BAFTA, the UK's independent arts charity that celebrates excellence in film, games, and TV, has recently announced the most influential video game of all time, and it might surprise you. In a public poll conducted by BAFTA, iconic games such as GTA, Tetris, World of Warcraft, Minecraft, Doom, and Half-Life 2 made the list, but the top spot was claimed by Shenmue.
Released in 1999 for the Dreamcast, Shenmue is an action-adventure game that follows Ryo Hazuki's journey to avenge his father's death. BAFTA praised the game for its "detailed open-world setting that truly captures the essence of Yokosuka in the ‘80s."
The "pioneering first-person shooter" *Doom* came in second place, while *Super Mario Bros.* from 1985 secured the third spot. Rounding out the top five are *Half-Life* and *The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time*, respectively.Interestingly, notable games such as Grand Theft Auto 5, Halo, and Fortnite did not make the list.
Yu Suzuki, the creator of the Shenmue franchise, expressed his gratitude: “I am deeply honoured and grateful that Shenmue has been selected as the Most Influential Video Game of All Time. At its inception, we set out to explore the question, 'How real can a game become?,' aiming to portray a world and story unprecedented in scale and detail. This distinction serves as a powerful reminder that the challenge we embraced continues to resonate with and inspire so many people even today. It is truly the greatest of encouragement."
Suzuki added, "Above all, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the fans around the world who have continued to love and support Shenmue. Your passion and encouragement have guided this journey every step of the way. And the story is not over yet, there is more to come! Thank you very much!”
Here's the complete list of the top 21 most influential games of all time, as voted by the public:
- Shenmue (1999)
- Doom (1993)
- Super Mario Bros. (1985)
- Half-Life (1998)
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
- Minecraft (2011)
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (2025)
- Super Mario 64 (1996)
- Half-Life 2 (2004)
- The Sims (2000)
- Tetris (1984)
- Tomb Raider (1996)
- Pong (1972)
- Metal Gear Solid (1998)
- World of Warcraft (2004)
- Baldur's Gate 3 (2023)
- Final Fantasy VII (1997)
- Dark Souls (2011)
- Grand Theft Auto 3 (2001)
- Skyrim (2011)
- Grand Theft Auto (1997)
The 2025 BAFTA Game Awards are scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Leading the nominations are Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 with 11, Astro Bot and Still Wakes the Deep with eight each, Thank Goodness You're Here! with seven, Black Myth: Wukong with six, and Helldivers 2 with five nominations.
The 2024 BAFTA Game Awards saw Baldur's Gate 3 winning five awards, including Best Game. Other winners included Alan Wake 2, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and Viewfinder.
