Every once in a while, a title will be released that drastically influences the future of gaming. This is not to be confused with a game that tries something new or a game that makes a statement about society. Instead, the most influential games impact other games around it, and sometimes even the real world!
That being said, not every influential game brought on welcome changes. In fact, some might even argue that the state of gaming is in a worse position than it has ever been! So, whether it was for better or for worse, here are some of the most influential games of all time.
10 Pong
Okay, let’s get this one out of the way! While not technically the first video game ever created, Pong has certainly gained a reputation as the Godfather of gaming. After it launched in 1972, the public was buzzing with intrigue at this new form of entertainment!
We can be certain that the public had absolutely no idea what the future of video games would be, given that computers were a fairly new invention. But Pong absolutely played an important role in bringing video games to light and showing just how enjoyable they could be.
9 Tetris
Tetris was the first example of a game becoming an actual cultural phenomenon! It was relatively common to see adults walking around with their clunky gray Game Boys, desperately trying to beat their previous record!
For the first time ever, it wasn’t childish to engross yourself in digital entertainment. Tetris was single-handedly responsible for an overall shift in the public’s view on gaming. In fact, Tetris is still, to this day, the best-selling game of all time.
8 Super Mario 64
Super Mario 64 was arguably the first fully realized 3D game world, and it set the bar unbelievably high. The now-famous platformer set a precedent for the future of gaming — one that had phenomenal effects on all the games that followed.
It can be argued that, had Mario 64 not been as fantastic as it was, 3D gaming may not have taken off in the way that it did! Game developers saw how stunning it was to navigate and interact with an environment in the way Mario 64 did, and there was now a mad dash to replicate it.
7 Half-Life
Half-Life’s launch introduced a game mechanic that had practically never been explored before in a video game — physics. Valve combined these revolutionary physics with a brand new way to tell a story and thus created a one-of-a-kind video game that was immensely captivating.
It should not go without stating that Half-Life and its sequel were basically solely responsible for Steam’s monstrous chokehold on the PC games industry. Steam was, after all, the only way to play the two games! It is safe to say that Steam would probably not have survived if it weren’t for Half-Life.
6 Halo
Both Halo CE and Halo 2 had a substantial influence on the gaming industry. Particularly with the launch of Xbox Live, players were able to chat online and compete against strangers from the comfort of their own homes.
We often take the convenience of online gaming for granted, and why shouldn’t we? Practically every Triple-A game that launches today has a large multiplayer component to it. But it is rarely remembered that Halo was the franchise that started it all.
5 World Of Warcraft
Despite a rather predatory subscription service and a boatload of internal turmoil at Blizzard, you have to admit that World of Warcraft was one of the most influential games of all time. In a time when MMOs were far from scarce, the fantasy game definitely stood out.
With over 100 million accounts as of 2023, it is no secret that World of Warcraft has been a resounding success — and it remains so to this day! With consistent content updates and in-game events, it made way for a very common theme in games today — live service.
4 Minecraft
It is no question that, as the second best-selling game of all time, Minecraft has been one of the most resounding success stories of all time. Minecraft spawned countless amount of clones and look-alikes while also creating a new genre of games centered around “building.”
The impact that Minecraft has had culturally can be seen everywhere — millions of YouTube videos, countless collectibles and toys, and much more. Heck, there are even reports of Minecraft being used by real-world architects to test building designs!
3 PUBG
Sure, PUBG is a pretty janky game, and it’s not exactly controversial to argue that any charm it once had is mostly lost by now. That being said, you’d be objectively wrong to claim that it didn’t drastically change the gaming market!
Nowadays, it seems like every game developer is pumping out their take on a Battle Royale. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though, because we have had some pretty great games arise from this trend! But if you are tired of the onslaught of Battle Royale games, now you know who to blame.
2 Fortnite
It seems a bit counterintuitive to label a game “influential” when it was directly inspired by another, PUBG. But Fortnite wasn’t influential because of its gameplay; instead, it is noteworthy thanks to its revolutionary marketing.
The Battle Pass, for example, is now a staple of essentially every new game release, even in games where it truly doesn’t belong. Other factors such as brand collaborations, the free-to-play model, and cross-play are all features that originated from Fortnite Battle Royale. Say what you want about the game, but Fortnite has evolved the gaming industry more than any other title in recent years.
1 Super Mario Bros
Super Mario Bros launched in the mid-80s, in a time when games existed primarily as fast-paced arcade cabinets, desperately trying to take every quarter out of your pocket. With its release, Super Mario Bros flipped the whole industry on its head.
For starters, the game launched with the NES, meaning kids didn’t have to deal with the gamble of losing a quarter every time they died! Finally, players could experience progression and ‘story’ in a game, and it came in the package of a timeless platformer.
