From platformers to shooters, these games changed everything! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most innovative and influential titles that shaped the gaming industry.
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the games that left a big
00:10mark on the gaming industry through innovative new gameplay or through popularizing trends.
00:21Number 30, Resident Evil.
00:27There were survival horror games before Resident Evil, however, few, if any, were as successful
00:32as it was upon release.
00:34Its simple setup of escaping a zombie-infested house while solving puzzles proved enormously
00:39popular.
00:46Resident Evil helped define survival horror going forward, with things like its inventory
00:50management system becoming staples in other games.
00:53It also arguably helped revive interest in zombies in movies and pop culture in general,
00:58as well as helping push video games in a more cinematic direction.
01:01Fortunately, the games that followed it managed to get better voice acting though.
01:13Number 29, Wii Sports.
01:22The Nintendo Wii set the bar for motion controls in video gaming, and since most of the world
01:26got Wii Sports as a launch title with the console, it did too.
01:29The simple motion controls make it incredibly accessible to casual players, particularly
01:34since the five sports you can play are very recognizable.
01:44Wii Sports has helped families connect, gotten gamers exercising more, and even assisted
01:49some patients with physiotherapy.
01:51Nearly every other motion control console that followed the Wii took some of their inspiration
01:55from Wii Sports, however, none of its imitators could match the sheer terror that is Matt.
02:04Number 28, Shenmue.
02:10It may feel clunky by modern standards, but Shenmue was a technical marvel in its day.
02:15Dropping the player into a realistic sandbox of urban Japan, Shenmue paved the way not
02:20only for games like Yakuza, but also for basically every open world game.
02:24Its level of detail, day-night schedule, and millions of mini-games and side quests to
02:29do are all standard for most larger games today.
02:31It also named and popularized the QuickTime event, yay for that.
02:43While certain parts of Shenmue like its voice acting have certainly aged like milk, without
02:47it games today simply wouldn't have the same depth.
03:01Number 27, Dragon Quest.
03:10Console RPGs owe most of their existence to this one game.
03:13The original Dragon Quest or Dragon Warrior in its North American release took the complex
03:18RPG elements found on PC gaming at the time and streamlined them to make the genre more
03:23accessible for consoles.
03:25The top-down perspective, hit and experience points, and upgradable spells and equipment
03:29have become standard in every JRPG.
03:36While it may not have achieved the global success of some of its successors, Dragon
03:40Quest and everything about it have become inexorably tied to RPGs in Japan.
03:50Number 26, Pokemon Red and Blue versions.
04:00You can't spawn a global multimedia franchise and not impact the gaming industry.
04:05The first two Pokemon games took the world by storm, combining simple yet addictive RPG
04:10gameplay with 151 iconic pocket monsters to collect, striking a chord with hardcore and
04:15new gamers alike.
04:25In addition, the ability to connect with other players locally to trade and battle was innovative.
04:30The enormous franchise these games created arguably aided in taking video games from
04:34a relatively niche market into the highest-grossing part of the entertainment industry.
04:39Plus, the unparalleled success of Pokemon Red and Blue helped preserve Nintendo's supremacy
04:43in the handheld console market for decades to come.
04:55Number 25, Resident Evil 4.
05:04While the original redefined survival horror games that followed, Resident Evil 4 did the
05:08same while also influencing third-person shooters and action games in general.
05:13RE4's over-the-shoulder camera angle quickly became the standard for third-person games.
05:17It also expanded the survival horror genre to incorporate more action elements, making
05:22it what had previously been a slower-paced gaming category into one with more intensity.
05:33Even its QTE action set pieces proved influential.
05:36Resident Evil 4 matched its innovative presentation with quality gameplay and a gripping story,
05:41such that it's often regarded as one of the best games ever made.
05:48Number 24, Dark Souls.
05:59The 21st century has seen a gradual trend towards ease and accessibility in games.
06:04Dark Souls went against the grain by delivering punishingly tough action RPG gameplay, and
06:08people love it for that, that's really an understatement.
06:11Everything from its lore to its boss fights avoids holding the player's hands as much
06:15as possible, inviting the player to engage more with the game themselves.
06:26Dark Souls and its series have become a byword for difficulty in video games.
06:30It also helped spawn an entire genre of copycats called Soulslikes.
06:34Even if games do become easier as a whole, Dark Souls has proven that hardcore challenges
06:38still has a place among modern games.
06:52Number 23, Space Invaders.
06:58There have been many influential arcade games, yet few are quite as groundbreaking as Space
07:02Invaders.
07:03By modern standards, it may look painfully simple.
07:05You move left or right and shoot at enemies behind barriers.
07:08But so many aspects of video games owe their origins to this one smash hit arcade title.
07:18It's essentially one of the first shooters.
07:20It introduced fundamental concepts like achieving a high score and having multiple extra lives.
07:25Even its simple soundtrack had never been done before.
07:28Space Invaders served as the introduction to video games for many future gaming developers
07:32like Shigeru Miyamoto, and for that alone, the industry owes it so much.
07:41Number 22, Metal Gear Solid.
07:47It may not have been the first stealth game, or heck, even the first game in its series,
07:51but Metal Gear Solid still solidified many things for its genre, its franchise, and just
07:55gaming in general.
07:56The complex story, memorable bosses, and exciting gameplay remain incredibly fun today.
08:01Many aspects of the game, from limited ammo to crouching being quieter than walking, became
08:06conventions for stealth gameplay.
08:11Additionally, Metal Gear Solid's movie-inspired approach to storytelling helped mark gaming's
08:19transition to more cinematic cutscenes, while also popularizing rendering them using the
08:23in-game engine.
08:24Without Metal Gear Solid, we doubt whether games would be as respected as a storytelling
08:28medium as they are today.
08:41Number 21, The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time.
08:53As the first 3D Zelda title, Ocarina of Time was destined to be remembered, but it still
08:57blew all expectations out of the water.
09:00Its huge world, epic story, incredible music, and fantastic combat and puzzles have helped
09:04earn it frequent accolades as one of the greatest games ever made.
09:13It pioneered several gameplay mechanics, including locking onto targets from afar and context-sensitive
09:19button pressing that became pretty commonplace.
09:21The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time influenced not only 3D adventure games that followed
09:26but also video gaming as a whole, it's quite simply a masterpiece.
09:38Number 20, GoldenEye 007.
09:48Although it hasn't aged particularly well, GoldenEye 007 is still rightfully considered
09:53an important video game.
09:54Essentially, it paved the way for first-person shooters to make the jump to consoles after
09:58being almost exclusively on the PC.
10:01Its campaign's objective-based missions that feature different gameplay variety, including
10:05vehicle sections, became influential for later games in the genre.
10:17Perhaps most importantly, GoldenEye's multiplayer mode made it a smash success, and a fixture
10:23of college dorms and parties.
10:25Perhaps most miraculously of all, GoldenEye 007 proved that movie tie-in games don't
10:29have to be terrible.
10:36Number 19, Batman Arkham Asylum.
10:43A superhero game that rescued its whole genre, Batman Arkham Asylum delivers a suspenseful,
10:49satisfying story with great voice acting and spectacular gameplay.
10:53It's the last of these that has earned it so many copycats.
10:55Its combat system is fluid, acrobatic, and most of all, just fun, and has been imitated
11:00by plenty of other games.
11:08In addition, detective vision, or something like it, has been a hallmark of games across
11:12genres since its release.
11:14Arkham Asylum didn't invent many of its best features, but it certainly polished them to
11:18such a high degree that everyone sat up and took notice.
11:30Number 18, Bioshock.
11:44This FPS-slash-RPG hybrid wasn't the first of its kind, but it has definitely left an
11:49impact on the last few decades of gaming.
11:51Bioshock combines political commentary, fast-paced action, and a gorgeously unique setting to
11:56create something that captures everyone's attention.
12:05Its use of audio logs to convey a story, combining weapons and magic, as well as a choice between
12:10playing more heroically or more like a villain, have all become staples across many gaming
12:15genres.
12:16While its influence has led to some contend that its flaws are more glaring, we would
12:20kindly ask that everyone appreciate Bioshock's merits and the mark it left on gaming.
12:34Number 17, Street Fighter II The World Warrior.
12:43The fighting game genre didn't begin with Street Fighter II, but it may as well have.
12:48Street Fighter II almost single-handedly brought back arcades during the 1990s and made a big
12:53splash on consoles as well.
12:54It took everything from the previous game and refined it to perfection, and then its
12:58numerous re-releases and remasters redefined them and refined them even further.
13:07Its combo system, varied characters who all have their own strengths, and the ability
13:11to fight PvP have since become the gold standard for fighting games.
13:15Easy to pick up, but difficult to master, Street Fighter II still has a devoted following
13:19to this day.
13:26Number 16, Half-Life.
13:37Half-Life is one of the most influential FPS games ever made.
13:40The player controls scientist Gordon Freeman as he tries to escape an alien invasion in
13:45a secret facility.
13:46The level of immersion in the game was almost unprecedented, featuring lots of exploration
13:51and few cutscenes, telling its story mostly through gameplay and scripted events.
14:02Half-Life also features more puzzles and platforming than was typical for the genre at the time.
14:06In addition, its engine became the basis for many popular mods, which then went on to become
14:11popular franchises in their own right, such as Counter-Strike.
14:14Despite its title, Half-Life's legacy has been long.
14:23Number 15, Final Fantasy VII.
14:36RPGs were around decades before Final Fantasy VII.
14:39It was the seventh entry in the franchise, after all.
14:41But prior to its release, it was still not a widely popular genre of video game, and
14:46the few popular RPGs in the West were Western in origin.
14:49Final Fantasy VII showed the world that JRPGs aren't just good, they're downright amazing.
15:00Final Fantasy VII hit on all cylinders with its engaging characters and massive story.
15:04Its huge success contributed to PlayStation's early viability as a console, and ensured
15:09that generations of RPGs and RPG fans were influenced by its blend of fantasy and cyberpunk.
15:17Number 14, The Sims.
15:29The first major life simulation game, The Sims allows players to simulate the lives
15:34of creative characters as they go about their days.
15:37The degree of freedom allowed in doing whatever you want with The Sims was unprecedented at
15:41the time.
15:42Everything from daily chores to life-altering decisions are yours to decide on or put off.
15:50While deaths occur, it's possible to play it forever, technically speaking.
15:54Life simulation has become a common feature in many games since its release, particularly
15:58RPGs, and it also helped popularize the life simulator in general.
16:07Number 13, Halo Combat Evolved.
16:17The first Halo game is aptly named, since while it didn't invent the whole FPS starring
16:21a space marine fighting aliens thing, more on that one later, it did mark the next evolution
16:25of this trope and FPS games in general.
16:28Its controls remain responsive and hold up to today's standards.
16:31Its story is ambitious and fits seamlessly with its gameplay.
16:43Its multiplayer was the next big sensation, and its sequel, Halo 2, which nearly made
16:47our list, helped popularize online multiplayer on consoles.
16:51Halo Combat Evolved also proved a trendsetter with features like a more realistic two-weapon
16:55limit and less realistic regenerating health.
16:58If nothing else, it proved you could take gaming soundtracks to a new level of epicness.
17:12Number 12, Metroid.
17:20Two games birded the Metroidvania genre, and while Castlevania also definitely deserves
17:24a nod, Metroid came first, and we would argue did it better.
17:28Metroid follows bounty hunter Samus Aran as she must explore and battle alien villains
17:32through the labyrinthine tunnels of an alien world.
17:35Instead of the individual levels of its peers, Metroid features a single enormous map, broken
17:40up into smaller screens that players must jump, shoot, and roll through, collecting
17:44power-ups and defeating bosses along the way.
17:52It's also one of the first games to feature a female protagonist, and a badass one at
17:56that.
17:57While Metroid may not have the mainstream success or recognition of many others on our
18:01entries in this list, it has influenced plenty of games, particularly among indie titles.
18:13Number 11, Pac-Man.
18:21What's so revolutionary about a yellow circle that eats pellets and avoids ghosts?
18:25Well, how successful it was.
18:27Pac-Man was a runaway success, becoming a mainstay of arcades and seeing ports to nearly
18:32every system in the 1980s.
18:34Not only that, but it also spawned merchandise galore and even a hit song.
18:40Pac-Man fever was real, and it was the beginning of video games becoming not just a niche market,
18:45but a big part of the larger one.
18:47Oh, there's also the small matter of Pac-Man's simple yet addicting gameplay and iconic
18:52design.
18:53What is in those power pellets, after all?
18:54We need to know.
19:00Number 10, Grand Theft Auto 3.
19:11There were open world games before Grand Theft Auto 3, sort of.
19:15But it wasn't until this game arrived that open world games became what they are today,
19:19because everyone copied it.
19:20GTA 3 features a map of unprecedented size for its time, as well as the freedom to do
19:25just about anything within the aptly named Liberty City.
19:35Its influence can be found in open world games and other genres alike, as building games
19:39around story missions and side missions is practically a staple of gaming now.
19:43GTA 3 has seen plenty of controversy over the years, to be sure, but that has arguably
19:48only helped its success.
19:57Number 9, Minecraft.
20:02You're shocked, I know.
20:03We can tell.
20:04Unless you've been living under a rock for the last 10 years, you know that Minecraft
20:08changed the industry, to be sure.
20:10With its simple, polygonal graphics, Minecraft doesn't look cutting edge by any means.
20:14But it's in its gameplay and potential that the game has found its success.
20:19The ability to build and craft items after mining for materials is innately satisfying,
20:23as is the potential to build nearly anything you can conceive of in a virtual space.
20:31Games of all genres have taken cues from Minecraft, and crafting has become commonplace in every
20:36other game these days.
20:37Not only that, but Minecraft itself has remained popular and is still widely played.
20:51Number 8, World of Warcraft.
21:01Speaking of long-lasting games, World of Warcraft has been going strong since its release, and
21:07it's hardly surprising.
21:08It's the MMORPG.
21:09Sure, there were other MMOs before it, and there have been plenty after it, but none
21:14have attained the meteoric success of WoW or have been as influential on the others.
21:24World of Warcraft popularized instanced dungeons, as well as raiding with larger parties, and
21:29its massive world is at once full of detailed lore, but also built around entertaining the
21:33player.
21:34It's addictive, and at its peak, the game had around 12 million subscribers.
21:47Number 7, Mortal Kombat.
21:56Mortal Kombat may have been riding on the wave of fighting games that followed in the
21:59wake of Street Fighter II, but arguably had an even bigger impact on gaming at large.
22:05While it is a solid fighter with a more realistic style, some great characters, and all the
22:08usual special moves, what really left its mark on the industry is just how violent it
22:12is.
22:20There has been violence in video games practically since their invention, but Mortal Kombat is
22:24almost single-handedly responsible for the modern video game rating system.
22:28Without Mortal Kombat, we're sure Mortal Panic Crusaders would have found some other
22:32game to get upset about, but as it is, MK has the dubious honor of founding the ESRB
22:37and similar organizations.
22:46Number 6, Doom.
22:53Speaking of incredibly violent games, Doom is another that left its mark on gaming.
22:57While not technically the first FPS, Doom codified many of its tropes and popularized
23:02them, to the extent that for years afterwards, FPS games were initially labeled Doom clones.
23:11When an entire genre of gaming is literally named after you, that's when you know you've
23:15made it.
23:16Doom also introduced the now prevalent space marine protagonist, and helped inspire many
23:20horror or horror-related games through its demonic enemies.
23:24FPS games have dominated a large part of the market for decades, and we wouldn't have
23:28any of them without Doom.
23:35Number 5, The Legend of Zelda.
23:46The Legend of Zelda series has been one of the most impactful franchises in gaming history,
23:50and while we've already discussed Ocarina of Time and its impact on 3D adventure games,
23:54the first game in the series is even more important.
23:57The original Legend of Zelda helped pioneer many concepts and features that adventure
24:01games still utilize, including a fantasy setting, inventory screens, a mini-map, as well as
24:06a non-linear overworld that feels years ahead of its time.
24:15It was also the first console game capable of saving progress, which is kind of a big
24:19deal.
24:20As cliche as it is to say, The Legend of Zelda is a legendary part of gaming history.
24:33Number 4, Tetris.
24:40So simple and yet so addictive, Tetris tasks players with matching blocks of various shapes
24:45into rows to eliminate them and prevent them from stacking too high.
24:49Studies have been done on the effect playing it has on the brain.
24:51It has been remade and remastered countless times on everything from consoles to phones,
24:56which has ensured its place among the top-selling games ever made.
25:05Tetris essentially started the puzzle genre.
25:07Without it, an entire genre of gaming probably wouldn't be the same, and what feels like
25:11half of mobile games wouldn't exist.
25:20Number 3, Pong.
25:27To the modern eye, Pong doesn't look like anything special.
25:30It's two paddles hitting a pixelated ball back and forth.
25:33It wasn't even the first video game title or the most complex of its peers, but it was
25:38the game that jump-started the gaming industry's popularity.
25:41Its simplicity meant anyone and everyone could pick it up and play it.
25:44Pong was instrumental in the success of not only early arcade machines, but also the first
25:48home consoles.
25:50It laid the foundation the gaming industry was built on.
25:53So yeah, not bad for some little pixel paddles, eh?
26:00Number 2, Super Mario Bros.
26:04Yep, it was only a matter of time before we got to Mario.
26:10While not the famous plumber's first game, Super Mario Bros. basically invented the 2D
26:15platformer, inspiring decades of games and launching one of gaming's longest-running
26:19juggernaut franchises.
26:28Its controls are precise, its music, characters, and levels are all iconic.
26:32Given its degree of success, it's sometimes seen as the game that pulled console gaming
26:36out of the hole it was in after the gaming crash of 1983.
26:40And because of how widely played it is, the influence of Super Mario Bros. has echoed
26:44throughout the gaming industry.
26:45If you look hard enough, you're sure to find something in most games that can be traced
26:49back to it.
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27:12Number 1.
27:13Super Mario 64
27:14Look, okay, we usually try to keep things to one entry per franchise, but I mean, come
27:26on, it's freaking Mario.
27:27It's only natural that the biggest landmark games are from gaming's most famous franchise.
27:32If Super Mario Bros. reinvented 2D games, then Super Mario 64 is the benchmark for 3D
27:37ones.
27:38Open-level design and emphasis on exploration echo in open-world games today.
27:49Even something as simple as an adjustable camera was so revolutionary that there's
27:53even an in-game explanation to explain what it is.
27:56Super Mario 64 fired the imaginations of gamers and game developers alike and gave us a whole
28:01new dimension to play in.
28:02Wahoo indeed!
28:11So is there a groundbreaking video game that you are dying to see on our list?
28:15Be sure to share your favorites in the comments.