ROCHESTER, New York—Which video games will make it into the World Video Game Hall of Fame this May? Will Angry Birds fly past the competition? Can Frogger navigate its way to glory? Can League of Legends prevail in its fight? Will Dragon Quest claim the crown?
The Strong’s World Video Game Hall of Fame in Rochester, New York, today announced the 12 finalists for induction: Angry Birds, Dragon Quest, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, FIFA International Soccer, Frogger, Galaga, League of Legends, Mega Man, PaRappa the Rapper, RuneScape, Silent Hill, and Tokimeki Memorial.
“This year’s finalists span decades and platforms, from arcade classics of the 1970s to PC icons of the 1990s to one of the most popular mobile games of all time from the 2000s,” says Jon-Paul C. Dyson, PhD, director of The Strong’s International Center for the History of Electronic Games. “Some first-time finalists include the horror classic Silent Hill, the platform icon Mega Man, and the ever-popular, multiplayer League of Legends.”
The World Video Game Hall of Fame received thousands of nominations for consideration for the 2026 class. Fans may vote for their favorite finalists from March 5 to March 13 as part of a “Player’s Choice” ballot at worldvideogamehalloffame.org. The three games that receive the most public votes will form one ballot and will join the other ballots submitted by members of the International Selection Advisory Committee, which is made up of journalists and scholars from around the world who are familiar with the history of video games and their role in society. (The public, collectively, will have the weight of one judge.) This year, attendees at the Game Developers Conference will also have the opportunity to vote, with their collective choices forming one ballot. The final inductees will be announced in an onsite ceremony in the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s new home—part of the ESL Digital Worlds exhibits at The Strong—on Thursday, May 7, at 10:30 a.m.
The World Video Game Hall of Fame recognizes electronic games that meet the following criteria: icon-status, the game is widely recognized and remembered; longevity, the game is more than a passing fad and has enjoyed popularity over time; geographical reach, the game meets the above criteria across international boundaries; and influence, the game has exerted significant influence on the design and development of other games, on other forms of entertainment, or on popular culture and society in general.
Anyone can nominate a game to the World Video Game Hall of Fame and view past inductees at worldvideogamehallofame.org.
About the World Video Game Hall of Fame
Established in 2015, the World Video Game Hall of Fame at The Strong recognizes individual electronic games of all types—arcade, console, computer, handheld, and mobile—that have enjoyed popularity over a sustained period and have exerted influence on the video game industry or on popular culture and society in general.
About The Strong
The Strong National Museum of Play is a highly interactive, collections-based museum devoted to the history and exploration of play. It is one of the largest history museums in the United States and one of the leading museums serving families. The Strong houses the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of historical materials related to play generally and video games in particular and is home to the International Center for the History of Electronic Games, the National Toy Hall of Fame, the World Video Game Hall of Fame, the Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play, the National Archives of Game Show History, the Woodbury School, and the American Journal of Play.
