In May 2022, the World Video Game Hall of Fame introduced its class of 2022. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time headlines a class that also includes Sid Meier's Civilization, Dance Dance Revolution, and Ms. Pac-Man. The World Video Game Hall of Fame, located at the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, New York, has eyed games that are more than just fun, but also influential and impactful. These are the games that players will remember for decades to come and whose DNA could potentially be found in current games.
The World Video Game Hall of Fame began with the class of 2015 inducting six influential games including Pong and Doom. The Hall of Fame has now inducted 36 games, including the four 2022 inductees. There is no shortage of heavy hitters among those 36, but there are some games that stand out because it's so difficult to imagine a world without them.
10 Microsoft Solitaire Solved The Boredom Of Many
Quite possibly one of the most played video games of all time, Microsoft Solitaire was inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame in 2019. Microsoft Solitaire, a digital simulation of the popular solo playing card game, has long come standard with any Microsoft computer. This allowed it to become a staple in times of boredom.
Microsoft Solitaire was the perfect solution for many who were looking to quell that boredom, whether at home or secretly at work. While the rise of mobile gaming has since overshadowed Microsoft Solitaire, the card classic still manages to find play over three decades later.
9 The Sims Allowed Players To Live Out Their Fantasy Worlds
Simulation games have long been a fixture of the gaming world. Nearly everything from airplanes to ants has seen a simulation game over the years. But it wasn't until 2000 when longtime simulation developer Maxis finally made the definitive people simulator in 2016 inductee The Sims.
The Sims allows players to take control of their person, known as a "Sim." The gibberish-speaking Sims have everything from their routine to who they marry dictated by the player. The Sims quickly exploded into mainstream popularity with the series still going strong over 20 years later.
8 World Of Warcraft Provided A True Escape From The Real-World
From the very dawn of video gaming, developers sought to create online virtual worlds that connected players with one another. These online virtual worlds saw the light of day as text-based games as early as the 1970s. The dreams of virtual worlds were fully realized in graphical form in 1991 through Neverwinter Nights. While Ultima Online and EverQuest later helped popularize the massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) genre, it wasn't until 2015 inductee World of Warcraft in 2004 that the genre became a phenomenon.
World of Warcraft's influence goes far beyond the gaming world, drawing the attention of celebrities, advertisers, and television shows. South Park's iconic World of Warcraft-based episode "Make Love Not Warcraft" won a Primetime Emmy and is frequently listed among the best South Park episodes.
7 Street Fighter II Helped Define The FIghting Genre
Playing the original Street Fighter now can easily draw questions about how the Street Fighter series ever got a sequel. Thankfully Street Fighter did get a sequel in 2017 inductee Street Fighter II. This game helped reinvent and popularize the fighting game genre through its original release and its many updates culminating with Super Street Fighter II Turbo.
Street Fighter II's influence is still felt to this day through the ever-growing fighting game community and its vast competitive scene. Perhaps its greatest impact on gaming was the unintended bug that led to the establishment of the combo system that has become a fixture in most fighting games ever since.
6 Grand Theft Auto III Was A Literal Game-Changer
While the discussion for the most influential game of all time is still up for intense debate, it's tough to argue with 2016 inductee Grand Theft Auto III for the title of the most influential game of the 21st century.
At its core, Grand Theft Auto III is a proof of concept for what would be known as the ever-popular open-world sandbox genre. It pioneered a genre without levels where players can run around and interact with the world around them. Players can spend hours messing around, and progress the story on their time. The open-world genre has grown to become a fixture in AAA releases with even some of the most linear franchises trending toward open-world.
5 Pokémon Red And Pokémon Blue/Green Were Nothing Short Of A Phenomenon
Some games are niche. Other games are popular. Few games become a worldwide cultural phenomenon kicking off a series that grows stronger, and more profitable, with each passing decade. That's what made 2017 inductees Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue/Green so special when they were released outside of Japan in 1998.
Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue/Green, coupled with the Pokémon Trading Card Game, were everywhere. Nearly every playground and park was filled with children looking to trade and battle their "Pocket Monsters." Over two decades later, little has changed, for better and for worse. Pokémon is definitely not going away anytime soon.
4 Final Fantasy VII Introduced Many Players To The RPG Genre
The transition from 2D to 3D graphics was one of the most significant times in video game history. Visuals started to trend toward realism, which drew in a strong influx of new players. Some of the most iconic video game series ever created produced perfect entry points to their series during this time. For the Final Fantasy series, this came in the form of 2018 inductee Final Fantasy VII.
Even though Final Fantasy VII may not have aged well over time, it is still frequently mentioned among the greatest RPGs ever made for its colorful cast of characters, its gripping story, and hooking many players into the RPG genre itself. Final Fantasy VII has since spawned numerous sequels, prequels, spinoffs, anime OVAs, a movie, and a multi-game remake.
3 The Zelda Series Transitioned Perfectly To 3D Thanks To Ocarina Of Time
The Legend of Zelda series also received a huge hit in the transfer to 3D graphics through 2022 inductee Ocarina of Time. While many video game series struggled in their transition to 3D, the Zelda series did not miss a beat producing a game that makes frequent high-ranking appearances in discussions surrounding the best video game of all time.
Ocarina of Time features a time-bending story that features Link attempting to stop Ganondorf from taking over Hyrule. Ocarina of Time's Z-targeting made combat accessible and satisfying while the dungeons and boss fights are among the most memorable in the entire Zelda series.
2 Super Mario Bros. Set The Course For The Highly Beloved Franchise
From the moment players press the start button in 2015 inductee Super Mario Bros., a simple tune plays as players begin World 1-1. This simple tune would go on to become the most recognizable piece of music in video game history.
Super Mario Bros. is not the first Mario game, but it is the game that would ensure the vivacious Italian plumber would become a mainstay in homes across the world. No character has been featured in more games as Mario has and that's a testament to Super Mario Bros. and its impact not just on the platforming genre but also on the gaming world.
1 Tetris Continues To Find Ways To Innovate
Death, taxes, and Tetris. The three guarantees in life. The 2015 inductee has persevered for nearly four decades thanks to its simplistic premise of falling blocks of varying shapes creating a rush to clear out rows before the block tower reaches its apex.
Tetris has produced numerous titles and competitions worldwide. Not only has the Tetris series found new ways to innovate through modern releases, but players are still discovering inventive strategies to play such as the "rolling" technique first introduced in 2021 for the NES version of Tetris.