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10 Most Influential Video Games of the 20th Century
Collider ranks video games it considers most influential from the 20th century, focusing on titles that introduced major mechanics, technologies, design approaches or industry standards. The article argues that modern games owe much to these earlier releases, from arcade pioneers to narrative-led shooters and social handheld RPGs.
– 'Half-Life' (1998): credited with bringing stronger storytelling, physics and uninterrupted player control to first-person shooters. – 'Pokémon Red' and 'Pokémon Blue' (1996): launched a global franchise while demonstrating deep handheld RPG design and social multiplayer play. – 'Pong' (1972): highlighted as a simple but enduring early arcade game that helped bring video gaming to consumers.
In short
- The ranking celebrates games that shaped modern video gaming.
- ‘Half-Life’ redefined first-person shooter storytelling.
- ‘Pokémon’ and ‘Pong’ expanded gaming’s cultural reach.
Explained simply
Video gaming emerged as a consumer medium in the 1970s and has since become a global industry. Collider has identified the ten most influential video games from the 20th century by examining which titles introduced significant innovations in how games are designed and played.
Influence in gaming can come in different forms. One game might pioneer how stories are told within interactive experiences, another might demonstrate the potential of a new platform or hardware, and a third might introduce a way of playing that countless other games would go on to adopt. Understanding these foundational titles helps explain why modern games work the way they do.
The list spans from early arcade experiments to complex narrative-driven shooters and games designed for social play. By examining how these different innovations built upon one another, it becomes possible to understand how the video game medium developed into what it is today.