The Strong National Museum of Play just announced four new additions to the World Video Game Hall of Fame. I can confirm that Williams Electronics’ Defender, Rare’s GoldenEye 007, id Software’s Quake, and Bandai’s Tamagotchi have earned their places among gaming’s most influential titles.
These four games rose above eight other nominees including Age of Empires, Angry Birds, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Frogger, Golden Tee, Harvest Moon, Mattel Football, and NBA 2K.
Why These Games Made History
Each of these games made a big difference in gaming, shaping how people play and how the industry has grown over time. The Strong judges evaluated them based on icon status, longevity, geographical reach, and influence. Notably, Quake becomes the second id Software creation in the Hall of Fame, following Doom’s 2015 induction.
Jeremy Saucier from the museum highlighted how Defender created a true divide between casual and dedicated players, challenging players to master complex gameplay mechanics when many thought gamers would reject such difficulty.
GoldenEye 007 earned recognition as the definitive first-person shooter success on consoles, with Andrew Borman noting it remains one of Nintendo’s greatest multiplayer experiences ever.
Quake received praise for revolutionizing online gaming, fostering a vibrant modding community, and establishing esports foundations. Collections curator Lindsey Kurano mentioned that elements of Quake’s code continue to exist in today’s games.
The Tamagotchi phenomenon introduced countless players to digital pet care, offering a gaming experience focused on connection and nurturing rather than competition, according to Kristy Hisert. This innovative approach influenced numerous pet simulation games across multiple platforms.
The museum has inducted 49 games since launching the Hall of Fame in 2015. Last year’s honorees included Asteroids, Myst, Resident Evil, Ultima, and SimCity.
Read this also: Microsoft & Asus Xbox Handheld Revealed in FCC Leak
Read this also: Why Backbone Pro Is the Gamepad Every Mobile Gamer Has Been Waiting For
