Video games have evolved from simple pixelated screens to immersive, story-driven masterpieces. Over the decades, certain games have shaped the gaming industry, introduced new mechanics, and influenced generations of developers. Whether by revolutionizing gameplay, setting new storytelling standards, or redefining genres, these games have left a lasting mark.

Let’s explore some of the most influential video games of all time and their impact on the gaming world.

1. Pong (1972) – The Game That Started It All 🎾

Before Mario, before Call of Duty, there was Pong. This simple two-dimensional table tennis game became one of the first commercially successful video games, laying the foundation for the gaming industry.

Why It’s Influential:
✅ One of the first widely played arcade games.
✅ Proved that video games could be a profitable business.
✅ Inspired the first wave of home gaming consoles.

Without Pong, gaming as we know it might not exist today.

2. Super Mario Bros. (1985) – The Platformer Blueprint 🍄

Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. didn’t just introduce players to the Mushroom Kingdom—it set the standard for platforming games. With precise controls, power-ups, and unforgettable level design, this game redefined the genre.

Why It’s Influential:
✅ Revived the gaming industry after the 1983 Video Game Crash.
✅ Established Mario as the most recognizable gaming character.
✅ Inspired countless platformers, from Sonic the Hedgehog to Celeste.

Even decades later, platformers continue to follow Mario’s winning formula.

3. The Legend of Zelda (1986) – Open-World Adventure Begins 

Before games like Skyrim or Elden Ring, there was The Legend of Zelda. This action-adventure game introduced exploration-based gameplay, encouraging players to discover secrets, solve puzzles, and go on epic quests.

Why It’s Influential:
✅ One of the first open-world games.
✅ Encouraged player freedom instead of linear storytelling.
✅ Paved the way for RPGs, sandbox games, and adventure titles.

Without Zelda, we wouldn’t have games like The Witcher 3 or Breath of the Wild.

4. Tetris (1984) – The Ultimate Puzzle Game 🔳

Few games have stood the test of time like Tetris. Its simple yet addictive block-stacking gameplay remains one of the most recognized and played games worldwide.

Why It’s Influential:
✅ Defined the puzzle genre in gaming.
✅ Became one of the first viral games, spreading across arcade machines, home consoles, and mobile devices.
✅ Inspired countless other puzzle games, including modern hits like Candy Crush.

Tetris proves that great gameplay doesn’t need fancy graphics—just great mechanics.

5. Doom (1993) – The Father of First-Person Shooters 🔫

Before Call of Duty, before Halo, there was Doom. This fast-paced, demon-slaying shooter popularized the first-person shooter (FPS) genre and introduced online multiplayer gaming.

Why It’s Influential:
✅ One of the first FPS games to achieve mainstream success.
✅ Introduced modding, allowing players to create custom levels.
✅ Paved the way for every FPS game that followed.

Modern shooters still owe their DNA to Doom.

6. Final Fantasy VII (1997) – RPG Storytelling at Its Best 🏹

Square Enix’s Final Fantasy VII took storytelling in games to a cinematic level, combining deep characters, emotional moments, and breathtaking cutscenes.

Why It’s Influential:
✅ Proved that games could tell emotionally gripping stories.
✅ Set the standard for JRPGs (Japanese Role-Playing Games).
✅ Influenced countless RPGs, from Persona 5 to Mass Effect.

Its impact still reverberates through modern RPGs today.

7. Grand Theft Auto III (2001) – Open-World Freedom 🚗

Before Red Dead Redemption 2, there was GTA III—the game that let players explore a fully open 3D city with unmatched freedom.

Why It’s Influential:
✅ Established the open-world, sandbox genre.
✅ Inspired games like Assassin’s Creed, Watch Dogs, and Cyberpunk 2077.
✅ Set the blueprint for modern open-world storytelling.

GTA III revolutionized gaming freedom and shaped the modern open-world genre.

8. World of Warcraft (2004) – The MMO Titan 🏰

World of Warcraft (WoW) wasn’t the first MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game), but it perfected the formula. Millions of players built characters, joined guilds, and spent years exploring Azeroth.

Why It’s Influential:

✅ Defined MMORPGs and online gaming culture.
✅ Inspired Destiny, Final Fantasy XIV, and Elder Scrolls Online.
✅ Set the standard for persistent online worlds.

WoW shaped the online gaming industry and proved that MMOs could be a way of life.