Top 30 Video Games That Reinvented Gaming

There were survival horror games before “Resident Evil.” However, few if any were as successful as it was upon release. Its simple set-up of escaping a zombie-infested house while solving puzzles proved enormously popular. “Resident Evil” helped define survival horror going forward, with things like its inventory management system becoming staples in other games. It also arguably helped revive interest in zombies in movies and pop culture in general, as well as helping push video games in a more cinematic direction. Fortunately, the games that followed it managed to get better voice acting though.

The Nintendo Wii set the bar for motion controls in video gaming, and since most of the world got “Wii Sports” as a launch title with the console, it did too! The simple motion controls make it incredibly accessible to casual players, particularly since the 5 sports you can play are very recognizable. “Wii Sports” has helped families connect, gotten gamers exercising more, and even assisted some patients with physiotherapy! Nearly every other motion control console that followed the Wii took some of their inspiration from “Wii Sports.” However, none of its imitators could match the sheer terror that is Matt!

It may feel clunky by modern standards, but “Shenmue” was a technical marvel in its day. Dropping the player into a realistic sandbox of urban Japan, “Shenmue” paved the way not only for games like “Yakuza,” but also for basically every open world game. Its level of detail, day-night schedule, and millions of minigames and side quests to do are all standard for most larger games today. It also named and popularized the quick time event - yayyyyy. While certain parts of “Shenmue,” like its voice acting, have aged like milk, without it, games today simply wouldn’t have the same depth.


#27: “Dragon Quest” (1986)

Console RPGs owe most of their existence to this one game. The original “Dragon Quest” (or “Dragon Warrior” in its North American release) took the complex RPG elements found on PC gaming at the time, and streamlined them to make the genre more accessible for consoles. The top-down perspective, hit & experience points, and upgradable spells and equipment have become standard in every JRPG. While it may not have achieved the global success of some of its successors, “Dragon Quest” and everything about it have become inexorably tied to RPGs in Japan.

You can’t spawn a global multimedia franchise and not impact the gaming industry! The first 2 “Pokémon” games took the world by storm, combining simple, yet addictive RPG gameplay with 151 iconic Pocket Monsters to collect, striking a chord with hardcore and new gamers alike. In addition, the ability to connect with other players locally to trade and battle was innovative. The enormous franchise these games created arguably aided in taking video games from a relatively niche market into the highest grossing part of the entertainment industry. Plus, the unparalleled success of “Pokémon Red & Blue” helped preserve Nintendo’s supremacy in the handheld console market for decades to come.

While the original redefined survival horror games that followed, “Resident Evil 4” did the same, while also influencing 3rd person shooters and action games in general. “RE4”’s over-the-shoulder camera angle quickly became the standard for 3rd person games. It also expanded the survival horror genre to incorporate more action elements, making what had previously been a slower-paced gaming category into one with more intensity. Even its QTE action set pieces proved influential. “Resident Evil 4” matched its innovative presentation with quality gameplay and a gripping story, such that it’s often regarded as one of the best games ever made.

The 21st century has seen a gradual trend towards ease and accessibility in games. “Dark Souls” went against the grain by delivering punishingly tough action RPG gameplay, and people love it for that. Everything from its lore to its boss fights avoids holding the player’s hands as much as possible, inviting the player to engage more with the game themselves. “Dark Souls” and its series have become a byword for difficulty in video games. It also helped spawn an entire genre of copycats, called “Souls-likes.” Even if games do become easier as a whole, “Dark Souls” has proven that hardcore challenge still has a place among modern games.

There have been many influential arcade games, yet few are quite as groundbreaking as “Space Invaders.” By modern standards, it may look painfully simple - you move left or right and shoot at enemies behind barriers. But so many aspects of video games owe their origins to this one smash hit arcade title! It’s essentially one of the first shooters. It introduced fundamental concepts like achieving a high score and having multiple extra lives. Even its simple soundtrack had never been done before! “Space Invaders” served as the introduction to video games for many future gaming developers, like Shigeru Miyamoto, and for that alone the industry owes it so much!

It may not have been the first stealth game or even the first game in its series, but “Metal Gear Solid” still “solidified” many things for its genre, its franchise, and gaming in general. The complex story, memorable bosses, and exciting gameplay remain incredibly fun today. Many aspects of the game, from limited ammo, to crouching being quieter than walking, became conventions for stealth gameplay. Additionally, “Metal Gear Solid”’s movie-inspired approach to storytelling helped mark gaming’s transition to more cinematic cutscenes, while also popularizing rendering them using the in-game engine. Without “Metal Gear Solid,” we doubt whether games would be as respected as a storytelling medium as they are today.

As the first 3D “Zelda” title, “Ocarina of Time” was destined to be remembered, but it still blew all expectations out of the water. Its huge world, epic story, incredible music, and fantastic combat and puzzles have helped earn it frequent accolades as one of the greatest games ever made. It pioneered several gameplay mechanics, including locking on to targets from afar and context-sensitive button pressing, that became commonplace. “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” influenced not only 3D adventure games that followed it, but also video gaming as a whole. It’s quite simply a masterpiece.

Although it hasn’t aged particularly well, “GoldenEye 007” is still rightfully considered an important video game. Essentially, it paved the way for first person shooters to make the jump to consoles after being almost exclusively on the PC. Its campaign’s objective-based missions that feature different gameplay variety, including vehicle sections, became influential for later games in the genre. Perhaps most importantly, “GoldenEye”’s multiplayer made it a smash success, and a fixture of college dorms and parties. Perhaps most miraculously of all, “GoldenEye 007” proved that movie tie-in games don’t have to be terrible.

A superhero game that rescued its whole genre, “Batman: Arkham Asylum” delivers a suspenseful, satisfying story with great voice acting and spectacular gameplay. It’s the last of these that has earned it so many copycats. Its combat system is fluid, acrobatic, and most of all fun, and has been imitated by plenty of other games. In addition, Detective Vision, or something like it, has been a hallmark of games across genres since its release. “Arkham Asylum” didn’t invent many of its best features, but it certainly polished them to such a high degree that everyone sat up and took notice.

This FPS/RPG hybrid wasn’t the first of its kind, but it has definitely left an impact on the last few decades of gaming. “BioShock” combines political commentary, fast-paced action, and a gorgeously unique setting to create something that captures everyone’s attention. Its use of audio logs to convey a story, combining weapons and magic, as well as a choice between playing more “heroically” or more like a “villain,” have all become staples across many gaming genres. While its influence has led some to contend that its flaws are more glaring, we would “kindly” ask that everyone appreciate “BioShock”’s merits and the mark it left on gaming.

The fighting game genre didn’t begin with “Street Fighter II,” but it may as well have! “Street Fighter II” almost single-handedly brought back arcades during the 1990s and made a big splash on consoles as well. It took everything from the previous game and refined it to perfection (and then its numerous rereleases and remasters refined them even further). Its combo system, varied characters who all have their own strengths, and ability to fight PvP, have since become the gold standard for fighting games. Easy to pick up but difficult to master, “Street Fighter II” still has a devoted following to this day.

“Half-Life” is one of the most influential FPS games ever made. The player controls scientist Gordon Freeman as he tries to escape an alien invasion in a secret facility. The level of immersion in the game was almost unprecedented, featuring lots of exploration and few cutscenes; telling its story mostly through gameplay and scripted events. “Half-Life” also features more puzzles and platforming than was typical for the genre at the time. In addition, its engine became the basis for many popular mods, which went on to become popular franchises in their own right, such as “Counter-Strike.” Despite its title, “Half-Life”’s legacy has been long.

RPGs were around decades before “Final Fantasy VII.” It was the 7th entry in its franchise, after all. But prior to its release, it was still not a widely popular genre of video game and the few popular RPGs in the west were western in origin. “Final Fantasy VII” showed the world that JRPGs aren’t just good, they’re amazing! “FF7” hit on all cylinders with its engaging characters and massive story. Its huge success contributed to PlayStation’s early viability as a console, and ensured that generations of RPGs and RPG fans were influenced by its blend of fantasy and cyberpunk.

The first major life simulation game, “The Sims” allows players to simulate the lives of created characters as they go about their days. The degree of freedom allowed in doing whatever you want with the Sims was unprecedented at the time. Everything from daily chores to life-altering decisions are yours to decide on or put off. While deaths occur, it’s possible to play it forever, technically. Life simulation has become a common feature in many games since its release, particularly RPGs, and it also helped popularize the life simulator in general.

The first “Halo” game is aptly named, since while it didn’t invent the whole “FPS starring a space marine fighting aliens” thing (more on that later), it did mark the next evolution of this trope and FPS games in general. Its controls remain responsive and hold up to today’s standards. Its story is ambitious and fits seamlessly with the gameplay. Its multiplayer was the next big sensation, and its sequel “Halo 2,” which nearly made our list, helped popularize online multiplayer on consoles. “Halo: Combat Evolved” also proved a trendsetter with features like a more realistic 2 weapon limit, and less realistic regenerating health. If nothing else, it proved you could take gaming soundtracks to a new level of epic.

Two games birthed the “Metroidvania” genre, and while “Castlevania” also deserves a nod, “Metroid” came first, and, we would argue, did it better. “Metroid” follows bounty hunter Samus Aran as she must explore and battle alien villains throughout the labyrinthine tunnels of an alien world. Instead of the individual levels of its peers, “Metroid” features a single enormous map broken into smaller screens that players must jump, shoot, and roll through, collecting power-ups and defeating bosses along the way. It’s also one of the first games to feature a female protagonist, and a badass one at that! While “Metroid” may not have the mainstream success or recognition of many of our other entries, it has influenced plenty of games, particularly among indie titles.

What’s so revolutionary about a yellow circle that eats pellets and avoids ghosts? How successful it was! “Pac-Man” was a runaway success, becoming a mainstay of arcades and seeing ports to nearly every system in the 1980s. Not only that, but it also spawned merchandise galore and even a hit song! “Pac-Man” fever was real, and it was the beginning of video games becoming not just a niche market, but a big part of the larger one. Oh, there’s also the small matter of “Pac-Man”’s simple, yet addicting gameplay and iconic design. What is in those power pellets?

There were open world games before “Grand Theft Auto III”…sort of. But it wasn’t until this game arrived that open world games became what they are today – because everyone copied it. “GTA III” features a map of unprecedented size for its time, as well as the freedom to do just about anything within the aptly named Liberty City. Its influence can be found in open world games and other genres alike, as building games around story missions and side missions is practically a staple of gaming now. “GTA III” has seen plenty of controversy over the years, but that has arguably only helped its success.

You’re shocked, we can tell. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last 10 years, you know that “Minecraft” changed the industry. With its simple, polygonal graphics, “Minecraft” doesn’t look cutting edge, but it’s in its gameplay and potential that the game has found its success. The ability to build and craft items after mining for materials is innately satisfying, as is the potential to build nearly anything you can conceive of in a virtual space. Games of all genres have taken cues from “Minecraft,” and crafting has become commonplace in every other game these days. Not only that, but “Minecraft” itself has remained popular and is still widely played.

Speaking of long-lasting games, “World of Warcraft” has been going strong since its release. And it’s hardly surprising. It’s the MMORPG. There were other MMOs before it and there have been plenty after it. But none have attained the meteoric success of “WoW” or have been as influential on the others. “WoW” popularized instanced dungeons as well as raiding with large parties, and its massive world is at once full of detailed lore, but also built around entertaining the player. The gameplay is addictive and at its peak, the game had around 12 million subscribers!

“Mortal Kombat” may have been riding on the wave of fighting games that followed in the wake of “Street Fighter II,” but arguably had an even bigger impact on gaming at large. While it’s a solid fighter, with a more realistic style, some great characters, and all the usual special moves, what really left its mark on the industry is how violent it is. There has been violence in video games practically since their invention, but “Mortal Kombat” is almost single handedly responsible for the modern video game rating system. Without “Mortal Kombat,” we’re sure moral panic crusaders would’ve found some other game to get upset about, but as it is, “MK” has the dubious honor of founding the ESRB and similar organizations.

Speaking of incredibly violent games, “Doom” is another that left its mark on gaming. While not technically the first FPS, “Doom” codified many of its tropes and popularized them, to the extent that for years afterwards, FPS games were initially labelled “Doom clones.” When an entire genre of gaming is literally named after you, that’s when you know you’ve made it. “Doom” also introduced the now prevalent space marine protagonist, and helped inspire many horror or horror-related games through its demonic enemies. FPS games have dominated a large part of the market for decades and we wouldn’t have any of them without “Doom.”

“The Legend of Zelda” series has been one of the most impactful franchises in gaming history. Though we’ve already discussed “Ocarina of Time” and its impact on 3D adventure games, the first game in the series is even more important. The original “Legend of Zelda” helped pioneer many concepts and features that adventure games still utilize, including a fantasy setting, inventory screens, a mini map, as well as a non-linear overworld that feels years ahead of its time. It was also the first console game capable of saving progress, which is kind of a big deal! As cliché as it is to say, “The Legend of Zelda” is a legendary part of gaming history.

So simple, and yet so addictive, “Tetris” tasks players with matching blocks of various shapes into rows to eliminate them and prevent them from stacking too high. Studies have been done on the effect playing it has on the brain. It has been remade and remastered countless times on everything from consoles to phones, which has ensured its place among the top-selling games ever made. “Tetris” essentially started the puzzle genre. Without it, an entire genre of gaming probably wouldn’t be the same and what feels like half of mobile games wouldn’t exist.

To the modern eye, “Pong” doesn’t look like anything special. It’s two paddles hitting a pixelated ball back and forth. It wasn’t even the first video game title or the most complex of its peers. But it was the game that jump started the gaming industry’s popularity. Its simplicity meant anyone and everyone could pick up and play it. “Pong” was instrumental in the success of not only early arcade machines, but also the first home consoles. It laid the foundation the gaming industry was built on. Not bad for some little pixel paddles eh?

Yep. It was only a matter of time before we got to “Mario.” While not the famous plumber’s first game, “Super Mario Bros.” basically invented the 2D platformer, inspiring decades of games and launching one of gaming’s longest-running juggernaut franchises. Its controls are precise, its music, characters, and levels are all iconic. Given its degree of success, it’s sometimes seen as the game that pulled console gaming out of the hole it was in after the gaming crash of 1983. And because of how widely played it is, the influence of “Super Mario Bros.” has echoed throughout the gaming industry. If you look hard enough, you’re sure to find something in most games that can be traced back to it.

Look, we usually try to keep things to one entry per franchise, but c’mon – it’s Mario! It’s only natural that the biggest landmark games are from gaming’s most famous franchise! If “Super Mario Bros.” reinvented 2D games, then “Super Mario 64” is the benchmark for 3D ones. open level design and emphasis on exploration echo in open world games today. Even something as simple as an adjustable camera was so revolutionary that there’s even an in-game explanation to explain what it is! “Super Mario 64” fired the imaginations of gamers and game-developers alike, and gave us a whole new dimension to play in. “Wahoo” indeed.







Is there a groundbreaking video game you were dying to see on our list? Share your favorites in the comments!