BAFTA, the UK's independent arts charity renowned for celebrating excellence in film, games, and television, has unveiled what the British public considers to be the most influential video game of all time. In a surprising twist, the top honor was bestowed upon Shenmue, released in 1999 on the Dreamcast console. This action-adventure game, which follows protagonist Ryo Hazuki on his quest for vengeance in a meticulously crafted open-world setting reminiscent of 1980s Yokosuka, outranked iconic titles such as GTA, Tetris, World of Warcraft, Minecraft, Doom, and Half-Life 2.
The runner-up spot went to the "pioneering first-person shooter" Doom, followed by Super Mario Bros. from 1985 in third place. Half-Life and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time completed the top five. Notably absent from the list were modern giants like Grand Theft Auto 5, Halo, and Fortnite.
Yu Suzuki, the visionary behind Shenmue, expressed his gratitude and pride in a statement: "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 acknowledged the fans, saying, "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!"
The full list of the top 21 most influential games, as voted by the public, includes:
Looking ahead, the 2025 BAFTA Game Awards are scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, 2025, with Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, Astro Bot, and Still Wakes the Deep leading the nominations with 11, eight, and eight nods respectively. Thank Goodness You're Here! garnered seven nominations, Black Myth: Wukong six, and Helldivers 2 is up for five awards.
Reflecting on the previous year, the 2024 BAFTA Game Awards saw Baldur's Gate 3 triumph with five wins, including the prestigious Best Game award. Other notable winners included Alan Wake 2, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and Viewfinder.
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