As a global industry worth over $184 billion and pulling in audiences of over 3 billion people, gaming is a Big Tech superpower. Today’s games have come a long way since the early days of console gaming during the 1980s. Significant developments in technology have given rise to generation after generation of games that feature advanced graphics and storylines worthy of film and TV.
With gaming being mainstream since the late 20th century, we’ve enjoyed four decades of both video and digital games. While there have been countless titles released over the years, some have had a genuinely significant impact on the industry.
In this article, we’ll take a look a the most impactful games of all time, many of which have brought about a gaming revolution.
Minesweeper
Originally developed in the 1960s and popularized by Microsoft in the early ’90s as a pre-installed game on Windows systems, Minesweeper has stood the test of time as a classic puzzle game that appeals to both casual gamers and enthusiasts. Its lasting impact lies in its universal accessibility and the way it combines simple rules with complex problem-solving, making it a mentally enriching and entertaining game for players of all skill levels. Today, Minesweeper is readily available online.
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. is widely considered to be the most iconic video game of all time. Released by Nintendo in 1985 on the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System), it revolutionized the platform gaming genre and set a high standard for video games to come.
It’s hard to imagine a world without Mario and his brother, Luigi. The Italian plumbers have become such a mainstay of pop culture that they’ve transcended the gaming medium and are featured in everything from movies to music.
Poker
This traditional card game has had a revolutionary impact both offline and in the digital realm. Historically, poker was synonymous with the Wild West, being the game of choice for many a gunslinger and ne’er-do-well on the American Frontier. Since the 20th century, it’s taken on a more glamorous allure and is often linked with luxurious casinos like the Casino de Monte Carlo in Monaco and the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
Modern-day poker is also immortalized as a digital game, with platforms like PokerStars making a full portfolio of variants available to global players. This classic card game was at the center of the iGaming boom of the early 2000s and is even contributing to the emerging Virtual Reality gaming era.
Doom
The First Person Shooter (FPS) genre is a mainstay of the eSports sector, and Doom is a game that has largely been credited with popularising it. One of the few PC games of the early nineties to have any sort of longevity – Doom was released on the platform in 1993 . The game immediately caused a stir with its intense action and gore.
Although Doom was censored in some countries, it became a huge success and set a blueprint that subsequent titles in the genre have followed. Not only that, but its soundtrack, composed by Mick Gordon, is recognized as being one of the best gaming OSTs of all time.
Angry Birds
While it’s hardly the flagship premium mobile games that we’re used to in 2023, Angry Birds does deserve credit for revolutionising the mobile gaming sector. When it was released in 2009, this title marked a watershed moment for gaming on the go and became a worldwide phenomenon.
Most of the hypercasual mobile games today owe their start to Angry Birds, which appealed to a huge demographic of mobile users thanks to its cute characters and easy-to-follow gameplay.
World of Warcraft
Speaking of eSports, the sector wouldn’t be a fraction as popular – or lucrative – as it is today if it weren’t for the MMORPG genre. World of Warcraft was one of the earliest massively multiplayer online role-playing games and is often credited with kickstarting the trend.
Since it was released in 2004, WoW has become one of the most successful gaming titles in history, with over 100 million accounts being created to date. Its influence can still be seen today in the vast majority of the MMORPG games that have since followed suit.
Minecraft
To the current gaming generation, Minecraft is a title that needs no introduction. Released in 2011, the game has become a cultural phenomenon, with over 200 million copies sold worldwide.
Interestingly, Minecraft harkens back to earlier puzzle-based games, with a format that involves building a blocky, 3D world, but it combines its simple yet compelling gameplay with cutting-edge graphics and sound. Additionally, Minecraft has spawned a global gaming community, with numerous forums and Twitch channels dedicated to the title.