for Medal of honor, it was influenced by Goldeneye as Speilberg saw his children playing Goldeneye and used ideas from it. I would also add GTAV to this list, an infinitely influential title. Team Fortress 2 should also be considered, it is THE hero shooter, as it popularized the genre and is still going strong after 16 years, Left for Dead was also a groundbreaking title in that horde shooter genre, idk what you'd call it, but I'm unsure if there was anything like it at the time. Assassin's Creed also laid out the blueprint that countless open world games have followed for the past 3 game generations. IDK that much about The Witcher 3 but I would also consider it, I believe it has influenced a lot of western open world games. Hotline Miami was also a big one, a small game made by 2 guys that exploded into the mainstream and catapulted Devolver Digital to success, Hotline Miami has influenced countless Indie and AA titles with its ultra-violence and aesthetics. I think that's all I can think of lol.
I feel like Tony Hawk 2 is worth a shot out for being the staple of skate games moving forward, even if the genre is dead nowadays.
Gonna chime in with suggestions for Devil May Cry, Batman Arkham Asylum and Final Fight.
11/12/23: Portopia Serial Murder Case, Ultima, Choplifter, Soko-Ban, I Robot, Lode Runner, Tapper, Track & Field, and Galaxian added with notes. Fixed a few past note details as well.
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Forget about Tales. Add Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu. One of the first action-RPGs, introduced the sword button that would be used in Zelda I, and Zelda II is pretty much a clone of it. As in, without it, we would have no Link
Some suggestions:
Ico - One of the first games to show the potential of the medium as an art form to many people around the world, and also raised the standard for artistic value in video games. Influenced many other directors, such as Hidetaka Miyazaki (Dark Souls), Neil Druckmann (Uncharted 3, The Last of Us), Eiji Aonuma (Twilight Princess, Breath of the Wild), Yoko Taro (Nier), Josef Fares (Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons), and Guillermo del Toro (Movie director, Death Stranding).
Ace Attorney - Popularized the Japanese Adventure Game genre in the West, and murder mystery/detective games in the whole world. You could also argue that it has created its own subgenre, which Capcom calls "Courtroom Drama". (Please, note that Ace Attorney isn't a visual novel. Visual novels are a subgenre of JADV. Ace Attorney would be considered a Command Select ADV, like Portopia and Snatcher, not a visual novel).
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - Helped to create and popularize the Metroidvania genre.
Ico - One of the first games to show the potential of the medium as an art form to many people around the world, and also raised the standard for artistic value in video games. Influenced many other directors, such as Hidetaka Miyazaki (Dark Souls), Neil Druckmann (Uncharted 3, The Last of Us), Eiji Aonuma (Twilight Princess, Breath of the Wild), Yoko Taro (Nier), Josef Fares (Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons), and Guillermo del Toro (Movie director, Death Stranding).
Ace Attorney - Popularized the Japanese Adventure Game genre in the West, and murder mystery/detective games in the whole world. You could also argue that it has created its own subgenre, which Capcom calls "Courtroom Drama". (Please, note that Ace Attorney isn't a visual novel. Visual novels are a subgenre of JADV. Ace Attorney would be considered a Command Select ADV, like Portopia and Snatcher, not a visual novel).
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - Helped to create and popularize the Metroidvania genre.
Not to mention MOTHER was quite possibly the first game to have a sympathetic villain.
4/9/24 Updated multiple descriptions while on a 5 hour bus trip - didn’t add any more games yet, but might do that on the bus ride back!
4/11/24 ALRIGHT - after yet another 5 hour bus ride, I feel very satisfied with what the games I have added and the descriptions I have changed, and how the list is overall! I have added the following games: Tony Hawk Pro Skater, MechWarrior, Galaga, Defender, Wolfenstein 3D, and Flappy Bird. There’s absolutely no question that I will change, add, delete, or whatever from this list some more in the future, especially after playing more games myself, but for now I’m very happy with this list in its entirety! If I did not add your game, it’s most likely because I found the game less so influential and more so just a really, really good game, couldn’t find enough information online without me playing it myself yet, or the game is famous for having a very impactful twist/story and I don’t want to spoil myself before playing (so with the latter two, I might add your suggestion later when I play it!). Please continue suggesting and throwing things my way - I’m more than happy to take a look at them! Thanks again 👋
Table Tennis inspired Pong, not just Tennis. Same cart, different ruleset
@Alena_03 thanks! I think I might replace Tennis with Table Tennis because it seems closer to Atari's pong cabinet, while Tennis relies on the cover sheet to know where the net is. Thanks again!
Funbil
1 year ago