BAFTA, the UK's esteemed arts charity that celebrates excellence in film, games, and television, has recently unveiled what it considers the most influential video game of all time. The result may surprise you—it's not the usual suspects like GTA, Tetris, World of Warcraft, Minecraft, Doom, or Half-Life 2, but rather the 1999 action-adventure game Shenmue.
Released on the Dreamcast, Shenmue follows the protagonist Ryo Hazuki on his quest for vengeance following his father's murder. Set in a meticulously crafted open-world that captures the essence of 1980s Yokosuka, Japan, Shenmue has been lauded by BAFTA for its pioneering approach to immersive gaming experiences.
Coming in second place is the "pioneering first-person shooter" Doom, released in 1993. The bronze medal goes to the iconic 1985 platformer **Super Mario Bros.**. Rounding out the top five are **Half-Life** and **The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time**, both from 1998.Notably absent from the list are modern hits such as Grand Theft Auto 5, Halo, and Fortnite.
Yu Suzuki, the creator of Shenmue, expressed his gratitude: "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 extended his thanks to the global fanbase: "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 with 11, Astro Bot and Still Wakes the Deep with eight each, Thank Goodness You're Here! with seven, Black Myth: Wukong with six, and Helldivers 2 with five.
At the 2024 BAFTA Game Awards, Baldur's Gate 3 clinched five awards, including Best Game. Other notable winners included Alan Wake 2, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and Viewfinder.
