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)

Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
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.
Among Us
Among Us
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.
PUBG: Battlegrounds
PUBG: Battlegrounds
Fortnite
Fortnite
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Pokémon Go
Pokémon Go
Overwatch
Overwatch
Undertale
Undertale
Five Nights at Freddy's
Five Nights at Freddy's
Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V
Final Fantasy XIV Online
Final Fantasy XIV Online
The Last of Us
The Last of Us
Clash of Clans
Clash of Clans
Spelunky
Spelunky
Candy Crush Saga
Candy Crush Saga
Puzzle & Dragons
Puzzle & Dragons
Minecraft
Minecraft
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Dark Souls
Dark Souls
Temple Run
Temple Run
Super Meat Boy
Super Meat Boy
Angry Birds
Angry Birds
Arguably the starting point of the mobile gaming explosion
Assassin's Creed II
Assassin's Creed II
League of Legends
League of Legends
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Farmville
Farmville
Made "Free-to-Play" a viable strategy. Also brought games to a more casual social network.
Plants vs. Zombies
Plants vs. Zombies
Rock Band
Rock Band
Crysis
Crysis
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Portal
Portal
Team Fortress 2
Team Fortress 2
UEFA Champions League 2006–2007
UEFA Champions League 2006–2007
Wii Sports
Wii Sports
Roblox
Roblox
Dwarf Fortress
Dwarf Fortress
Shadow of the Colossus
Shadow of the Colossus
God of War
God of War
Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4
Practically created the modern version of the third-person shooter.
Cave Story
Cave Story
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft
Half-Life 2
Half-Life 2
Halo 2
Halo 2
Popularized online gaming on consoles.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Defense of the Ancients
Defense of the Ancients
Basically created and popularized the MOBA genre.
Second Life
Second Life
MapleStory
MapleStory
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Alien Hominid
Alien Hominid
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
Halo: Combat Evolved
Halo: Combat Evolved
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Grand Theft Auto III
Grand Theft Auto III
Ico
Ico
The amount of game developers that have credited Ico as an influence is pretty crazy.
Super Monkey Ball
Super Monkey Ball
Devil May Cry
Devil May Cry
Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X
Bejeweled
Bejeweled
RuneScape
RuneScape
Phantasy Star Online
Phantasy Star Online
Counter-Strike
Counter-Strike
Partially responsible for the creation of Steam.
Deus Ex
Deus Ex
The Sims
The Sims
Shenmue
Shenmue
Trailblazer for Quick-Time events and arguably open world games.
Unreal Tournament
Unreal Tournament
Showed off the Unreal Engine, which has evolved into something most games use.
Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
EverQuest
EverQuest
Silent Hill
Silent Hill
Thief: The Dark Project
Thief: The Dark Project
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Half-Life
Half-Life
Popularized interactive storytelling in video games.
Dance Dance Revolution
Dance Dance Revolution
Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Solid
Popularized cinematic games and stealth games.
SoulCalibur
SoulCalibur
StarCraft
StarCraft
Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
Snake
Snake
Fallout
Fallout
Ultima Online
Ultima Online
GoldenEye 007
GoldenEye 007
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Imagine conflating an entire subgenre to the a part of the name of a single game.
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy VII
Effectively established the market for Japanese role-playing games in the West.
Diablo
Diablo
PaRappa the Rapper
PaRappa the Rapper
Tomb Raider
Tomb Raider
Harvest Moon
Harvest Moon
Super Mario 64
Super Mario 64
The Z-axis is pretty cool. Dynamic cameras are also nice
Quake
Quake
Resident Evil
Resident Evil
Popularized survival horror, heck, this game coined the term "survival horror".
Pokémon Green Version
Pokémon Green Version
Meridian 59
Meridian 59
Command & Conquer
Command & Conquer
Heroes of Might and Magic: A Strategic Quest
Heroes of Might and Magic: A Strategic Quest
EarthBound
EarthBound
Super Metroid
Super Metroid
Imagine conflating an entire subgenre to the a part of the name of a single game.
Doom
Doom
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.
Virtua Fighter
Virtua Fighter
Myst
Myst
Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty
Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Sonic the Hedgehog 2

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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