Today BAFTA has announced SEGA’s open-world action-adventure title Shenmue (1999) as the Most Influential Video Game of All Time, receiving the most votes in a public poll.
Celebrating the influence of games in the arts and wider culture ahead of the 21st BAFTA Games Awards on Tuesday 8 April, the poll engaged players from around the world who cast their votes to determine the top 21 and winner announced today. It’s the second year BAFTA has conducted a public poll ahead of its annual awards: last year, Lara Croft was voted by the public as the Most Iconic Video Games Character of All Time.
A game’s influence, and what this means to people, is open to many interpretations, and today’s top 21 list is made up of entries that have earned their place for a variety of reasons. While some games may be considered genre-defining and the first to introduce systems that have since become blueprints, others have broken sales records and created global communities of players in their millions. From the earliest entries on the list to the latest, these games represent over half a century of outstanding industry achievement and the development of games as an art form and storytelling medium.
Released in 1999, the first entry in the Shenmue franchise was a pioneer for open-world gameplay and laid a roadmap that others continued on in the years that followed. First released on the Dreamcast, the game popularised the use of Quick Time Events (QTEs) and captured its audience with its use of cinematic storytelling.With its introduction of dynamic day-night and weather cycles and non-playable characters (NPCs) with seemingly unique routines, it immersed players in a living, reactive world that offered a fully realised open world experience. It was this depth of world simulation and NPC interaction that captured its passionate fanbase and saw it expand into a franchise spanning multiple platforms.
The first-person shooter (FPS) Doom places second in the public poll. Published in 1993, Doom popularised the FPS genre to the point where early imitators were often dubbed ‘Doom-like’. The game’s use of 3D graphics was considered a significant technological breakthrough at the time and it is often credited as a pioneer of multiplayer gaming through its popularisation of the ‘deathmatch’ mode seen in other modern day shooters including Call of Duty and Apex Legends.
First released on MS-DOS, Doom played a crucial role in establishing the PC as a major games platform and the phrase “Can it run Doom?” has transcended gaming, ensuring its place in history as the benchmark for testing computing capabilities.
Securing the third spot is Super Mario Bros. Largely credited for establishing and popularising the side-scrolling platformer genre, it played a crucial role in ensuring Nintendo’s presence as one of the biggest names in the industry. Released in 1985, Super Mario Bros. was such a success that it has been credited with revitalising the video game industry in North America. This was also the game that established the titular character, Mario, as one of the most iconic and recognisable video game characters of all time (Mario placed second in BAFTA’s Most Iconic Video Games Character poll in 2024). Super Mario Bros. set new standards with key gameplay mechanics including smooth horizontal scrolling, jump physics and hidden secrets within levels becoming staples in the genre for years to come.
The Most Influential Video Games of All Time (ranked by number of votes received):
Top 10
1. Shenmue
(1999) This action-adventure game follows Ryo Hazuki’s quest to avenge his father’s death in a detailed open-world setting that truly captures the essence of Yokosuka in the ‘80s. (Dreamcast)
2. Doom
(1993) This pioneering first-person shooter pits players against demonic hordes from Hell by placing them in control of Doomguy, the physical embodiment of a fate much worse than death. (PC)
3. Super Mario Bros.
(1985) This iconic platformer has players navigate Mario through the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Toadstool from the nefarious Bowser. (NES)
4. Half-Life
(1998) This first-person shooter combines combat and storytelling as players control Gordon Freeman, battling alien creatures and military personnel. (PC)
5. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
(1998) This fantasy action-adventure game follows Link’s journey to stop Ganondorf from obtaining the Triforce, and is particularly beloved due to its enchanting soundtrack. (Nintendo 64)
6. Minecraft
(2011) This sandbox game allows players to build and explore procedurally generated worlds made up of blocks, offering both creative and survival modes. (PC)
7. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
(2025) The most recent entry to make this list, this is a deeply engaging action role playing game (RPG) set in a rich open world as protagonist Henry Skalitz embarks on a quest fuelled with a lust for revenge. (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)
8. Super Mario 64
(1996) The second entry featuring Mario, this groundbreaking 3D platformer has players guide the titular character through Princess Peach’s castle to collect Power Stars and thwart Bowser’s plans. (Nintendo 64)
9. Half-Life 2
(2004) This critically acclaimed first-person shooter continues Gordon Freeman’s battle against alien forces and oppressive regimes in a dystopian setting. (PC)
10. The Sims
(2000) This life simulation game lets players create and control their Sims, managing their daily activities and relationships. (PC)
11-21
11. Tetris (1984)
12. Tomb Raider (1996)
13. Pong (1972)
14. Metal Gear Solid (1998)
15. World of Warcraft (2004)
16. Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023)
17. Final Fantasy VII (1997)
18. Dark Souls (2011)
19. Grand Theft Auto 3 (2001)
20. Skyrim (2011)
21. Grand Theft Auto (1997)
Yu Suzuki, creator of the Shenmue franchise, said: “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.
“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!”
John Romero, co-creator of DOOM, said: “It’s an incredible honour to see DOOM recognised by BAFTA as one of the most influential games of all time. We made DOOM to push boundaries and ignite imaginations, and it’s amazing to see its legacy still resonating over 30 years later. DOOM’s lasting impact is also thanks to the incredible community that embraced it, modded it, speedran it, and kept it alive across generations — this recognition is a tribute to them as much as the game itself.”
The Team at Valve said: “We’re honored to hear that players felt that both Half-Life 1 and 2 should be included in the list of influential video games. When we set out to make them, like all developers, we had big dreams. Like what if the game didn’t immediately crash your computer upon load? So, unsurprisingly, the legacy of these games was the last thing on our minds when we were in the thick of development. For the Half-Life games to become both meaningful to players and foundational to our medium is, frankly, humbling. We can only hope that everyone who has enjoyed them over the years has as much fun with our future efforts.”
Kayleen Walters, Head of Mojang Studios said: “We’re thrilled that Minecraft has been recognized as one of the most influential video games of all time. After 15 years, Minecraft has become so much more than just a game; it’s a platform for experiences connecting millions of players and fans together from around the world. It’s been an exciting year for our franchise with the launch of A MINECRAFT MOVIE, the Minecraft Experience in London, and ongoing game updates for Minecraft. We look forward to bringing our Minecraft community more memorable gaming and entertainment experiences in the years to come.”
Tobias Stolz-Zwilling, Warhorse Studios spokesperson said: “It’s an incredible honor for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 to be recognized among the most influential games of all time. Our goal has always been to bring history to life in a meaningful and immersive way, and seeing our work resonate with so many players is truly humbling. Huge thanks to BAFTA and to all the fans who continue to support us on this journey!”
The Sims Team said: “For 25 years, The Sims has empowered players to experiment with life and unleash their imagination and creativity. Our inclusion in this list is a testament to our incredible community who continue to redefine life on their own terms. It’s been an honor to serve our players, and we look forward to continuing this journey with them for many years to come.”
Luke Hebblethwaite, Head of Games, BAFTA said: “In the run up to these results, we’ve been thrilled to see the community of both game makers and fans come together to share stories and champion the games that they see as having tremendous influence, creating a vibrant, positive celebration and conversation about some of the very best games our industry has ever produced. Games are an immensely innovative force and it’s brilliant to recognise those titles which have truly shaped the course of our medium. We hope that these results provide a fresh appreciation of the impact of the winning games and inspire us all to continue to celebrate the most influential titles of the medium we all love.”
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BAFTA’s mission as a charity is to champion the creative and cultural importance of the screen arts across film, games and television. Through its Awards ceremonies and year-round programme of talent initiatives and learning events that include masterclasses, lectures, scholarships, bursaries and mentoring schemes in the UK and North America, BAFTA identifies and celebrates excellence, discovers, inspires and nurtures new screen talent, and enables learning and creative collaboration. For more, visit www.bafta.org. BAFTA is a registered charity (no. 216726).
