Pong is the first commercially successful video game that established foundations for the gaming industry. It wasn't noted for its graphics or gameplay, but for the simple ability to control something on the TV screen. | © Hasbro Interactive
Among Us is a social deduction game, but one of the few were being "innocent" doesn't suck. You always have some things to do to control the outcome, even when you're dead. This got a lot of us through Covid. | © InnerSloth LLC
CoD 4 was the game that launched CoD into the stratosphere. Millions of console gamers were playing online for the first time, as the franchise became less about the campaign and more about multiplayer. And hey, it did also have an outstanding campaign. © Infinity Ward
StarCraft is the biggest and most well-marketed RTS that has been the most successful in attracting a wide audience to the genre. It also became a cornerstone of esports, particularly in South Korea. | © Blizzard Entertainment
Grand Theft Auto V set new standards for RPGs, combining the massive open-world, unbridled criminal action, and immersive story with funny humorous content. It also had a groundbreaking online multiplayer. | © Rockstar Games
Chrono Trigger was one of the first games to offer a branching narrative and multiple endings that allowed players dynamic interactions with the story. It also had great real-time combat mechanics that made the game feel dynamic. | © Square Enix
Portal 2 is my favorite game from the last decade for many reasons, including the voice acting, the dialogue system, and the memories of co-op. Valve prioritized quality over quantity here, and cut content to just 7 brilliant hours. | © Valve Corporation
The Last of Us has brought a new level of attracting and engaging players throughout the game. It has elevated storytelling and brought a powerful narrative with deep character development. | © Naughty Dog
Red Dead Redemption 2 is the best cowboy game we've ever had, and it will probably remain so for decades and decades to come. The story is fantastic, the open-world is a joy to explore, and Rockstar's humor is just as enjoyable here as on the streets of Los Santos. Multiplayer was a let-down, but we can forgive it that one sin. | © Rockstar Games
Resident Evil is a definitive horror game that helped to bring life to the zombie genre with puzzle-solving mechanics and an almost perfect game design. | © Capcom
League of Legends was one of the first video games to introduce the free-to-play financial model based on in-game purchases and microtransactions. | © Riot Games
World of Warcraft built one of the strongest gaming communities of all time, where clans become families, uniting with each other for the same goals. It also redefined character progression in MMORPGs. | © Blizzard Entertainment
Back in 2004, Half-Life 2 showed the world what first-person shooter games are capable of. The game introduced the most original weapons, very realistic NPCs, and circular saw blades to chop zombies! | © Valve Corporation
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was absurdly ambitious and innovative for its time. It's larger than the biggest RPG and has more story than the heftiest adventure game. | © Rockstar Games
Like PUBG, Fortnite is one of the pioneers in the battle royale genre. Epic Games managed to build a successful free-to-play model with a compelling visual style, nice shooting mechanics, and endless collaborations. | © Epic Games
Dark Souls has redefined the way developers and gamers think about difficulty and storytelling. It also created a new sub-genre for RPGs. | © Bandai Namco Entertainment
Being the best-selling game of all time, Minecraft has revolutionized open-world sandbox gameplay, allowing players to construct virtually anything they imagine, from simple structures to cities and complex machines. | © Mojang Studios
Baldur's Gate III is undoubtedly one of the best games ever made. It's excellent in almost every way but is most famous for its flexible storytelling, which gives players a feeling of genuine autonomy in the world, and the companions, whose relationships feel real and important. The game is close to perfect and has "ruined" many gamers, who can no longer return to other titles. | © Larian Studios
The original Mortal Kombat wasn't as polished as Street Fighter, but it served as a gateway into the fighting game community for millions of people worldwide. | © Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Final Fantasy VII was one of the first RPGs that introduced 3D characters, multiple camera angles, and outstanding visuals. Combine this with a compelling plot and well-developed characters, and you have the recipe for instant success. | © Square Enix
Doom significantly helped to solidify first-person shooters in the gaming industry, as well as set new standards for action-packed gaming. We wouldn't have CS, CoD or Fortnite without Doom. | © Bethesda Softworks
Tetris has endured for 40 years and introduced the gaming world to millions of people worldwide. It's also one of the most commercially successful, and has been sold more than 520 million times. | © TTC
The original Legend of Zelda created several important features (including the save function) that have become industry standards. It gave gamers as much freedom as possible and introduced the open-world concept. | © Nintendo
Pac-Man revolutionized arcade gaming and maze-chase gameplay and set the new standard for level design. It's truly iconic. | © Namco
Super Mario Bros is one of the most successful classic video games that made gaming appealing and accessible to everyone. Anyone could control Mario, and millions grew to love it. | © Nintendo
Here are the top 25 video games that have fundamentally changed the way we perceive gaming. Starting from Pong, we'll show you the most influential titles that inspired new genres and transformed the gaming world.
