20 Video Games That Changed Gaming
Forever
http://www.gamebasin.com/news/20-video-games-that-changed-gaming-forever
As gamers continue to take their first steps into the exciting new worlds that the PS4, Wii U and
Xbox One are delivering, we’re still waiting on the first landmark title of this generation. The one
that takes the entire industry into an entirely new direction, changing the very way games are made
and played. Often, those are the games that lead the industry into a cultural design shift that affects
not only developers, but players. Sometimes it’s as simple as a feature being replicated or
enhanced in other games, maybe even a line of clones that try to cash in on its success, but more
often than not, it’s the start of a revolution that sees the industry take that momentum and turn it
into very real growth. It may not be the start of a new boom period, but it’s certainly something
that gamers always look forward to. In the past, there have been games that came out that acted
as the catalyst for something new: they may have been small ripples or huge shock waves, but
whatever the end result was, you could tell that the industry had just been altered in one way or
another. Here’s hoping that there’s a game in the works that will do the same thing and send the
industry into a new direction, as we’ll all be there to see it. To celebrate those game changers,
we’ve put together a list of the 20 games that changed gaming forever.
20. Minecraft

Notch’s extraordinary building blocks game where the only limit is your imagination changed
everything, beginning with the concept of open‐world exploration and building things. The users
of Minecraft are some of the most incredibly talented gamers, having built versions of famous pop
culture items within their world. You haven’t quite lived until you’ve seen someone build the
S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier in Minecraft. The “no rules, no limitations” concept began to lift off into
other games as soon as Minecraft hit it big, and it has inspired a slew of imitators. It brought back
that sense of playfulness, with just enough tiny hints of danger to keep you honest. Minecraft’s
free‐form, let’s just play a game mentality has changed the way developers look at games and how
to present them, where the player is in control.
19. Mortal Kombat
It’s
difficult to not call Mortal Kombat a rite of passage: it was a daring and vicious display of violence,
combined with all the trademarks of kung‐fu films. It had a deep love for its central bloodshed; an

unapologetic force of nature that spoke to the counter‐culture crowd of the early 1990′s. It might
be easier to list things that didn’t change with the release of Mortal Kombat, as the repercussions
it had on the industry are still being felt today. Parents were mortified by the horrific violence and
worse yet the arcade machine was available in the open to anyone with a quarter. The game was
stupendously violent, with the spurts of blood that came out after each hit being amplified by the
use of fatalities as brutal finishing moves: But perhaps Mortal Kombat’s biggest claim to fame is
that it was one of the sparks that lead to the formation of the ESRB, the Entertainment Software
Rating Board. It was among a sea of games during the 90′s, including Night Trap and Doom, that
were so controversial that the industry decided that it needed a system not unlike the MPAA for
film.
18. Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Although the Call Of Duty series seems to rub a lot of gamers the wrong way, there can be no doubt
that the series is one of the most commercially successful franchises of all time from humble
beginnings. In 2008, Infinity Ward took Call of Duty out of the WW2 trenches and into modern day
battlefields, which was both a haunting revelation and a huge key to success. Modern Warfare
began an FPS revolution,creating entirely new breeds of players, all of whom were connected into
a vast world of online competition. Granted, COD did not start the online multiplayer craze but the
context of these players was perhaps most interesting. There were players who had never even
played games before coming into Modern Warfare, people who may have purchased an XBox 360
or PlayStation 3 just to get into the fight. It moved systems and created new players, some of them
not even touching the single‐player campaign in favor of shooting up their buddies. The shift from
hardcore gamers only to mainstream, mass‐marketed appeal was enormous, creating a whole new
genre that still persists today.
17. Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong is an iconic experience, responsible for introducing the most well‐known character in
all of gaming; Mario. Though he was unnamed in Donkey Kong (which started off as a Popeye
game), the character who would go on to head a franchise responsible for moving over 400 million
units got his start here. Donkey Kong was largely responsible for creating the entire Mario universe
that was to come, as the future games in the franchise all link back to this one arcade cabinet.
Donkey Kong was also one of the forerunners to the platform genre, as its addicting run‐and‐jump
mechanics found their way into later titles, including Super Mario Bros. The entire platform genre
that dominated the 80′s and 90′s was a springboard off the ape’s back, launching an entire
community of gamers who live for the classic style of game play. Without Donkey Kong, it’s difficult
to imagine Mario being created, and even more terrifying to think about where the industry might
be today.
16. GoldenEye 007

As far as first‐person shooters go, GoldenEye for the Nintendo 64 is easily one of the best ever
made and a stunningly addictive game. Before GoldenEye, the concept of an FPS on a console was
an incredibly foreign thing, testing the logic that most gamers had about the genre being
impossible without a PC. It was a gentle nudge for the genre, which would eventually find even
greater success with Halo and Call of Duty. It was the start of a console shooter revolution, which
saw another innovation from Rare three years later in Perfect Dark. It also fostered a community
feeling, as its 4‐player split‐screen was the culprit that cost numerous gamers entire nights worth
of sleep. Its addictive “one more game” vibe took a stranglehold on gamers, beginning the first
baby steps into the larger world of online console gaming. The online shooter craze that is still
going strong today owes a lot to the success of GoldenEye, a game that is still a tremendous joy to
play.
15. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Commonly thrown onto the list of games that are considered the worst ever, E.T. was developed in
only five and a half weeks, and boy does it show. But it remains important, all the same. Though it
can’t be blamed entirely, E.T. was one of the many contributing factors that lead to the North
American video game crash of 1983. The saturation of the market was something that E.T. was at
fault for, as Atari manufactured way more cartridges than they could ever sell. The 2‐3 million
unsold cartridges became the subject of an urban legend regarding a landfill, which was eventually
unearthed earlier this year. E.T. was partly responsible for what many believed was the early grave
of the industry in North America, as Japan quickly took the lead and became even more successful
than ever before. The failure of the game didn’t outright stop the production of terrible licensed
games, but it did begin a calculated movement in later years to not repeat the same mistakes.
14. World Of Warcraft

It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the massive success of World Of Warcraft remains amazing.
WoW’s extensive online presence has been felt ever since it released in 2004, as nearly every
MMORPG since then has attempted to cash in on the craze. It has spawned just as many imitators
as any other successful franchise, leading to gamers all over the world voicing their preference
proudly. It even inspired an entire episode of South Park, known as “Make Love, Not Warcraft”,
which was one of the highest‐rated episodes of all time. WoW had gone mainstream. WoW
brought in old‐school veterans of the genre who were itching to explore the vast wilderness ahead
of them, along with a whole new community of players that were unfamiliar with it. This mass
appeal changed nearly everything about how developers go about bringing in new customers, as
it seemed like a high probability of roping in new players if the game struck the right chord. Though
it isn’t as untouchable as it once was in terms of subscriber base, it’s still one of the most incredible
success stories in the entire industry.
13. BioShock

BioShock was a fresh and innovative take on the first‐person‐shooter genre, combining a gripping
narrative with some unique game play elements. This was bolstered by the moral choices
presented through the game, as you were forced to decide between harvesting the Little Sisters or
rescuing them. The genre of the FPS had been getting stale before BioShock came around, having
been flooded with WW2‐themed shooters and space marines trying to defend the galaxy, but
BioShock was an introduction to the world of shooters that we didn’t even know existed, placing
the player into a dark, twisted narrative that had a world that felt frighteningly real. The art‐deco,
Ayn Rand‐inspired world created by Ken Levine was so very real, despite the fantastic things going
on right in front of you. BioShock’s use of strong, focused narrative inspired so many games that
came later. The organic flow of the story and how its characters were effortlessly weaved into the
story was nothing short of brilliant, due in large part to Levine’s excellent writing. BioShock also
began a new trend of gritty, contemporary thrillers that did a lot more than ask the player to
participate in a shooting gallery. Its largely cerebral story, filled with plot twists and shocking
revelations, has been an obvious influence on the games that followed it even to this day.
12. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

As the fourth game in Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls series Oblivion had a lot to live up to, as it looked to
capture the mainstream audience that the series hadn’t quite enjoyed yet. Though gamers
perpetually argue over which Elder Scrolls game is superior, it’s difficult not to recognize Oblivion
as the one that changed everything. Morrowind had released four years earlier, becoming one of
the most critically‐acclaimed games of all time, but it hadn’t quite catapulted the series into the
spotlight it would eventually have. Oblivion changed a lot of Morrowind’s systems, allowing for a
much more direct line of player control. It was a sensation, selling over 4 million units, instantly
making the series a household name, and changed the way both gamers and developers look at
open‐world adventure games, where the expansive landscape was traversed by gamers of all types.
So many games have borrowed distinct elements from Oblivion, and it fundamentally altered the
direction of open‐world games forever.
11. Final Fantasy VII

Widely claimed, though often disputed, to be the greatest Final Fantasy game of all time, FF7 sits
as a mighty king among the franchise, speaking to an entire generation during its release in 1997,
a group of gamers who may have been unfamiliar with the J‐RPG. Before FF7, all the Final Fantasy
games had been on Nintendo consoles, using 2D sprite animations. For the longest time, Final
Fantasy was a Nintendo franchise, through and through. But the release of FF7 on the PlayStation
was a calculated move, as it was easily the most incredible coup that Sony could have acquired for
their console. The PSX library at that time was rather thin on great games, save for titles such as
Resident Evil, Crash Bandicoot and Tomb Raider, so FF7 was a hell of a start to the Sony revolution.
FF7 made the series a household name, becoming one of the most successful games of the decade.
It has a global sales record of over 9 million units, and is often remarked for being the game that
moved more PlayStation consoles than any other. FF7 changed the tide of the console wars,
allowing Sony to become the dominant force in the industry that it is today and paving the way for
modern plays like the PlayStation. The game is also one of the most constantly referenced and
alluded to entries in the entire franchise history, seeing the multiple releases of “Compilation of
Final Fantasy VII” that began in 2004.
10. The Last Of Us
Though it’s the most recent game on the list, The Last of Us is very clearly changing the landscape
of gaming right before our eyes. It’s the beginning of a seemingly industry‐wide shift into games
that contain exceptionally well‐written characters and stories, where the situations are presented
with incredible artistry. The Last Of Us is surely only the first in a long line of games that will focus
on realistic, believable characters in stunning worlds. This doesn’t necessarily mean that every
game will put you into the shoes of a post‐apocalyptic survivor, just that they’ll be more defined
because of it. It’s not to say that story lines in video games were bad before The Last Of Us, but
you’re certainly starting to see a dramatic change in how games are presented because of the
success of the game. While a few games may have been in development before The Last Of Us
came out, the unparalleled fan furor over it has almost justified developers in their desire to make
artistic expressions, not just games. It’s changed the way we as players look at the story and

characters in a game world for the better, while giving developers the go‐ahead to give us more.
9. Metal Gear Solid
The PlayStation had been taking off thanks to games like Final Fantasy VII and Resident Evil, but
Metal Gear Solid is easily the crown jewel of the PSX library. Its gripping story, remarkable voice
cast and sharp writing, equipped with an inspiring anti‐nuke message, was all a lovely supporting
cast to the excellent game play. The concept of stealth in video games wasn’t entirely new, as it
had been marvelously done in games like Castle Wolfenstein and even Kojima’s original Metal Gear
games on the MSX‐2. Indeed, the late 90′s saw a surge of new stealth properties, including Thief:
The Dark Project and Tenchu, but there was no challenger that could touch Metal Gear Solid. It’s
simple, yet effective use of stealth was groundbreaking. The player was given just enough
information to survive, yet it was never bad design if you were caught, as that was all on your skills.
Kojima’s love of film was very clear in the game, as it felt like you were in control of a huge summer
blockbuster. The intricate plot and huge set pieces were a big part of what made the game so
appealing, a concrete indicator of what games were going to be. Metal Gear Solid made it possible
for games like Uncharted and Max Payne to exist, as the third‐person action genre was truly defined
with the first 3D adventure of Snake. It was the first step in showing that games and film were not
so unlike, providing us with the continuing onslaught of epic cinematic experiences.
8. The Sims

By nature, humans are voyeuristic people who enjoy watching other people, perhaps more than
themselves. Human beings are very interesting creatures, often driven by their own complex set
of goals and aspirations, which is where The Sims thrives. You are the master and
commander, and the little game inhabitants are all at your mercy, and you have control over the
little people in your world, which speaks to a very primal part of the human brain. The Sims
changed expectations for games, where there was no way to “win”: it was just you, your Sims and
the amount of time you had to spend with them. It created an entirely new breed of players, all of
them fascinated by the life of their little Sim. Other games had blurred the line between simulation
and game in the past, but The Sims was a whole different animal. There was real devotion, real
feelings that players had for their avatars, as they often felt like an extension of yourself. You could
get married, build an amazing bachelor pad or just live a quiet, secluded life without any hassles.
7. Resident Evil

Although the Resident Evil series was very clearly inspired by the likes of Alone In The Dark and
Sweet Home, it wasn’t until the release of the first entry in the franchise in 1996 that horror in
gaming became legitimate. Capcom trapped you inside a creepy mansion, filled to the brim with
zombies and limited ammunition, creating fear that gamers had never felt before. Though later
games like Metal Gear Solid were able to show that the PlayStation was a contender, Resident Evil
was the first game that showed us the implications of what the machine could do. Resident Evil
began a very noticeable trend in games after its 96 release; survival horror started dominating the
industry. Though Sweet Home is often thought of as the first true survival horror game, Resident
Evil brought it into the mainstream and made it marketable. Sweet Home was a relatively unknown
game at the time, but was a favorite of Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami, who originally conceived
it as a remake of the 1989 game. In the years following the release of the game, more games
branding the survival horror sticker started to scare players. Silent Hill, Parasite Eve, Dino Crisis, all
of them borrowed heavily from the 96 original, starting a golden age of survival horror. The late
90′s was a playground of terror, as the genre exploded thanks to Resident Evil. Though the series
has been criticized for its reliance on modern day, wall‐to‐wall action, the original game stands tall
as having made a tremendous impact on the industry.
6. Doom
Everybody has probably played Doom at least once in their life, even if they haven’t completed it.
You were thrown into your own personal hell, complete with a horde of hungry monsters and a
few BFG’s for good measure. The unrelenting, savage pace at which the game is presented will bite
at your very soul, as it is always looking to throw a horrific monster your way. Its constant sense of
motion, satisfying game play and unrivalled fear make it one of the greatest games of all time.
Developed by Id Software, Doom was such a cultural and technological revolution, as it shattered
all the per‐conceived notions of games that we ever had, or ever will have. It created an entire sub‐genre
of games known as Doom Clones, all of which were doing their best to capitalize on the
enormous success of the game. A few did happen to succeed, including Quake, yet Doom remains
at the top as the grandaddy of them all. It was also one of the games that began the mainstream

press’ love affair with video game violence, and how best to blame it on the software. The
controversy extended to the community, as well, with the release of tasteless mods that sparked
outrage. The video game violence issue started with Doom, including claims that the Columbine
high school shooters were inspired by the images they saw in the game. It’s a silly thing, but Doom
sparked a ton of mainstream media coverage that still continues to this day.
5. Halo: Combat Evolved
It’s impossible to imagine the gaming world without Halo, as it’s become one of the most successful
and beloved franchises in history, having sold over 50 million units. When the original Halo came
out in 2001 for the XBox, it was only four years removed from GoldenEye, the game that had
revolutionized console first‐person‐shooters on the Nintendo 64. It speaks to the remarkable effort
by Bungie that they could improve on what Rare did in such a short span of time, crafting a game
that sparked Microsoft’s first outing into the home console game. If it weren’t for the success of
Halo, it’s difficult to imagine where the XBox might be these days. While Doom had its “Doom
Clones”, Halo had what gamers affectionately refer to as “Halo Killers”, which would borrow so
many of the numerous things that make the game as great as it is. As the shooter continued to
evolve past Halo, elements pioneered by Halo became commonplace in the industry today.
Recharging shields, multiplayer and Master Chief replicas were all the norm after Halo. It’s true
what they say; often imitated, never duplicated.
4. Super Mario 64

After Mario’s auspicious debut in Donkey Kong as Jump Man, he eventually became the mascot
that all of gaming needed. Super Mario Bros. sold the Nintendo Entertainment System over here
in North America, making Mario a superstar. He went on to star in three incredible NES games, a
Super Nintendo masterpiece and finally, in Super Mario 64 for the Nintendo 64. It was a marvelous
combination of game play, music, classic Mario goodness and that elegant Shigeru Miyamoto touch,
creating one of the greatest games of all time. Super Mario 64 was much more than a simple video
game, anticipated by millions upon millions; rather, it was the beginning of an entirely new genre
known as the 3D platformer. Though it wasn’t technically the “first” 3D platformer, it was the game
that started the gaming world’s love affair with the genre. Super Mario 64 took the plumber out of
his 2D confinements, a place where gamers had known him for years, and put him into a beautiful
3D world that was yours to explore. It has influenced an entire generation of developers who grew
up playing the game, who are now making games of their own. Nearly every developer known to
man has at one point implicated Super Mario 64 as a reason for them wanting to develop games,
citing the incredible revolution that it started for not just platformers, but all of gaming.
3. Grand Theft Auto III

Set among the subversive, crime‐ridden streets of Liberty City, Grand Theft Auto III put you into
the role of a silent thug that used the city as his own playground of violence. It was a huge open‐world
experience, where the player was left to their own devices, free to cause as much mayhem
and disaster as they desired. It had a central storyline, but that was only the beginning when players
began to discover its treasure trove of secrets and hidden missions. Though GTA had been around
since the release of the first game in 1997, it had never quite been the mainstream monster hit
that it would become thanks to this particular game. Much like Super Mario 64 before it, GTA III
took a game that had traditionally been in one perspective and turned that on its head. The top‐down
perspective was replaced with a gigantic 3D world which was yours to explore, and started
the open‐world revolution that was about to descend on gaming. Before GTA III, open‐world games
were hit or miss, with a few rare exceptions that made the genre worth checking out. Ironically,
one of the best pre‐GTA III 3D open world titles was Body Harvest, developed by Rockstar North,
known as DMA Design at the time. But where Body Harvest may have been the opening act, GTA
III was the main event. It spawned an endless line of imitators, all of them trying to capture their
own glory. GTA III also made the anti‐hero popular again, as the hero from GTA III was a rather dark
character, something games have been employing a lot of lately.
2. Half-Life

Half‐Life is truly one of the most iconic games ever made: its chilling atmosphere, polished game
play and gripping narrative have allowed it to remain on numerous lists counting down the greatest
games ever made. It was a breath of fresh air, and a shot in the arm to an industry that desperately
needed one. The game begins in such an unassuming manner, on an average day at work, where
the player feels an interesting sense of comfort. For the first time, a game didn’t drop you right into
the middle of a full‐scale World War II battle or some huge space battle. It was just another day,
like any other, or so you thought. This sense of organic storytelling, as well as the fact that Half‐Life
never leaves Gordon’s perspective, created a very intimate connection with the character from the
start. There had never been a game like Half‐Life before, which meant that the years to come would
see more games like it. The unnerving horror that it created has inspired so many games to come,
all of them borrowing the concepts that Half‐Life invented. Gordon Freeman was an everyman, a
normal guy who was pulled into something far bigger than himself, which was also a huge influence
on game heroes later on. The industry owes a great debt to Half‐Life, as many landmark franchises
may not have existed without that first resonance cascade.
1. The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time

The Legend of Zelda is one of the most popular and beloved franchises in the history of gaming, so
to call Ocarina of Time a masterpiece would be an understatement. It was a refined, perfectly
executed force of story, gameplay and design, which all worked together in brilliantly precise
harmony. It’s often cited as the best Zelda title ever, along with the greatest game of all time, and
with all that it has going for it, it’s difficult to argue. Before Ocarina of Time, third‐person action‐adventure
titles were not quite the polished genre they would become in later years. Ocarina of
Time formed the basis of an ongoing revolution in 3D adventure games, influenced by OOT’s clever
use of items, huge world to explore and the sense of pure adventure. Games that have come out
since Ocarina of Time owe it a lot, as the concepts that are so commonplace today began in Ocarina
of Time. It is one of the most influential games of all time, as its oodles of side‐quests, mini‐games
and epic main quest are all part of the single greatest experience Nintendo has ever produced. The
3D adventure game may not have been technically born with Ocarina of Time, but there can be no
doubt that it perfected it, crafting the game that changed the industry more than any other.
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