Video Games

Super Mario Bros. helped revive the video game industry after 1983 by popularizing side-scrolling platforming.

Super Mario Bros. helped revive the video game industry after 1983 by popularizing side-scrolling platforming.

Pac-Man became one of gaming's most recognizable characters, designed partly to broaden arcade gaming's appeal.

Pac-Man became one of gaming's most recognizable characters, designed partly to broaden arcade gaming's appeal.

Tetris, created by Soviet engineer Alexey Pajitnov in 1984, became one of the most ported games ever made.

Tetris, created by Soviet engineer Alexey Pajitnov in 1984, became one of the most ported games ever made.

Call of Duty began as a World War II shooter series before becoming one of gaming's best-selling franchises.

Call of Duty began as a World War II shooter series before becoming one of gaming's best-selling franchises.

Halo helped establish console first-person shooters as a major genre, launching alongside the original Xbox.

Halo helped establish console first-person shooters as a major genre, launching alongside the original Xbox.

Doom helped pioneer first-person shooters, and its engine was later licensed to power other early titles.

Doom helped pioneer first-person shooters, and its engine was later licensed to power other early titles.

Sonic the Hedgehog was created partly to rival Mario, built around extremely fast-paced platforming.

Sonic the Hedgehog was created partly to rival Mario, built around extremely fast-paced platforming.

Space Invaders helped launch the golden age of arcade games as one of the earliest influential shooters.

Space Invaders helped launch the golden age of arcade games as one of the earliest influential shooters.

Skyrim's vast open world has driven repeated re-releases across numerous gaming platforms.

The Legend of Zelda's open, exploration-driven design influenced countless later open-world games.

The Legend of Zelda's open, exploration-driven design influenced countless later open-world games.

Pokémon began as a pair of Japanese Game Boy titles before becoming one of gaming's best-selling franchises.

Pokémon began as a pair of Japanese Game Boy titles before becoming one of gaming's best-selling franchises.

Final Fantasy's name persists across dozens of largely standalone sequels from Square Enix.

Final Fantasy's name persists across dozens of largely standalone sequels from Square Enix.

Skyrim's vast open world has driven repeated re-releases across numerous gaming platforms.

Tomb Raider introduced the iconic Lara Croft and helped popularize 3D action-adventure gaming.

Tomb Raider introduced the iconic Lara Croft and helped popularize 3D action-adventure gaming.

Minecraft, the best-selling video game ever, lets players gather blocks to build almost anything imaginable.

Minecraft, the best-selling video game ever, lets players gather blocks to build almost anything imaginable.

Fortnite popularized battle royale gaming at massive scale and now regularly hosts in-game concerts.

Fortnite popularized battle royale gaming at massive scale and now regularly hosts in-game concerts.

Grand Theft Auto's detailed open-world cities helped make it one of gaming's best-selling franchises.

Grand Theft Auto's detailed open-world cities helped make it one of gaming's best-selling franchises.

The Sims lets players simulate everyday virtual lives, becoming one of the best-selling PC franchises ever.

The Sims lets players simulate everyday virtual lives, becoming one of the best-selling PC franchises ever.

World of Warcraft, set in the Warcraft fantasy universe, was once the world's most subscribed online game.

World of Warcraft, set in the Warcraft fantasy universe, was once the world's most subscribed online game.

Street Fighter helped popularize competitive fighting games and introduced special-move inputs still used today.

Street Fighter helped popularize competitive fighting games and introduced special-move inputs still used today.

Mortal Kombat's graphic Fatalities sparked early debates that helped shape video game content ratings.

Mortal Kombat's graphic Fatalities sparked early debates that helped shape video game content ratings.

Angry Birds became one of mobile gaming's most downloaded franchises using simple slingshot mechanics.

Angry Birds became one of mobile gaming's most downloaded franchises using simple slingshot mechanics.

Candy Crush Saga popularized mobile match-three puzzles, earning revenue mainly through in-app purchases.

Candy Crush Saga popularized mobile match-three puzzles, earning revenue mainly through in-app purchases.

Among Us surged in popularity years after release, built around identifying a hidden impostor crewmate.

Among Us surged in popularity years after release, built around identifying a hidden impostor crewmate.

Animal Crossing runs in real time alongside the player's actual clock, letting them build a virtual village.

Animal Crossing runs in real time alongside the player's actual clock, letting them build a virtual village.

League of Legends helped popularize the online battle arena genre as one of the world's most played PC games.

League of Legends helped popularize the online battle arena genre as one of the world's most played PC games.

Overwatch built team-based matches around a diverse hero roster, each with distinct abilities.

Overwatch built team-based matches around a diverse hero roster, each with distinct abilities.

Fallout sets nuclear wasteland survival against a retro-futuristic 1950s aesthetic.

Fallout sets nuclear wasteland survival against a retro-futuristic 1950s aesthetic.

Red Dead Redemption's detailed American frontier setting earned praise for immersive open-world storytelling.

Red Dead Redemption's detailed American frontier setting earned praise for immersive open-world storytelling.

God of War began in Greek mythology before later installments shifted the setting to Norse myth.

God of War began in Greek mythology before later installments shifted the setting to Norse myth.

Portal built its puzzles around a portal-creating gun, praised for pairing cleverness with dark comedy.

Portal built its puzzles around a portal-creating gun, praised for pairing cleverness with dark comedy.