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
Game which created the now incredibly popular "mascot-themed" fighting game. While past fighting games all focused on unique characters for its own series, Smash took characters from multiple different non-fighting games and equally pit them against each other.
Incredibly successful game that popularized skateboarding as a mainstream sport game category. While not a genre that’s very popular today, it was impossible to escape its grasp in the 2000’s, influencing uncountable series clones and even butting its way into games trying to cash in on the current popular gimmick (Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure comes to mind).
Started the trend of military FPS games that took over the 2000s gaming market. Written by Steven Spielberg as he wanted to create a both educational and entertaining WWII game after directing Saving Private Ryan and watching his son play Goldeneye 007. Shut down the taboo of “turning real historical events into a game” by arguing it as “preserving and honoring history”, helping create the boom of the genre.
The game that created the birth of the Unreal Engine; the engine that would eventually lead to other influential games that relied on the engine, such as Mass Effect and Borderlands. Additionally, Unreal Tournament raised the bar significantly in both quality and quantity for first person teamplay games, often being a big inspiration for future games in the same genre.
Pioneer for Quick Time Events (QTE), real time activities and 3D open world environments. A game ahead of its time in scale and detail.
The best selling PC game of all time. The "Mario of PC gaming." A household PC game popular amongst everyone regardless of gender or age amongst the very male-focused action PC games.
Helped create the launch of Steam.
Started the popularity of casual PC puzzle gaming, influencing games such as Candy Crush and uncountable clones. I’m sure they used to completely cover your Facebook gaming page!
Took 3D open world environments to the next level and is likely many Western audiences first experience with it, too. Started the 2000s craze with gamers towards 3D open-world games with action-adventure elements.
Put Xbox successfully on the market, and could be argued that it owes its modern-day success to Halo's success. Also made popular the addition of vehicles to FPSs.
Fought Halo for the Xbox throne, and made Elder Scrolls a household name.
Also, I feel it should be lit-up more for how insane it is that it's this 2002 game that had different pieces of 3D armor that accurately reflected on your character (lots of games back then would just change the textures) AND could be put on console?? Even now you will still see AAA games where a character moves and their armor or clothes stretch weirdly...
Also, I feel it should be lit-up more for how insane it is that it's this 2002 game that had different pieces of 3D armor that accurately reflected on your character (lots of games back then would just change the textures) AND could be put on console?? Even now you will still see AAA games where a character moves and their armor or clothes stretch weirdly...
A 2002 flash game that got so popular it got put on the goddamn Playstation 2. Probably the earliest example of an internet game getting so popular it got multi-plat console release.
Expanded the FPS genre with classes and large maps that require teamwork instead of a free-for-all deathmatch.
Also, popularized the use of a headset for online multiplayer games.
Also, popularized the use of a headset for online multiplayer games.
Began the notion of accessorizing and buying items in game with real life currency, as well as starting an in-game market that heavily affected real life.
So popular it gained its own subgenre (MOBA).
A free web browser game that put the player in the first-person, and required them to try and figure out how to escape a room only with what’s provided to them. Crimson Room made this genre of game EXPLODE within flash gaming, and eventually lead to the creation and popularity of real-life “Escape Rooms”.
In addition to Cave Story, started the indie gaming craze of the 2000s. Showed how much could be done with RPG-maker and how successful it's open-ended nature could be in gaming.
EA gains exclusive rights to use NFL teams, stadiums, and players in video games, creating a complete monopoly on real world American football games, killing competitors like NFL 2k.
Popularized online gaming on consoles.
Havok physics engine has been used by over 150 video games, as well as the gravity gun influencing future games to make their own physic-manipulating tools and weapons.
Most successful online game world ever. Insane effect on how video games were seen in general pop culture. Helped MMORPGs become a household name with it being referenced in The Simpsons, South Park, the Office, and multiple other mainstream visual media.
In addition to Yume Nikki, started the indie gaming craze of the 2000s, as well as resurging the Metroidvania genre and vitalizing the 2D platforming genre as a viable indie format.
Demonstrated the scope of what one person could create.
Demonstrated the scope of what one person could create.
Redefined the third-person shooter genre, and shifted survival horror towards more action horror ever since.
Helped the spread of classic American film stories to younger generations through the stimulation and challenge that gaming offers. Essentially, helped create the start of many games that connect the original Gen X audience with a new Zoomer one.
Revived the idea of pet simulation in gaming, and finally made it successful in the West as well! Showed what the DS bottom screen was capable of, and in turn, helped sell the handheld like hotcakes.
This goddamn thing sold 18 million copies. That's as much as GTA: San Andreas. It got full-ass adults into something that Nintendo of America forever trapped themselves with marketing as a "child's toy" since the NES. It's responsible for the revival of the puzzle game genre on handheld systems with Professor Layton (2007), Puzzle Quest (2007) and even Phoenix Wright, which DID come out in 2001, but was brought out of it's Japan-only release from Brain Age's mass popularity, and got created into a massively successful series.
The game that made rhythm games popular in the West.
Had such graphical achievements people bought new PCs just for its release. Has controls we laugh about now, but were unheard of at the time.
Did for Western RPGs what Final Fantasy VII did for JRPGs a decade earlier. Continued to influence very successful WRPGs such as Fallout: New Vegas.
Did for Western RPGs what Final Fantasy VII did for JRPGs a decade earlier. Continued to influence very successful WRPGs such as Fallout: New Vegas.
The game that showed the future of motion-controlled gaming and helped cement video games as a household activity regardless of sex and age during a time where video games were often seen as a "teenage boys' club". Wii Sports didn’t just influence the future of the industry, it saw the future and pulled it to the present.
The start to a subseries that became so huge in demand that TWO companies had to take turns churning these scripted war propaganda out to the masses. Made it socially acceptable to have shooting games focus on modern scenarios rather than historical events, and completely overtook the gaming market from 2007-2017.
The game that started the craze and golden age of mobile gaming.
Started the trend of attaching physical items to interact/change something within the game. Popular examples include Nintendo’s Amiibos, and Disney’s Disney Infinity.
Popularized large-scale open world games in such a large way that it influenced the way games with completely different genres present their new games now (MGS, Zelda, etc.)
The best selling video game of all time. It's influence can be found everywhere in video games after 2011. The medium created an abundance of crafting systems, survival mode mechanics, and open world variety in gaming, which all just started as some indie guy's passion project. Minecraft was also very prominent in its presence on platforms like YouTube during the start of the Let's Play craze, which had a large part in popularizing gaming videos on there. Brought popularity to “retro-looking” graphics in modern gaming, especially in 3D environments.
Similar to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Flappy Bird is often credited for being the straw that broke the camel’s with mobile gaming, as many clones after the game’s removal from the app store made common the prospect of app games being free in exchange for constant ads on screen.
Started the popularity of child-themed jumpscare horror games. Helped also fuel the popularity of Let's Plays during its peak in the mid-2010's.
Breathed new life into a genre formally dominated by only Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons. Once again shows how much can be done by one person with a passion, as well as birthed an entire craze of farming indie games that we're still very much in the middle of.
Not the creator of the battle royale genre, but definitely what made it boom in popularity, especially in the West. Also popularized the idea of "Games as a Service" that a lot of companies rely on today, with pay-to-play and freemium business models.
Raised the standard for story-telling and heavy dialogue in gaming that we're seeing begin to influence new releases, even in games with not remotely similar messages or weirdest of all, gacha system games, like Honkai: Star Rail.
The first international smash hit for China’s video game industry, ranking in over $2 billion, mostly from oversea sales. Creating a fast and booming market for international gacha mobile games.
21 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 👋
Funbil
1 year ago