2025 Finalists2025 Finalists
Age of Empires
Created by Ensemble Studios, Age of Empires (1997) infused historical scenarios with turn-based and real-time strategy elements, allowing players to reimagine the rise of civilizations. The game, noted for its fluid and fast-paced […]
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Angry Birds
Launched by Rovio in 2009, Angry Birds became a breakout hit and introduced millions of people to mobile gaming. The conceptually simple game—hurling birds from a slingshot to knock over precariously balanced pigs—becomes […]
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Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is the fourth installment in Activision’s hugely popular Call of Duty franchise. Released in 2007, the game took the first-person shooter franchise from the World War II […]
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Defender
Released by Williams Electronics in 1981, Defender proved that players would embrace more complex and challenging games in the arcade. Defender married intense gameplay and a complicated control scheme into a horizontally scrolling […]
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Frogger
Originally developed by Konami and later licensed by Sega/Gremlin, Frogger jumped into the arcade in 1981. The simple but increasingly challenging gameplay—navigating frogs across a five-lane highway—provided widespread appeal to players of all […]
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Goldeneye 007
In 1997, Rare and Nintendo partnered to release GoldenEye 007 for the Nintendo 64 console, a first-person shooter based on author Ian Fleming’s iconic British superspy James Bond. Lauded for its in-depth story […]
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Golden Tee
Fore! Incredible Technologies’ golf game Golden Teehit the sweet spot with players after debuting in 1989. The game used a simple track ball controller to make golf shots and bring the “links” to […]
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Harvest Moon
Harvest Moon (1996) offered a peaceful farming experience during a time where combat and fast-paced action games dominated the industry. Its innovative blend of life simulation, community-building, and in-game time management established the […]
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Mattel Football
Released in 1977, Mattel Electronics Football was the first blockbuster handheld electronic game and introduced millions to portable gaming. Its popularity generated an entire segment of electronic toys and games and paved the […]
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NBA 2K
First released in 1999 by Sega, NBA 2K focused on realism and minute details, raising the bar for sports simulation games.With 1.6 million daily active users as of June 2018, a pioneering professional […]
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Quake
Id Software’s Quake shook up the gaming world when it debuted in 1996. The first-person shooter’s 3-D engine became the new standard for the industry, and its multiplayer mode helped to spawn the […]
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Tamagotchi
Launched in 1996, Tamagotchi bridged toys and video games. The handheld, electronic game created a digital pet for its owner to nurture and raise by the press of a button—allowing owners to provide […]
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