World Video Game Hall of Fame

The World Video Game Hall of Fame is an international hall of fame for video games. The hall's administration is overseen by The Strong's International Center for the History of Electronic Games, and is located at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York, United States.[1][2] The museum began the International Center for the History of Electronic Games in 2009, announced the formation of the hall of fame in February 2015, and opened it on June 4, 2015.[3][4][5] It is located in a dedicated part of the "ESL Digital Worlds: High Score" exhibit at the National Museum of Play; prior to an expansion of the museum in 2023 it was located in the museum's "eGameRevolution" exhibit.[6][7][8] The Strong has also run the National Toy Hall of Fame since 2002.[9]

World Video Game Hall of Fame
FormationJune 4, 2015
PurposeTo highlight the video games that have made an impact on the world
Location
Parent organization
The Strong
Websitewww.museumofplay.org/exhibits/world-video-game-hall-of-fame/
Museum interior, with displays in a large space and World Video Game Hall of Fame on a hanging sign.
In June 2023, The Strong National Museum of Play debuted ESL Digital Worlds, a 24,000-square foot gallery that houses the World Video Game Hall of Fame.

Video games become eligible for the World Video Game Hall of Fame by meeting four criteria:[1]

  • Icon Status – is widely recognized and remembered
  • Longevity – is more than a passing fad and has enjoyed popularity over time
  • Geographical Reach – meets the above criteria across international boundaries
  • Influence – 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

Initial nominations are made each year by a staff committee at The Strong, which takes into account the four criteria, with influence considered the most important. Members of the public can submit games for consideration by the committee as well. The nominees are then voted on by a panel of around 30 "scholars and journalists from around the world", with each panel member ranking their top three choices. A public poll is also included, with the results counting as equivalent to a member of the panel. Afterwards, the staff committee reviews the votes and makes the final selection. While generally there is a clear difference in vote counts for the highest-scoring games, if there are multiple games with similar vote counts near the cutoff point, the committee decides by emphasizing a variety of game types or platforms in any given induction year. Video games that have not been inducted may be nominated in multiple years.[10] The set of final nominees is typically announced each year in March, and the inductees in May. In its first two years of operation, the hall named six inductees from fifteen finalists; since then, it has named four or five inductees each year from a set of twelve.

In the ten years that the hall of fame has been open, 45 games have been inducted out of 81 nominated. Many of those games have been nominated multiple times. In some cases, the hall may list the first game in a series of similar titles as a proxy for the entire series, such as with The Oregon Trail series or the FIFA International Soccer/FIFA series.[11][12] Nintendo has been the developer of the most games inducted with seven, out of a total of eleven nominations of eight games. Atari has had three games inducted out of six nominations of those three games, and Blizzard Entertainment, Capcom, and Maxis have had two games inducted. Seven other developers have had more than one game nominated. Minecraft has had the most nominations of any game at four and was then inducted, while FIFA International Soccer has had the most nominations without being inducted at three. The earliest game to be nominated is Spacewar! from 1962, while the latest is The Last of Us from 2013, both of which have been inducted.

Inductees and finalists

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Release years of inductees
1962Spacewar!
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971Computer Space
The Oregon Trail
1972Pong
1973
1974
1975
1976Colossal Cave Adventure
1977
1978Space Invaders
1979Asteroids
1980Pac-Man
1981Centipede
Ultima
Donkey Kong
1982Ms. Pac-Man
Microsoft Flight Simulator
1983
1984King's Quest
1985Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?
Super Mario Bros.
Tetris
1986The Legend of Zelda
1987
1988
1989SimCity
1990Microsoft Solitaire
John Madden Football
1991Street Fighter II
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sid Meier's Civilization
1992Super Mario Kart
Mortal Kombat
1993Myst
DOOM
1994
1995
1996Pokémon Red and Green
Resident Evil
Tomb Raider
Barbie Fashion Designer
1997Final Fantasy VII
1998The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
StarCraft
Dance Dance Revolution
1999
2000The Sims
2001Animal Crossing
Bejeweled
Grand Theft Auto III
Halo: Combat Evolved
2002
2003
2004World of Warcraft
2005
2006Wii Sports
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011Minecraft
2012
2013The Last of Us

  *   Inductees

  **   Inductees at a later date

Winners and nominees
Year Game Developer Year released Ref
2015 DOOM* id Software 1993 [13]
Pac-Man* Namco 1980 [13]
Pong* Atari 1972 [13]
Super Mario Bros.* Nintendo 1985 [13]
Tetris* Alexey Pajitnov 1985 [13]
World of Warcraft* Blizzard Entertainment 2004 [13]
Angry Birds Rovio Entertainment 2009 [14]
FIFA International Soccer EA Canada 1993 [14]
The Legend of Zelda** Nintendo 1986 [14]
Minecraft** Mojang Studios 2011 [14]
The Oregon Trail** Don Rawitsch, Bill Heinemann, and Paul Dillenberger 1971 [14]
Pokémon Red and Green** Game Freak 1996 [14]
The Sims** Maxis 2000 [14]
Sonic the Hedgehog** Sonic Team 1991 [14]
Space Invaders** Taito 1978 [14]
2016 Grand Theft Auto III* DMA Design 2001 [6]
The Legend of Zelda* Nintendo 1986 [6]
The Oregon Trail* Don Rawitsch, Bill Heinemann, and Paul Dillenberger 1971 [6]
The Sims* Maxis 2000 [6]
Sonic the Hedgehog* Sonic Team 1991 [6]
Space Invaders* Taito 1978 [6]
Elite David Braben, Ian Bell 1984 [15]
Final Fantasy Square 1987 [15]
John Madden Football** Park Place Productions 1990 [15]
Minecraft** Mojang Studios 2011 [15]
Nürburgring Reiner Foerst 1976 [15]
Pokémon Red and Green** Game Freak 1996 [15]
Sid Meier's Civilization** MicroProse 1991 [15]
Street Fighter II** Capcom 1991 [15]
Tomb Raider** Core Design 1996 [15]
2017 Donkey Kong* Nintendo 1981 [16]
Halo: Combat Evolved* Bungie 2001 [16]
Pokémon Red and Green* Game Freak 1996 [16]
Street Fighter II* Capcom 1991 [16]
Final Fantasy VII** Square 1997 [17]
Microsoft Solitaire** Wes Cherry (Microsoft) 1990 [17]
Mortal Kombat** Midway Games 1992 [17]
Myst** Cyan 1993 [17]
Portal Valve Corporation 2007 [17]
Resident Evil** Capcom 1996 [17]
Tomb Raider** Core Design 1996 [17]
Wii Sports** Nintendo 2006 [17]
2018 Final Fantasy VII* Square 1997 [18]
John Madden Football* Park Place Productions 1990 [18]
Spacewar!* Steve Russell and others 1962 [18]
Tomb Raider* Core Design 1996 [18]
Asteroids** Atari 1979 [19]
Call of Duty Infinity Ward 2003 [19]
Dance Dance Revolution** Konami 1998 [19]
Half-Life Valve Corporation 1998 [19]
King's Quest** Sierra On-Line 1984 [19]
Metroid Nintendo 1986 [19]
Minecraft** Mojang Studios 2011 [19]
Ms. Pac-Man** General Computer Corporation 1982 [19]
2019 Colossal Cave Adventure* William Crowther, Don Woods 1976 [20]
Microsoft Solitaire* Wes Cherry (Microsoft) 1990 [20]
Mortal Kombat* Midway Games 1992 [20]
Super Mario Kart* Nintendo 1992 [20]
Candy Crush Saga King 2012 [21]
Centipede** Atari 1981 [21]
Dance Dance Revolution** Konami 1998 [21]
Half-Life Valve Corporation 1998 [21]
Myst** Cyan 1993 [21]
NBA 2K Visual Concepts 1999 [21]
Sid Meier's Civilization** MicroProse 1991 [21]
Super Smash Bros. Melee HAL Laboratory 2001 [21]
2020 Bejeweled* PopCap Games 2001 [22]
Centipede* Atari 1981 [22]
King's Quest* Sierra On-Line 1984 [22]
Minecraft* Mojang Studios 2011 [22]
Frogger Konami 1981 [23]
GoldenEye 007 Rare 1997 [23]
Guitar Hero Harmonix 2005 [23]
NBA Jam Midway Games 1993 [23]
Nokia Snake Nokia 1997 [23]
Super Smash Bros. Melee HAL Laboratory 2001 [23]
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Naughty Dog 2009 [23]
Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?** Broderbund 1985 [23]
2021 Animal Crossing* Nintendo 2001 [24]
Microsoft Flight Simulator* Sublogic 1982 [24]
StarCraft* Blizzard Entertainment 1998 [24]
Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?* Broderbund 1985 [24]
Call of Duty Infinity Ward 2003 [25]
FarmVille Zynga 2009 [25]
FIFA International Soccer EA Canada 1993 [25]
Guitar Hero Harmonix 2005 [25]
Mattel Football Mattel 1977 [25]
Pole Position Namco 1982 [25]
Portal Valve Corporation 2007 [25]
Tron Bally Midway 1982 [25]
2022 Dance Dance Revolution* Konami 1998 [26]
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time* Nintendo 1998 [26]
Ms. Pac-Man* General Computer Corporation 1982 [26]
Sid Meier's Civilization* MicroProse 1991 [26]
Assassin's Creed Ubisoft Montreal 2007 [27]
Candy Crush Saga King 2012 [27]
Minesweeper Curt Johnson (Microsoft) 1990 [27]
NBA Jam Midway Games 1993 [27]
PaRappa the Rapper NanaOn-Sha 1996 [27]
Resident Evil** Capcom 1996 [27]
Rogue A.I. Design 1980 [27]
Words with Friends Zynga 2009 [27]
2023 Barbie Fashion Designer* Digital Domain 1996 [28]
Computer Space* Syzygy Engineering 1971 [28]
The Last of Us* Naughty Dog 2013 [28]
Wii Sports* Nintendo 2006 [28]
Age of Empires Ensemble Studios 1997 [29]
Angry Birds Rovio Entertainment 2009 [29]
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Infinity Ward 2007 [29]
FIFA International Soccer EA Canada 1993 [29]
GoldenEye 007 Rare 1997 [29]
NBA 2K Visual Concepts 1999 [29]
Quake id Software 1996 [29]
Wizardry Sir-Tech 1981 [29]
2024 Asteroids* Atari 1979 [30]
Myst* Cyan 1993 [30]
Resident Evil* Capcom 1996 [30]
SimCity* Maxis 1989 [30]
Ultima* Richard Garriott, Origin Systems 1981 [30]
Elite David Braben, Ian Bell 1984 [31]
Guitar Hero Harmonix 2005 [31]
Metroid Nintendo 1986 [31]
Neopets Adam Powell, Donna Powell 1999 [31]
Tokimeki Memorial Konami 1994 [31]
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater Neversoft 1999 [31]
You Don't Know Jack Jellyvision 1995 [31]

References

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  1. ^ a b Dyson, Jon-Paul C. (2021). Wolf, Mark J. P. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Video Games: The Culture, Technology, and Art of Gaming (2nd ed.). ABC-Clio. pp. 1150–1151. ISBN 978-1-4408-7020-0.
  2. ^ "International Center for the History of Electronic Games". The Strong National Museum of Play. The Strong. Archived from the original on June 4, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  3. ^ Dyson, Jon-Paul C.; Saucier, Jeremy K. (2018). "A Note from the World Video Game Hall of Fame". In The World Video Game Hall of Fame (ed.). A History of Video Games in 64 Objects. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-06-283870-4.
  4. ^ Kedmey, Dan (February 18, 2015). "This Museum Is Building a Video Game Hall of Fame". Time. Time USA. Archived from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
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  8. ^ "ESL Digital Worlds: High Score". The Strong National Museum of Play. The Strong. Archived from the original on July 3, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  9. ^ "National Toy Hall of Fame Fact Sheet". The Strong National Museum of Play. The Strong. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  10. ^ Dyson, Jon-Paul (May 5, 2022). "How Does a Game Get into the World Video Game Hall of Fame?". Global Toy News. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  11. ^ "The Oregon Trail". The Strong National Museum of Play. The Strong. Archived from the original on May 14, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
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  16. ^ a b c d Corrigan, Hope (May 5, 2017). "2017 World Video Game Hall of Fame Inductees Include Donkey Kong, Halo, Pokemon, Street Fighter". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h Grant, Christopher (May 4, 2017). "Here are the four 2017 World Video Game Hall of Fame inductees". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  18. ^ a b c d Khan, Imran (May 3, 2018). "Final Fantasy VII, Tomb Raider, And Others Inducted To World Video Game Hall Of Fame". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h McWhertor, Michael (March 27, 2018). "12 games are up for Hall of Fame status at The Strong National Museum of Play". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on April 15, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  20. ^ a b c d Takahashi, Dean (May 2, 2019). "World Video Game Hall of Fame inducts Super Mario Kart, Mortal Kombat, Solitaire, and Colossal Cave Adventure". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h "World Video Game Hall of Fame 2019 Finalists Announced". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. March 21, 2019. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  22. ^ a b c d McGlynn, Anthony (June 20, 2020). "Minecraft leads the World Video Game Hall of Fame 2020 inductees". PCGamesN. Network N. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
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  24. ^ a b c d Fahey, Mike (May 6, 2021). "These Are Your 2021 World Video Game Hall of Fame Inductees". Kotaku. G/O Media. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h Marshall, Cass (March 18, 2021). "These are the 2021 nominees for the World Video Game Hall of Fame". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on March 24, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
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  27. ^ a b c d e f g h Francis, Bryant (March 17, 2022). "PaRappa the Rapper, Ocarina of Time among 2022 World Video Game Hall of Fame nominees". Game Developer. Informa. Archived from the original on March 18, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  28. ^ a b c d McWhertor, Michael (May 4, 2023). "The Last of Us, Barbie Fashion Designer headline Video Game Hall of Fame 2023 class". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h Kaser, Rachel (March 15, 2023). "The Strong announces 2023 finalists for Video Game Hall of Fame". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
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  31. ^ a b c d e f g "From Asteroids to Guitar Hero, World Video Game Hall of Fame draws from 4 decades". Associated Press. March 14, 2024. Archived from the original on March 14, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
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