Video Games Canon

Game that I think are influential, important, and impactful to the progression of video games.
I'll try to provide a reason for each game here.
If you have any games that you should be here mention them, preferably with why they should be here.

Games Under Consideration:
-Computer Space (1971)
-Heiankyo Alien (1979)
-Akalabeth: World of Doom (1980)
-Mystery House (1980)
-Tempest (1981)
-M.U.L.E. (1983)
-Archon (1983)
-Hydlide (1984)
-Commando (1985)
-Gauntlet (1985)
-Maniac Mansion (1987)
-Sid Meier's Pirates! (1987)
-Dungeon Master (1987)
-Herzog (1988)
-Herzog Zwei (1989)
-Populous (1989)
-Lemmings (1991)
-Micro Machines (1991)
-Flashback: The Quest for Identity (1992)
-Sam & Max Hit the Road (1993)
-Day of the Tentacle (1993)
-Tokimeki Memorial (1994)
-Command & Conquer: Red Alert (1996)
-Grim Fandango (1998)
-Baldur's Gate (1998)
-Suikoden II (1998)
-Planescape: Torment (1998)

Acted as a means for tens of millions people around the world to interact in the early 2020s when public interaction was far more restricted.
Acted as a means for hundreds of millions of people around the world to interact in the early 2020s when public interaction was far more restricted.
Arguably the starting point of the mobile gaming explosion
Made "Free-to-Play" a viable strategy. Also brought games to a more casual social network.
Practically created the modern version of the third-person shooter.
Popularized online gaming on consoles.
Basically created and popularized the MOBA genre.

Ico

The amount of game developers that have credited Ico as an influence is pretty crazy.
Partially responsible for the creation of Steam.
Trailblazer for Quick-Time events and arguably open world games.
Showed off the Unreal Engine, which has evolved into something most games use.
Popularized interactive storytelling in video games.
Popularized cinematic games and stealth games.
Imagine conflating an entire subgenre to the a part of the name of a single game.
Effectively established the market for Japanese role-playing games in the West.
The Z-axis is pretty cool. Dynamic cameras are also nice
Popularized survival horror, heck, this game coined the term "survival horror".
Imagine conflating an entire subgenre to the a part of the name of a single game.
Imagine conflating an entire subgenre to the name of a single game. Made shotguns one of the defining weapons in first person shooters. Big step for multiplayer and modding in games.

2 Comments


1 year ago

This would make a killer series of video essays on YT

1 year ago

Also you put Adventure for the VCS/2600 when you meant to put Colossal Cave adventure


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