Top 10 Revolutionary Video Games
#10: “Wii Sports” (2006)
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Say what you want about motion controls, but theres’s no denying how much they’ve changed the industry. The launch title that was bundled with the Wii, this game introduced many players to the concept of 3D Motion controls that were so simple anyone could use them. While Eyetoy wasn’t really motion control, and there were other attempts in the past, but Nintendo was the first to not only have it working at home, but also be fun.
#9: “Adventure” (1979)
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In the early days of adventure games everything was presented to the player in the form of walls of text. But on the Atari 2600, developer Warren Robinett spent a full year putting together what is considered the first graphical action-adventure game, basic though they may be. The concept was simple: journey into the maze, find the chalice and return it to the castle, while being chased by the … duck-like-dragons. It also featured the first ever videogame Easter Egg, in the form of Warran’s name credited in the game.
#8: “Super Mario 64” (1996)
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The Mario name is responsible for countless innovations, from his Super Mario Bros side scrolling days, to his weaponized Kart Racing events. But Super Mario 64’s impact was such a monumental leap that’s concepts are still used in games today. A truly 3D environment to move around in, along with an almost flawless and adjustable camera system and analog 3D movements, it quickly became the benchmark for 3d plat forming.
#7: “Dune II” (1992)
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While its technically not the first Real Time Strategy game, with that honor belonging to the interesting yet buggy ZX Spectrum game Stonkers, Dune II though was the first to get the formula right. Westwood Studios combined a streamlined interface with resource gathering, tech trees and micromanaging armies that went on to inspire games like Blizzard’s Craft franchises, as well as their own Command and Conquer series.
#6: “Ultima Online” (1997)
Long before everyone was trying to get a slice of Blizzard’s MMO epic World of Warcraft, there existed an online text adventure genre known as the Multi-user Dungeon, or MUD for short. But the genre’s true evolution and mainstream recognition came with Origin System’s Ultima Onine. This, in turn, allowed for the MMORPG to take off with community events, and expansions, AND it’s still being supported today with a recent HD overhaul if you’re keen to check it out.
#5: “Body Harvest” (1998)
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One of the most common misconceptions about Video Game history is that DMA Design’s Grand Theft Auto III was the first ever fully 3D Open Sandbox game. However it was actually one of DMA’s earlier works in the form of this hidden gem on the N64 that takes that honor. We now know DMA Design as Rockstar North, and with the open world genre now being one of the most popular genre’s in the industry, Body Harvest’s often forgotten contribution deserves true recognition.
#4: “The Legend of Zelda” (1987)
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An important leap for the action adventure genre, as well as for console games in general, the Legend of Zelda brought forth the concept of a large open map, one that was so big it couldn’t be completed in a single sitting. So as a result it was the first console game ever to introduce the ability to save your game, perhaps one of the most important features in gaming today that we take for granted. Remember passwords? They sucked.
#3: “Wolfenstein 3D” (1992)
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Just like GTA 3 some people believe that Doom was the first FPS, but this game was also made by the same company id Software. Games in the 70’s like Spasim and Mazewar may have set the early foundations for the genre with basic geometric mazes, but Wolfenstein brought into play the concept of playing as a human with switchable real world weapons to refine the genre as we know it today. As a side effect, it was a pioneer in violence as well.
#2: “Pong” (1972)
Contrary to popular belief it’s not quite the first game ever, but it was among the first to be played at home. Inspired by the rather primitive Magnavox Odyssey, Pong revolutionized gaming by introducing the concept of competitive games in front of the TV, which in turn lead to the creation of the first generation of home consoles. Before we get to the top spot lets see what else changed the face of gaming.
#1: “Spacewar” (1962)
There may have been Buick sized computers playing Tic Tac Toe, and a basic Tennis game in the 1950’s. But the first original video game, not based off a pre-existing game of any sort came from MIT in 1962. The gameplay consists of 2 ships drifting in space firing at each other, while a star at the centre of the screen changed up the gameplay with its gravity affecting anything that came near it, which can also be toggled on and off. All of these features make it the most important video game ever by being perhaps the very first, which earns it the top spot here. We’ve only just touched the surface of videogame history, there’s hundreds of moregames spawn their own innovations. Let us know what games you wrote your school papers on, and for more interesting Top 10’s published everyday, be sure to subscribe to Watchmojo.com
