BAFTA, the UK's independent arts charity dedicated to recognizing excellence in film, games, and TV, has recently announced the most influential video game of all time, and it might surprise you. After polling the British public, BAFTA revealed that while popular titles like GTA, Tetris, World of Warcraft, Minecraft, Doom, and Half-Life 2 made the list, the game that received the highest number of votes was 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. Set in a meticulously detailed open-world environment, the game captures the essence of Yokosuka in the 1980s, as noted by BAFTA.
The "pioneering first-person shooter" *Doom* came in second place, while the iconic *Super Mario Bros.* from 1985 secured the third spot. Rounding out the top five are *Half-Life* and *The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time*, respectively.Notably absent from the list are games like Grand Theft Auto 5, Halo, and Fortnite.
Yu Suzuki, the creator of the Shenmue franchise, expressed his gratitude for the honor, stating, "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."
Suzuki also thanked the fans, saying, "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!"
Here's 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)
The 2025 BAFTA Game Awards are scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Leading the nominations are Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, Astro Bot, and Still Wakes the Deep with 11, eight, and eight nominations, respectively. Thank Goodness You're Here! received seven nominations, Black Myth: Wukong six, and Helldivers 2 is up for five awards.
In the 2024 BAFTA Game Awards, Baldur's Gate 3 emerged victorious, winning five awards, including Best Game. Other notable winners included Alan Wake 2, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and Viewfinder.
