BAFTA, the UK's independent arts charity that honors excellence in film, games, and television, has just announced the most influential video game of all time—and the result may come as a surprise.
BAFTA surveyed the British public, discovering that although titles such as GTA, Tetris, World of Warcraft, Minecraft, Doom, and Half-Life 2 made the list, the game with the highest number of votes was Shenmue.
The action-adventure game Shenmue launched in 1999 for the Dreamcast. It follows the journey of Ryo Hazuki, who seeks revenge for his father's murder—set in what BAFTA describes as "a detailed open world that authentically captures the spirit of 1980s Yokosuka."
Doom, the pioneering first-person shooter, came in second place, while Super Mario Bros. from 1985 took third.
Half-Life and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time completed the top five, respectively.
Notably absent from the list were popular titles such as Grand Theft Auto 5, Halo, and Fortnite.
"I am deeply honored and grateful that Shenmue has been chosen as the Most Influential Video Game of All Time," said Yu Suzuki, the creator of the Shenmue series.
"From the beginning, we aimed to explore how realistic a game could be, striving to deliver a world and narrative of unprecedented depth and detail. This recognition reaffirms that the ambition we embraced still inspires audiences today. It is the highest form of encouragement.
"Above all, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the fans worldwide who have continued to love and support Shenmue," Suzuki added. "Your passion and support have guided us throughout this journey. The story isn't over—there is more to come! Thank you very much!"
Here is the complete list of the top 21 most influential games of all time, as chosen by the public:
Shenmue (1999)Doom (1993)Super Mario Bros. (1985)Half-Life (1998)The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)Minecraft (2011)Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (2025)Super Mario 64 (1996)Half-Life 2 (2004)The Sims (2000)Tetris (1984)Tomb Raider (1996)Pong (1972)Metal Gear Solid (1998)World of Warcraft (2004)Baldur's Gate 3 (2023)Final Fantasy VII (1997)Dark Souls (2011)Grand Theft Auto 3 (2001)Skyrim (2011)Grand Theft Auto (1997)
The 2025 BAFTA Game Awards are scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, Astro Bot, and Still Wakes the Deep lead the nominations, with 11, eight, and eight nominations each. Thank Goodness You're Here! also received seven nominations, Black Myth: Wukong six, and Helldivers 2 is nominated for five awards.
2024 BAFTA Game Awards winners included Baldur's Gate 3, which won five awards—including Best Game—while other winners were Alan Wake 2, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and Viewfinder.
