BAFTA Names 'Most Influential Video Game' - Surprising Choice Revealed

BAFTA, the UK's independent arts charity that celebrates excellence in film, games, and TV, has recently announced what it considers to be the most influential video game of all time. The announcement might surprise many, as the top spot went to Shenmue, an action-adventure game released in 1999 for the Dreamcast. According to BAFTA, Shenmue was chosen by the British public, outranking other notable titles such as GTA, Tetris, World of Warcraft, Minecraft, Doom, and Half-Life 2.

Shenmue follows protagonist Ryo Hazuki on his quest to avenge his father's murder. BAFTA praises the game for its detailed open-world setting, which vividly captures the essence of Yokosuka in the 1980s. The game's creator, Yu Suzuki, expressed his deep honor and gratitude for Shenmue being recognized as the Most Influential Video Game of All Time. Suzuki highlighted the game's pioneering ambition to push the boundaries of realism in video games, emphasizing the team's goal to create an unprecedented world and story in terms of scale and detail. He also thanked the fans worldwide for their continued support and passion, noting that the Shenmue story is far from over.

In the BAFTA poll, Doom, the pioneering first-person shooter released in 1993, secured the second position, while Super Mario Bros. from 1985 took third place. Half-Life and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, both released in 1998, completed the top five. Notably, games like Grand Theft Auto 5, Halo, and Fortnite did not make the list.

Here is the full list of the top 21 most influential games of all time, as voted by the public:

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)

Looking ahead, the 2025 BAFTA Game Awards are scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Leading the nominations are Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, Astro Bot, and Still Wakes the Deep with 11, eight, and eight nominations, respectively. Thank Goodness You're Here! has received seven nominations, Black Myth: Wukong six, and Helldivers 2 is up for five awards.

Reflecting on the previous year, the 2024 BAFTA Game Awards saw Baldur's Gate 3 taking home five wins, including the prestigious Best Game award. Other notable winners from 2024 included Alan Wake 2, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and Viewfinder.