BAFTA, the UK's premier independent arts charity dedicated to celebrating excellence in film, games, and television, has unveiled the most influential video game of all time, and it might surprise you. In a public poll conducted by BAFTA, iconic titles such as GTA, Tetris, World of Warcraft, Minecraft, Doom, and Half-Life 2 secured spots on the list, but the top honor went to Shenmue.
Released in 1999 for the Dreamcast, Shenmue is an action-adventure game that follows protagonist Ryo Hazuki on his quest for vengeance following his father's murder. BAFTA highlights the game's "detailed open-world setting that truly captures the essence of Yokosuka in the ‘80s," marking it as a pioneering title in the genre.
"Pioneering first-person shooter" Doom claimed the second spot, while 1985's Super Mario Bros. clinched third place. Half-Life and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time completed the top five rankings.Notably absent from the list are contemporary giants such as Grand Theft Auto 5, Halo, and Fortnite, which did not make the cut despite their widespread popularity.
Yu Suzuki, the creator of the Shenmue series, expressed his gratitude for the accolade: “I am deeply honored 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 further acknowledged the fans: “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!”
Below is 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)
Looking ahead, the 2025 BAFTA Game Awards are scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Leading the nominations are Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 with 11 nods, followed by Astro Bot and Still Wakes the Deep each with eight. Thank Goodness You're Here! garnered seven nominations, while Black Myth: Wukong received six, and Helldivers 2 is in the running for five awards.
Reflecting on the previous year, the 2024 BAFTA Game Awards winners included Baldur's Gate 3, which triumphed in five categories, including Best Game. Other notable winners were Alan Wake 2, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and Viewfinder.
