13 Most Influential Video Games of the Past 45 Years

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Game developers rarely set out to construct enduring cultural touchstones. Frequently, their ambitions are modest: offering players a moment of blissful escapism, sharp mental stimulation, or thoughtful narrative commentary. Yet, the cumulative weight of these creative endeavors occasionally transcends expectations. Every so often, a title emerges that fundamentally reshapes the gaming landscape—and it certainly does not require the gargantuan scale of a Grand Theft Auto 6 to achieve such a feat (though that release will undoubtedly leave its own indelible mark). Modern subgenres and their respective followings owe an immense debt to these visionary trailblazers. Here is our curated countdown of the 13 most influential video games in history.

1
Pac-Man (1980)

Back in 1981, musicians Jerry Buckner and Gary Garcia struck a chord with their hit single “Pac-Man Fever,” paying homage to Namco’s groundbreaking arcade cabinet released just a year prior. While musical nods to video games are commonplace today, receiving such mainstream pop-culture recognition decades ago was remarkably rare—and it speaks volumes about the astronomical phenomenon Pac-Man became in record time. Long before Mario gave Mickey Mouse a run for his money, this yellow, dot-munching icon demonstrated the staggering commercial power of a charismatic mascot. Naturally, none of this would have mattered had the core gameplay not been so effortlessly addictive, balancing intricate maze navigation with relentless high-score competition. It rightfully earned its legendary status, inspiring countless imitators while securing Pac-Man’s permanent residence in modern pop culture, right up to his appearances in the Super Smash Bros. series.

2
Rogue (1980)

For generations, video games have relied on the concept of “extra lives” to grant players second chances at conquering a challenging level or boosting a score. Rogue completely subverted that philosophy by introducing a merciless premise: you get only one life, and the world reshapes itself unpredictably every single time you start over. Suddenly, racing toward a destination took a backseat to careful resource management, turning every tactical choice into a desperate bid for survival. Entire genres—namely the roguelike and roguelite—trace their foundational DNA directly back to this revolutionary concept. Even stripped of modern audiovisual polish, Rogue retains a remarkably compelling design that commands respect to this day.

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3
Zork (1980)

The entire adventure genre owes an immense debt of gratitude to Zork, universally celebrated as a masterpiece of text-based interactive fiction. While it wasn’t strictly the first of its kind, it shattered limitations by granting players unprecedented freedom to explore rich environments beyond rigid two-word command restrictions. Steeped in sharp wit, deep vocabulary, and memorable hazards like the dreaded grue, Zork injected genuine personality into digital storytelling. Although later studios like Sierra eventually draped graphical interfaces over these text frameworks, Zork built the actual foundation. Its enduring appeal is precisely why we proudly ranked it number 32 on our list of the 500 greatest games of all time.

4
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (1981)

Today, titles like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest are rightfully hailed as the architects of the Japanese RPG. Yet, they stand firmly on the shoulders of Western pioneers like the early Ultima titles and, most notably, Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord. As a premier first-person RPG, it introduced party-based tactical combat and distinct character classes that remain the beating heart of the genre. By sending customized groups of heroes deep into sprawling, labyrinthine dungeons, Wizardry penned the rulebook for squad-based dungeon crawling. Its intricate systems continue to inspire players today, brilliantly preserved through modern remastered releases equipped with thoughtful quality-of-life upgrades.

5
Tetris (1984)

It seems almost unthinkable that an empire could be built on a premise as straightforward as rotating geometric blocks falling down a screen, yet that is precisely what Tetris achieved. In doing so, it proved that video games possess universal appeal, captivating even casual observers with an irresistible blend of simplicity and psychological grip. Alexey Pajitnov’s puzzle masterpiece became the ultimate vehicle for Nintendo to launch its revolutionary Game Boy portable ecosystem. Once the handheld hit global markets bundled with the game, it became an instant cultural obsession visible on airplanes, in cafes, and in public parks. Its pristine mechanics delivered immediate gratification in quick, bite-sized bursts that kept millions glued to their screens long past midnight, setting the gold standard for all puzzle games to follow.

6
Super Mario Bros. (1985)

Super Mario Bros. shattered spatial boundaries by liberating platforming action from static, single-screen constraints, transforming side-scrolling into an expansive, cinematic journey where every stage offered fresh visual spectacles and mechanics. Moving far beyond their early arcade days of battling isolated pests, plumbers Mario and Luigi embarked on a grand expedition through subterranean dungeons, towering castle keeps, vibrant grassy plains, and cloud-high coin heavens. By pivoting away from mere arcade high scores toward progressive exploration and world-building, Nintendo established a timeless genre that remains wonderfully robust today.

7
The Legend of Zelda (1986)

Developed concurrently with Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda pursued a radically different, wide-open philosophy: dropping players into a vast, seamless wilderness and letting them forge their own path of discovery, puzzle-solving, and item gathering. While drawing subtle inspiration from contemporaries like Hydlide and Tower of Druaga, Nintendo forged a distinct blueprint that redefined open-world adventures—a design lineage shared with titles like Metroid. Even today, countless modern releases continue to borrow core tenets from the foundational sandbox formula pioneered by Link’s inaugural quest.

8
SimCity (1989)

At a time when mainstream games reliably funneled players down linear, narrative-driven paths with clear victory conditions, SimCity boldly offered a blank canvas with no definitive endpoint. Instead of chasing a linear objective, players stepped into the role of urban planners, balancing residential, commercial, and industrial zoning while managing transit grids, controlling pollution, and weathering natural disasters. This sandbox approach offered endless hours of fascination completely divorced from scripted combat or violence. By putting players in the driver’s seat as creative architects of their own digital worlds, SimCity unlocked a fresh design philosophy that future simulators, including The Sims, would parlay into monumental success.

9
Street Fighter 2 (1991)

Competitive fighting games have deep roots, but the arrival of Street Fighter 2 fundamentally transformed the genre into a global phenomenon. Its cast of international contenders was brimming with distinct personality and signature special moves that offered deep strategic balance. To the surprise of its developers, dedicated players quickly mastered sophisticated, high-level combos to control the pacing of matches and outmaneuver rivals. Crowds regularly formed around arcade cabinets in local convenience stores as hopeful challengers dropped quarters for a chance to dethrone reigning champions. Capcom’s masterpiece sparked a golden age of fighting games, cementing a vibrant competitive ecosystem that thrives across platforms to this day, with major multimedia adaptations still going strong.

10
Doom (1993)

While tech enthusiasts continue to humorously test whether practically any hardware device can “run Doom“—ranging from digital cameras to piano keyboards—the game’s real legacy lies in how it completely revolutionized the first-person shooter genre upon its early ’90s release. It popularized fast-paced, visceral combat, introduced the term “Deathmatch” into the cultural lexicon, and gave gamers an enduring appreciation for heavy-duty ordnance like the chainsaw. The influential franchise has maintained its fierce momentum for decades, highlighted by ambitious new entries like the upcoming Doom: The Dark Ages.

Source: Polygon