'Shenmue' Somehow Named Most Influential Game Ever In BAFTA Poll

This year's BAFTA poll, based on over 2,800 free-text responses, revealed a surprising list of the most influential video games. The results, seemingly influenced by both genuine appreciation and perhaps some enthusiastic campaigning, saw Shenmue claim the top spot, beating out gaming giants like Doom, Super Mario Bros., Half-Life, and Ocarina of Time. Even the best-selling game of all time, Minecraft, missed the top five.

While Shenmue's impact on open-world gaming and its pioneering of quick-time events are undeniable, its number one ranking is arguably less surprising than the overall list's eccentricities. The selection seems to suffer from a collective case of gaming amnesia, overlooking significant genres and titles.

BAFTA's Top 21 Most Influential Video Games (Public Vote)

1. Shenmue (1999)
2. Doom (1993)
3. Super Mario Bros. (1985)
4. Half-Life (1998)
5. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
6. Minecraft (2011)
7. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (2025)
8. Super Mario 64 (1996)
9. Half-Life 2 (2004)
10. The Sims (2000)
11. Tetris (1984)
12. Tomb Raider (1996)
13. Pong (1972)
14. Metal Gear Solid (1998)
15. World of Warcraft (2004)
16. Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023)
17. FINAL FANTASY VII (1997)
18. Dark Souls (2011)
19. Grand Theft Auto 3 (2001)
20. Skyrim (2011)
21. Grand Theft Auto (1997)

The list's notable absences are striking. Fighting games, the horror genre (even Resident Evil 4 is missing), and top-down strategy games are all underrepresented. The inclusion of racing and sports games is also lacking. Perhaps most baffling is the seventh-place ranking of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, released only a few months prior, suggesting a conflation of "influential" with "current favorite." Similarly, the inclusion of Baldur's Gate 3, while a phenomenal game, raises questions about its lasting influence compared to other gaming milestones.

While some debate over the specific order is inevitable—the presence of two Half-Life and Grand Theft Auto entries, for instance—the overall list highlights the subjective nature of "influence" in gaming. The rapid evolution of gaming technology and creative approaches ensures that influential titles consistently give rise to new waves of innovation.

This year's BAFTA results follow last year's equally surprising choice of Lara Croft as the most iconic game character, a selection possibly influenced by the recent Tomb Raider 1-3 remaster. The British focus of BAFTA might also play a role in shaping these outcomes.

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