Games often aim to entertain, offering escapism, mental stimulation, or commentary. However, some titles transcend their initial goals, fundamentally altering the video game medium. Polygon has compiled a list of 13 games that have demonstrably shifted the industry's trajectory.
Pac-Man (1980)
Namco's 1980 arcade game, Pac-Man, achieved such widespread popularity that it inspired a hit song, "Pac-Man Fever," in 1981. This early success demonstrated the power of a strong character mascot to draw players into the medium. Beyond its cultural impact, Pac-Man's engaging maze-chasing gameplay proved to be a joy to play, spawning numerous imitators and cementing Pac-Man as a lasting pop-culture icon still appearing in games today.
Rogue (1980)
While many games incorporate the concept of "lives" for additional attempts, Rogue built its entire experience around a single, permadeath run through a procedurally generated world. This design shifted the player's objective from speed to strategic resource management and careful decision-making, laying the groundwork for the rogue-like and rogue-lite genres. Despite its rudimentary graphics, Rogue's core mechanics remain compelling.
Zork (1980)
Zork stands as a seminal text adventure game that significantly influenced the genre. It offered players greater freedom to explore its environments compared to other text-based titles of its era, which often relied on limited two-word commands. Zork distinguished itself with a more extensive vocabulary, a rich sense of humor, and memorable elements like the infamous "grue." Its design principles paved the way for later adventure games that would integrate visual interfaces.
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (1981)
Wizardry is recognized as a foundational title for the Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) genre, predating and influencing the likes of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. It introduced core JRPG mechanics such as first-person combat with adventuring parties, distinct character classes, and exploration of extensive dungeons. These elements, first explored in Wizardry, became staples of the genre and are still present in a remastered version of the game.
Tetris (1984)
Tetris demonstrated that a deceptively simple concept could create an enduring legacy and appeal to a broad audience, including those not typically interested in video games. Its inclusion as a pack-in title with the Game Boy in North America and Europe was instrumental in the handheld's success, making the game ubiquitous. Tetris's accessible mechanics provided immediate satisfaction in short play sessions, influencing countless puzzle games that followed.
Super Mario Bros. (1985)
Super Mario Bros. redefined the platformer genre by moving beyond single-screen challenges to offer a sprawling adventure. Its levels introduced diverse environments, from underground caverns to cloud-filled wonderlands, and players controlled Mario and Luigi in a quest that transcended simple score-chasing. This expansive design became a blueprint for the platformer genre that continues to thrive today.
The Legend of Zelda (1986)
Developed concurrently with Super Mario Bros. but with different aims, The Legend of Zelda offered players a vast world to explore at their own pace. The game emphasized puzzle-solving and item collection to aid exploration, establishing a formula that drew inspiration from titles like Hydlide but ultimately forged its own path. This template, also reflected in Metroid, has been adapted and borrowed by numerous games throughout the years.
SimCity (1989)
In contrast to games with fixed narratives, SimCity presented players with open-ended environments that they shaped by building and managing cities. The game introduced complex systems involving zoning, infrastructure, pollution, and disaster management. This focus on player-driven creation and management, rather than linear objectives, proved immensely popular and influenced later simulation titles like The Sims.
Street Fighter 2 (1991)
Street Fighter 2 revitalized the fighting game genre with its roster of distinctive characters, each possessing unique special moves. The game's intricate combat system, which included advanced techniques like unblockable combos mastered by skilled players, fostered a competitive arcade scene. Its enduring popularity has led to numerous sequels, spin-offs, and even a new film adaptation, solidifying its place as a fighting game icon.
Doom (1993)
Doom revolutionized the first-person shooter genre with its groundbreaking graphics and gameplay. The term "deathmatch," which it popularized, became a standard in the genre. The game's enduring impact is evident in the countless efforts to port it to various hardware and its continued relevance in modding communities, as well as the ongoing evolution of the Doom series, with ambitious expansions like Doom: The Dark Ages releasing recently.