Top 10 Games That Became Cultural Phenomenons
These are the video games that surpassed their humble beginnings to become ubiquitous media giants, inescapable intellectual properties and just plain old household names. So put on your Minecraft t-shirt, cuz we here over at http://WatchMojo.com are counting down the Top 10 Games That Became Cultural Phenomenons.
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#10: “Halo” (2001)
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In November 2001, everyone was skeptical about whether new kid on the block Microsoft would be able to successfully enter the console ring with the Xbox. Then everyone got to toss a sticky grenade in Halo and the rest is history. Not only did Bungie’s sci-fi shooter singlehandedly make the Xbox, it quickly acquired a rabid fanbase of its own due to its story-driven campaign and robust multiplayer, which brought the world of LAN gaming to consoles. Also, tea-bagging. Almost overnight, Halo erupted into a multimedia franchise to rival its inspirations, spanning 11 main games and spinoffs, as well as companion novels like “The Fall of Reach” and movies like “Forward Onto Dawn”. It also provided the inspiration for the machinima sensation “Red vs. Blue”.
#9: “Angry Birds” (2009)
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There were mobile games before this one, but none that smashed into the world with such power. Finnish developer Rovio released their avian-based puzzle game for iOS in the waning days of 2009, resulting in a series that reached 13 games by 2016. The addictive, easy-to-pick-up gameplay is the obvious reason for the success, as well as Rovio putting the birds into existing worlds like Star Wars and Transformers. The ubiquity of the game made it easy for it to seep into popular culture, resulting in toys, theme park lands in Finland and Malaysia, and a highly successful movie released in 2016. Fun fact, former British Prime Minister David Cameron is a huge fan, and Angry Birds is also the way he refers to female Brexit supporters.
#8: “Minecraft” (2011)
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If your game sells a million copies while it’s still in beta, you know you’ve probably got a pretty big hit on your hands. Released in full in 2011 by Swedish developer Mojang, the effect that the blocky building game has had on the world is nothing short of staggering. The game’s infinite possibilities for crafting and building powered a massive mod community, as well as a seemingly endless amount of Let’s Plays and even its own convention, MineCon, to show off everyones creations. Perhaps most remarkably, players have even used the game’s environment to craft their own stories, resulting in several series of books and a spin-off game with a story mode.
#7: “Tetris” (1984)
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Sure, the end of the Cold War was pretty neat, but the most important thing to come out of Russia in the 1980’s was this legendary puzzle game. Created by Soviet programmer Alexey Pajitnov, (Paji-nov) Tetris was the first game to be exported from the USSR to the US, first appearing on home computers. Then Nintendo got its hands on it and bundled a portable version with the original Game Boy in 1989. That version sold over 35 million copies and turned the tetromino based puzzler into an unprecedented phenomenon. Since then, versions of the game have appeared on every electronic device known to man, from the NES to the Xbox One, to mobile phones, making it the most ported game of all time, and for good reason.
#6: “Tomb Raider” (1996)
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While it was a success right out of the gate, Sony’s PlayStation didn’t really have truly iconic franchises to rival its competitors. But in October 1996, Eidos and Core Design unleashed archeologist Lara Croft onto the world, creating a gaming and cultural icon. The first Tomb Raider was one of the most popular games on the PS1, selling over 7 million copies and starting a franchise thats spawned 11 main games and several handheld and spinoff games. More than that, Lara Croft became one of the most legendary characters on the planet due to her iconic design and providing a strong role for females in gaming. She’s been brought to life by tons of cosplayers and most notably Angelina Jolie in two live-action movies, with Alicia Vikander set to take over the title of Tomb Raider in 2018.
#5: “Call of Duty” (2003)
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World War II first-person shooters were a dime a dozen in the early 2000’s, but Infinity Ward’s series stood out from the glut with its realistic and intense gameplay. But it wasn’t until 2007’s Modern Warfare that COD became the phenomenon it is today. Not only did it feature a fast paced, set-piece heavy campaign, but the online multiplayer was like nothing gamers had ever experienced. Soon, care packages, UAVs, and RCXDs became part of the gaming lexicon. The series became more and more popular with every subsequent game, with celebrity appearances in marketing material, and releases rivaling even the biggest Hollywood movies. Modern Warfare 3 and Black Ops even became two of the best-selling games of all time.
#4: “Pac-Man” (1980)
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Namco’s maze game wasn’t the first game to become a bona-fide blockbuster, but it was the first to transcend the medium in ways no one had ever seen. Every aspect of Pac-Man is iconic, from the design of the title character, to his ghostly enemies, to the audio. Pac became gamings first superstar, spawning a series with 46 games, including Ms. Pac-Man, the most successful American arcade game of all time. He’s also starred in two animated series, made crossover appearances in other games like Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart, and Street Fighter x Tekken, and was the first character to be featured on non-gaming merchandise. And of course, he inspired the legendary one-hit wonder by Buckner & Garcia, “Pac-Man Fever”.
#3: “World of Warcraft” (2004)
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Blizzard had already introduced gamers to the world of Azeroth with its beloved trilogy of RTS games, but it was with their venture into the world of MMORPGs that Warcraft took over the world. The game became an instant success, rendering other MMOs basically irrelevant for a number of years, reaching 12 million subscribers at its peak in 2010. The game also shows no sign of stopping, with six expansion packs being released so far, and a continually dedicated player base. You also may have seen it featured on a certain South Park episode, or heard about the battle cry of the unprepared guild. Say it with us now: (LEEEROOYYY JEEENNNKKIINNSSS)
#2: “Pokemon” (1996)
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It seems like Japan introduces a new craze into society every other week, but there’s no debate that Pocket Monsters has been the only one that truly stood the test of time. The series made its debut in 1996 with Red and Green on the Game Boy (Or Red and Blue for those in the West) and caught fire instantaneously. The popular Trading Card Game debuted alongside the games, and the long running anime followed the next year, which itself spawned seventeen movies. 122 games and spin-offs have been released so far, spanning almost every genre from RPG, to puzzle, to fighter. Pikachu was turned into a parade balloon, the characters were plastered onto the side of a plane, and everyone from Robot Chicken to South Park have had their way with the franchise. 20 years after its release, the series shows no sign of stopping, as evidenced with the release of the super-popular Pokemon Go! Before we reveal our top pick, here are a couple honorable mentions: “Grand Theft Auto III” (2001) “Pong” (1972) “Wii Sports” (2006) “Space Invaders” (1978) “Doom” (1993)
#1: “Super Mario Bros.” (1985)
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This is at the top because without it, there would be no list. Nintendo’s perfect platformer became a hit when gaming was on its last breath, and seemingly overnight became the face of video games, even to this day. Mario has appeared in over 100 main games and spinoffs along with his equally iconic pals such as Luigi, Peach and Yoshi. More notably, Mario has transcended gaming itself. The plumber became so ubiquitous that it might be easier to list what he hasn’t been featured in. Needless to say, the list includes literal tons of merchandise, several animated shows, tons of fan tributes, parodies, and even had the Japanese Prime Minister cosplay as him. What other series has that claim to fame? Do you agree with our list? What games do you think had the biggest impact on culture? For more phenomenal top tens posted every day be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com
