Game-Changers: Turning Points in Video Game History
Highly influential and genre-defining games that made a significant impact on the evolution of video game history and pop culture.
93 Games
the first known video game to be played at multiple computer installations
the first commercial home video game console game and the inspiration for Atari's Pong
popularised "edutainment" educational computer games
the first significantly commercially successful video game
popularised the text-based adventure game genre
popularised the shoot 'em up genre
popularised the adventure game genre
popularised handheld games
popularised the maze game genre
popularised the roguelike genre
popularised the role-playing game genre
popularised the platform game genre, Nintendo's first significantly commercially successful video game
the first game to use a "d-pad" (directional pad)
the first video game to be based on a real racing circuit, popularised the third-person racing game genre
popularised the simulation game genre
popularised the side-scrolling beat 'em up genre
popularised the side-scrolling platform game genre, popularised Nintendo's NES console
popularised the action-adventure genre
popularised the japanese role-playing game genre
popularised the "metroidvania" non-linear, utility-gated game genre
popularised the japanese role-playing game genre in the US
popularised the japanese role-playing game genre in Europe
popularised the city-building simulation game genre
popularised the puzzle game genre, popularised Nintendo's Game Boy console
popularised the point-and-click graphic adventure game genre
popularised the strategy game genre
popularised the fighting game genre
popularised the "mascot" game, popularised the idea of "console wars", popularised Sega's Mega Drive / Genesis console
notable for it's controversial depiction of extreme violence and gore using realistic digitized graphics, and, along with the home release of Night Trap, prompted the formation of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), a U.S. government-backed organization that set descriptor ratings for video games
popularised the kart racing genre
popularised the first person shooter genre
popularised the "immersive sim" genre
popularised monster-collecting role playing games, popularised Nintendo's Game Boy consoles
popularised the survival horror genre
popularised the 3D platforming game genre, popularised Nintendo's N64 console
introduced the first significantly popular female protagonist
popularised loot-based action-rpg games
re-popularised the japanese role-playing game genre in 3D, popularised Sony's PS1 console
the first significantly popular first-person shooter game for consoles
popularised playing games on mobile phones
popularised Sony's PS1 console
popularised the "collectathon" 3D platforming game genre
popularised dance-based rhythm games
popularised the action-adventure genre in 3D
popularised extreme sports games
popularised world war 2 first-person shooter games
popularised the life simulation game genre
popularised "musou" style games
popularised 3D open world games, popularised Sony's PS2 console
popularised first person shooter games on consoles, popularised Microsoft's Xbox consoles
popularised the platform fighter genre, popularised Nintendo's GameCube console
popularised social simulation games
popularised motion-detection-based games
popularised the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) genre
popularlised the massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) genre
popularised instrument-based rhythm games
popularised third-person cover-based shooter games
popularised motion controls, popularised Nintendo's Wii console
popularised class-based shooter games
popularised modern-warfare-based shooter games
popularised cinematic story-driven games
popularised the exergaming genre
popularised roguelike/rogue-lite indie games
popularised touch-screen games on mobile phones
popularised souls-like games
popularised procedurally generated survival and crafting games
popularised non-violent emotionally-driven independent games
popularised idle/clicker/incremental games
popularised crowd-funded independent games
popularised phone-based party games
popularised the battle royale genre
popularised hidden identity social deduction games
popularised the auto chess genre
