2024 Finalists
Asteroids
Released in 1979, Atari’s Asteroids offered players challenging gameplay, glowing graphics, and intense sound effects in an action-packed space setting. The game quickly supplanted the popular Space Invaders in many arcades and sold […]
View DetailsElite
Developed in Great Britain and released in 1984, Elite pioneered innovative 3-D graphics and the idea of open-world games by allowing players to control ships that roamed the galaxy. The expansive universe and […]
View DetailsGuitar Hero
Launched in 2005, Harmonix’s Guitar Hero challenged players to unleash their inner rock star by following on-screen notes and strumming to the beat of popular music on a plastic guitar. Its wide appeal, […]
View DetailsMetroid
Nintendo’s Metroid launched in 1986 and inserted players into a futuristic world brimming with innovative adventure and evocative music. The game combined the platforming of Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. and non-linear story elements […]
View DetailsMyst
Released by Broderbund in 1993,Myst welcomed players to a mesmerizing world of mysterious puzzles and haunting vistas. The gameharnessed early CD-ROM technology—which offered high storage capacity but slow loading times. The discs paired […]
View DetailsNeopets
When Neopets debuted in 1999, it quickly became a staple of browser-based, free-to-play games. The online world of Neopia allows its players to explore various lands, care for pets, and engage in a […]
View DetailsResident Evil
Although it wasn’t the first horror video game, Resident Evil (or Biohazard as it was known in Japan)was the first game to popularize the “survival horror” genre. Created by game director Shinji Mikami […]
View DetailsSimCity
Released by Maxis in 1989, SimCity helped expand the audience for video games by offering a city building simulator that appealed to adults as much as children. Drawing from real-life principles of urban […]
View DetailsTokimeki Memorial
Konami’s Tokimeki Memorial brought a cohesive narrative, colorful graphics, unparalleled depth of choices, and engaging gameplay to the dating simulator genre after its launch in 1994. While it was never localized outside Japan, […]
View DetailsTony Hawk’s Pro Skater
Launched by Neversoft/Activision in 1999, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater brought the sport and culture of skateboarding into millions of households. Players flew from ramps and jumps, using the environment as a playground to […]
View DetailsUltima
Ultima: The First Age of Darkness helped define the computer role-playing genre. Designed by Richard Garriott and released in 1981, Ultima combined role-playing mechanics, a massive fictional world, and fantasy and science fiction […]
View DetailsYou Don’t Know Jack
The developers of You Don’t Know Jack reimagined the television game show format for home video game markets. Debuting in 1995, You Don’t Know Jack combined witty questions with humor in a multi-player […]
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