10 Games That Changed Gaming Forever
What are the 10 games that changed gaming forever? Whether they intended to or not, these games left their marks on the industry. From Minecraft, one of the most important games in decades, to the introduction of microtransactions in Oblivion, these entries have set the standards for their respective genres and inspired the creation of countless other games.
We’ve ranked the top 10 games that changed gaming forever based on their influence and impact on the industry. Whether it’s an indie game like Braid or a AAA title like Mortal Kombat, these titles helped shape video games into what they are today. From the earliest arcade games to the latest console games, there are countless entries that deserve a place on this list. We’ve tried to include as many as possible while highlighting their most important contributions to the industry.
Here are the 10 games that changed gaming forever:
One of the best games on PC, Minecraft showed the world the power of creativity and exploration. It’s a sandbox game that puts you in a massive, blocky world and lets you do pretty much anything you want. The game spawned a global phenomenon with millions of players creating their own Minecraft worlds, attending Minecraft conventions, and even Minecraft movies currently in the works.
Whether you’re playing on a small Minecraft island, building a Minecraft castle, or roleplaying in a massive Minecraft server, there’s no denying the impact of Mojang’s incredible creation.
Oblivion was a massive hit for Bethesda, but microtransactions – a controversial feature where players can buy additional items or features to enhance their experience – were introduced to the world with this RPG game. Microtransactions have since become a staple in modern gaming, and as a result, we have Bethesda to thank for that.
World Of Warcraft revolutionised MMORPGs and quickly became a cultural phenomenon that’s still going strong today. Blizzard’s MMO is the standard by which all others are judged and has inspired dozens of other games inspired by its questing, combat, and more.
Even though its core gameplay hasn’t changed much over the years, the Pokemon games still stand as one of Nintendo’s most important and beloved franchises. The first three games on the original Game Boy are still some of the best handheld games ever, and Pokemon has since sparked a global phenomenon with its collectible card game, manga, anime series, movies, and more.
Mortal Kombat’s bloody fatalities pushed boundaries when the first game in the series released alongside the original movie. The success of the first Mortal Kombat instalment laid the groundwork for countless fighting games to come, and it was also a contributing factor to the creation of the ESRB.
Braid kickstarted the rise of indie games and showcased the creativity of indie developers. Not only did it help highlight the potential of indie games, but it also inspired games like Super Meat Boy and Celeste, which owe a lot to Braid’s influence.
While The Legend Of Zelda isn’t the first open-world game, it set the standard for all that followed. From Grand Theft Auto to Red Dead Redemption 2, countless games have been inspired by Link’s adventures across Hyrule, from Ocarina Of Time’s time travel mechanics to Breath Of The Wild’s sprawling open world.
Quake played a pivotal role in the development of esports and speedrunning. This first-person shooter game introduced several innovations to the genre, including railguns, rocket jumping, and most notably, client-side prediction which enabled bunny hopping. Quake also has its own speedrunning community and even an annual QuakeCon conference.
The Wii console highlighted the importance of player accessibility and motion control. In a lot of ways, motion control changed the industry by highlighting its potential and showing game developers how to incorporate it into their games. The Wii also introduced us to the idea of the system-selling party game, with Wii Sports setting the standard for all that followed.
Pong, a simple yet groundbreaking game, paved the way for home console gaming. The arcade game was first brought home in the form of the Atari 2600, which helped popularise home consoles and paved the way for the likes of the Nintendo Entertainment System, the PlayStation, and the Xbox.
