BAFTA, the UK's renowned independent arts charity dedicated to celebrating excellence in film, games, and television, has just announced what they consider to be the most influential video game of all time. The results might surprise you, as the winner isn't one of the usual suspects like GTA, Tetris, World of Warcraft, Minecraft, Doom, or Half-Life 2. Instead, the top spot, as determined by votes from the British public, goes to Shenmue.
Released in 1999 for the Dreamcast, Shenmue is an action-adventure game that follows Ryo Hazuki on his quest for vengeance following his father's murder. BAFTA praises the game for its "detailed open-world setting that truly captures the essence of Yokosuka in the ‘80s."
The "pioneering first-person shooter" Doom came in second place, with 1985's Super Mario Bros. securing the bronze medal. Half-Life and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time complete the top five in fourth and fifth place, respectively.
Surprisingly, influential titles such as Grand Theft Auto 5, Halo, and Fortnite did not make the list.
Yu Suzuki, the creator of the Shenmue series, expressed his gratitude for the recognition: "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 acknowledged 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 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)
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! has 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 as a major winner, taking home five awards, including Best Game. Other notable winners included Alan Wake 2, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and Viewfinder.
