When the conversation about the most influential video games begins, you’re bound to hear a few titles repeated. While there are far more than ten at this point, there really do just seem to be a few games that people keep going back to.
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These games did a lot to not only further the entire medium of gaming, but also solidify entire series’ and genres. Thanks to that fact, you probably already have a few incredibly influential games in mind, regardless of the decade or the console. Influential games are the ones that not only changed everything, but will also never be forgotten.
10Ocarina Of Time
When it came time to make that brave jump to 3D, few games can be named as being as influential asOcarina of Time.This incredible Nintendo 64 titleis still viewed as one of the greatest games of all time to this very day.
The adventure set the standard for what video games and game storytelling could be in 3D. It’s hard to imagine where Nintendo would be if this title hadn’t become as revolutionary as it is, because if it failed, we may not have gotten the excellentTears of the Kingdom.
9Pac-Man
While many games could share credit here,Pac-Manrevolutionized what it meant to be an arcade smash-hit. People have been playing this classic since the ’80s, and it’s still fairly popular today with modern takes on the classic gameplay.
It is the classic arcade time-waster that had all your friends gathering around to break each other’s high scores. Without Pac-Man, arcades may not have been as big of a hit, and even worse, gaming might not have become the dominant medium that it is today.
8Mortal Kombat
This game was influential in a similar way to other arcade titles, but it also set a new standard for violence. Everyone knows that the video game rating system basically exists because of this game, and so does an increase in more adult-oriented gaming.
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Mortal Kombatproved that game developers could begin to truly push the envelope with their games while also creating an excellent fighter. Mortal Kombathas influenced countless fighters over the decades, and it’s one of the few game series that many non-gamers will know.
7Minecraft
Whether you love it or hate it,Minecraftwas a revolutionary game. It was influential in many ways, but first and foremost, the game proved that developers could let you create your own adventures if they provide you with all the necessary tools.
The game has only continued to expand as the years have gone on, but it’s been clear that countless games have taken influences from Minecraft. One could even argue the battle royale craze was in part kicked off thanks to game modes people would play in Minecraft.
6Doom
Sometimes all you need is a little bit of ultra-violence, and theDoomseries is always happy to provide that. While there were other first-person shooters before and after it, Doom is the one that solidified the genre in most people’s minds.
It was another edgy game that combined violence, demons, and first-person action to create something truly special. Dozens if not hundreds of games have been influenced by the original Doom, and developers are always more than happy to share that fact when they get the chance.
5Dark Souls
While there are quite a lot of people who don’t mesh withDark Soulsdue to the brutal difficulty, it was that very thing that made it influential. Dark Souls managed to spawn an entire genre of game while also proving that a return to brutal difficulty could work.
For a long time, it felt like games were holding people’s hands too much,and Dark Souls did the exact opposite. Games are still coming out in the style of Dark Souls, and that isn’t likely to stop anytime soon thanks to the popularity of the simple mechanics, thrilling action, and stiff challenge.
4Grand Theft Auto 3
Realistically, you could pick out most of theGrand Theft Autogames and call them the most influential game around, but the third one came out at such a unique time. This game showed everyone that mature stories in huge open worlds could work, even if they were a bit silly at times.
This was another game that really pushed the envelope for what developers could actually put in their games. With how beloved this game is, it’s no surprise that it is credited with spawning countless clone games in a similar style.
3World Of Warcraft
As far as MMORPGs go,World of Warcraftis obviously the most influential of all time. There’s a reason it’s the chosen game TV and film go to in order to poke fun at gamers. It’s such a massive and popular title that even games out of the genre have been influenced by it.
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World of Warcraft absolutely set the standard for MMORPGs and the character that the game got across made it memeworthy. Just about everyone should remember the classic Leroy Jenkins video, and you wouldn’t have that video without World of Warcraft.
2Super Mario Bros.
It’s hard to imagine a time when video games weren’t a solidified pastime for most people.Before the NES came in and dominated the market, that was the case. Everyone hasSuper Mario Broson the original NES to thank for making home console gaming truly popular.
From the music to the simplistic gameplay, this game is easily one of the most influential titles of all time. Every platformer that came after it tried to replicate its magic to mixed effect, and somehow, the game has still managed to hold up to this day.
1Tetris
It’s easy to forget aboutTetrisbecause of how simple of a puzzle game it is, but it’s too influential to leave out of this discussion. This game was big before handheld gaming, but it absolutely helped to popularize it in a way that only a game likePokemoncould hope to rival.
The gameplay and tunes are so simple that pretty much everyone can still hum along to the classic themes. Tetris isyet another game that influenced puzzle games, showing that to truly succeed simplicity and ease of replayability is key.
