Year | Game | Genre | Publisher | Original platform(s)[a] | Ref(s) | 1971 | The Oregon Trail | Strategy | MECC | HP 2100 | [A] |
1972 | Pong | Sports | Atari | Arcade | [B] |
1977 | Zork | Adventure | Infocom | PDP-10 | [C] |
1978 | Space Invaders | Shoot 'em up | Taito | Arcade | [D] |
1979 | Asteroids | Shoot 'em up | Atari | Arcade | [E] |
1980 | Adventure | Action-adventure | Atari | Atari 2600 | [F] |
Missile Command | Shoot 'em up | Atari | Arcade | [G] |
Pac-Man | Maze | Namco | Arcade | [H] |
1981 | Centipede | Shoot 'em up | Atari | Arcade | [I] |
Defender | Shoot 'em up | Williams Entertainment | Arcade | [J] |
Donkey Kong | Platform | Nintendo | Arcade | [K] |
Frogger | Action | Konami/Sega | Arcade | [L] |
Galaga | Shoot 'em up | Namco | Arcade | [M] |
Tempest | Shoot 'em up | Atari | Arcade | [N] |
1982 | Joust | Action | Williams Entertainment | Arcade | [O] |
Ms. Pac-Man | Maze | Midway | Arcade | [P] |
Pitfall! | Platform | Activision | Atari 2600 | [Q] |
Robotron: 2084 | Top-down shooter | Williams Entertainment | Arcade | [R] |
1983 | Lode Runner | Platform | Broderbund | Apple II | [S] |
Star Wars | Shoot 'em up | Atari | Arcade | [T] |
1984 | Elite | Space flight simulator | Acornsoft | BBC Micro | [U] |
Marble Madness | Action | Atari Games | Arcade | [V] |
Tetris | Puzzle | Elorg | Electronika 60 | [W] |
1985 | Gauntlet | Action role-playing | Atari Games | Arcade | [X] |
Ghosts 'n Goblins | Platform | Capcom | Arcade | [Y] |
Super Mario Bros. | Platform | Nintendo | NES | [Z] |
1986 | Bubble Bobble | Platform | Taito | Arcade | [AA] |
The Legend of Zelda | Action-adventure | Nintendo | NES | [AB] |
Out Run | Racing | Sega | Arcade | [AC] |
1987 | Contra | Run and gun | Konami | Arcade | [AD] |
Double Dragon | Beat 'em up | Technos Japan | Arcade | [AE] |
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! | Sports | Nintendo | NES | [AF] |
R-Type | Shoot 'em up | Irem | Arcade | [AG] |
1988 | Mega Man 2 | Platform | Capcom | NES | [AH] |
Ninja Gaiden | Platform | Tecmo | NES | [AI] |
Super Mario Bros. 3 | Platform | Nintendo | NES | [AJ] |
1989 | Prince of Persia | Platform | Broderbund | Apple II | [AK] |
SimCity | City-building | Maxis | Amiga, Macintosh | [AL] |
1990 | The Secret of Monkey Island | Adventure | LucasArts | PC | [AM] |
Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe | Sports | Image Works | Atari ST | [AN] |
Super Mario World | Platform | Nintendo | Super NES | [AO] |
1991 | Another World | Platform | Delphine Software | Amiga, Atari ST | [AP] |
Civilization | Turn-based strategy | MicroProse | PC | [AQ] |
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | Action-adventure | Nintendo | Super NES | [AR] |
Lemmings | Puzzle | Psygnosis | Amiga | [AS] |
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge | Adventure | LucasArts | PC | [AT] |
Sonic the Hedgehog | Platform | Sega | Sega Genesis | [AU] |
Street Fighter II | Fighting | Capcom | Arcade | [AV] |
1992 | Dune II | Real-time strategy | Virgin Games | PC | [AW] |
Flashback | Platform | Delphine Software | Amiga | [AX] |
Mortal Kombat | Fighting | Midway | Arcade | [AY] |
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Platform | Sega | Sega Genesis | [AZ] |
Super Mario Kart | Kart racing | Nintendo | Super NES | [BA] |
Virtua Racing | Racing | Sega | Arcade | [BB] |
Wolfenstein 3D | First-person shooter | Apogee Software | PC | [BC] |
1993 | Day of the Tentacle | Adventure | LucasArts | PC | [BD] |
Daytona USA | Racing | Sega | Arcade | [BE] |
Doom | First-person shooter | id Software | PC | [BF] |
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening | Action-adventure | Nintendo | Game Boy | [BG] |
Mortal Kombat II | Fighting | Midway | Arcade | [BH] |
Myst | Adventure | Broderbund | Macintosh | [BI] |
NBA Jam | Sports | Midway | Arcade | [BJ] |
Phantasy Star IV | Role-playing | Sega | Sega Genesis | [BK] |
Sam & Max Hit the Road | Adventure | LucasArts | PC | [BL] |
Secret of Mana | Action role-playing | Square | Super NES | [BM] |
SimCity 2000 | City-building | Maxis | Macintosh | [BN] |
Star Fox | Shoot 'em up | Nintendo | Super NES | [BO] |
Syndicate | Real-time tactics | Electronic Arts | Amiga, PC | [BP] |
1994 | Donkey Kong Country | Platform | Nintendo | Super NES | [BQ] |
Doom II | First-person shooter | GT Interactive | PC | [BR] |
EarthBound | Role-playing | Nintendo | Super NES | [BS] |
Final Fantasy VI | Role-playing | Square | Super NES | [BT] |
Sega Rally Championship | Racing | Sega | Arcade | [BU] |
Sensible World of Soccer | Sports | Renegade Software | Amiga | [BV] |
Star Wars: TIE Fighter | Space flight simulator | LucasArts | PC | [BW] |
Super Metroid | Action-adventure | Nintendo | Super NES | [BX] |
X-COM: UFO Defense | Turn-based strategy | MicroProse | PC | [BY] |
1995 | Chrono Trigger | Role-playing | Square | Super NES | [BZ] |
Command & Conquer | Real-time strategy | Virgin Interactive | PC | [CA] |
MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat | Vehicle simulation | Activision | PC | [CB] |
Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness | Real-time strategy | Blizzard Entertainment | PC | [CC] |
Wipeout | Racing | Psygnosis | PC, PlayStation | [CD] |
Yoshi's Island | Platform | Nintendo | Super NES | [CE] |
1996 | Civilization II | Turn-based strategy | MicroProse | PC | [CF] |
Command & Conquer: Red Alert | Real-time strategy | Virgin Interactive | PC | [CG] |
Duke Nukem 3D | First-person shooter | GT Interactive | PC | [CH] |
Nights into Dreams... | Action | Sega | Sega Saturn | [CI] |
PaRappa the Rapper | Rhythm | Sony Computer Entertainment | PlayStation | [CJ] |
Pokmon Red and Blue | Role-playing | Nintendo | Game Boy | [CK] |
Quake | First-person shooter | GT Interactive | PC | [CL] |
Resident Evil | Survival horror | Capcom | PlayStation | [CM] |
Super Mario 64 | Platform | Nintendo | Nintendo 64 | [CN] |
Tomb Raider | Action-adventure | Eidos Interactive | Sega Saturn, PlayStation | [CO] |
Wave Race 64 | Racing | Nintendo | Nintendo 64 | [CP] |
1997 | Castlevania: Symphony of the Night | Action-adventure | Konami | PlayStation | [CQ] |
Diablo | Action role-playing | Blizzard Entertainment | PC | [CR] |
Fallout | Role-playing | Interplay Entertainment | PC | [CS] |
Final Fantasy Tactics | Tactical role-playing | Square | PlayStation | [CT] |
Final Fantasy VII | Role-playing | Square | PlayStation | [CU] |
GoldenEye 007 | First-person shooter | Nintendo | Nintendo 64 | [CV] |
Gran Turismo | Racing | Sony Computer Entertainment | PlayStation | [CW] |
Quake II | First-person shooter | Activision | PC | [CX] |
Star Fox 64 | Shoot 'em up | Nintendo | Nintendo 64 | [CY] |
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II | First-person shooter | LucasArts | PC | [CZ] |
Tekken 3 | Fighting | Namco | Arcade | [DA] |
Ultima Online | MMORPG | Electronic Arts | PC | [DB] |
1998 | Dance Dance Revolution | Rhythm | Konami | Arcade | [DC] |
Fallout 2 | Role-playing | Interplay Entertainment | PC | [DD] |
Grim Fandango | Adventure | LucasArts | PC | [DE] |
Half-Life | First-person shooter | Sierra Studios | PC | [DF] |
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time | Action-adventure | Nintendo | Nintendo 64 | [DG] |
Metal Gear Solid | Stealth | Konami | PlayStation | [DH] |
Panzer Dragoon Saga | Role-playing | Sega | Sega Saturn | [DI] |
Resident Evil 2 | Survival horror | Capcom | PlayStation | [DJ] |
Soulcalibur | Fighting | Namco | Arcade | [DK] |
StarCraft | Real-time strategy | Blizzard Entertainment | PC | [DL] |
Thief: The Dark Project | Stealth | Eidos Interactive | PC | [DM] |
1999 | Age of Empires II | Real-time strategy | Microsoft | PC | [DN] |
EverQuest | MMORPG | Sony Online Entertainment | PC | [DO] |
Homeworld | Real-time strategy | Sierra Studios | PC | [DP] |
Planescape: Torment | Role-playing | Interplay Entertainment | PC | [DQ] |
Quake III: Arena | First-person shooter | Activision | PC | [DR] |
Shenmue | Adventure | Sega | Dreamcast | [DS] |
Silent Hill | Survival horror | Konami | PlayStation | [DT] |
System Shock 2 | First-person shooter | Electronic Arts | PC | [DU] |
Unreal Tournament | First-person shooter | GT Interactive | PC | [DV] |
2000 | Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn | Role-playing | Black Isle Studios | PC | [DW] |
Counter-Strike | First-person shooter | Valve | PC | [DX] |
Deus Ex | Action role-playing | Eidos Interactive | PC | [DY] |
Diablo II | Action role-playing | Blizzard Entertainment | PC | [DZ] |
Jet Set Radio | Platform | Sega | Dreamcast | [EA] |
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask | Action-adventure | Nintendo | Nintendo 64 | [EB] |
The Sims | Life simulation | Electronic Arts | PC | [EC] |
Thief II: The Metal Age | Stealth | Eidos Interactive | PC | [ED] |
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 | Sports | Activision | PlayStation | [EE] |
2001 | Advance Wars | Turn-based tactics | Nintendo | Game Boy Advance | [EF] |
Animal Crossing | Life simulation | Nintendo | GameCube | [EG] |
Devil May Cry | Action-adventure | Capcom | PlayStation 2 | [EH] |
Final Fantasy X | Role-playing | Square | PlayStation 2 | [EI] |
Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec | Racing | Sony Computer Entertainment | PlayStation 2 | [EJ] |
Grand Theft Auto III | Action-adventure | Rockstar Games | PlayStation 2 | [EK] |
Halo: Combat Evolved | First-person shooter | Microsoft Game Studios | Xbox | [EL] |
Ico | Action-adventure | Sony Computer Entertainment | PlayStation 2 | [EM] |
Ikaruga | Shoot 'em up | Treasure | Arcade | [EN] |
Max Payne | Third-person shooter | Gathering of Developers | PC | [EO] |
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty | Stealth | Konami | PlayStation 2 | [EP] |
Rez | Shoot 'em up | Sega | Dreamcast, PlayStation 2 | [EQ] |
Silent Hill 2 | Survival horror | Konami | PlayStation 2 | [ER] |
Super Smash Bros. Melee | Fighting | Nintendo | GameCube | [ES] |
2002 | The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind | Action role-playing | Bethesda Softworks | PC | [ET] |
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City | Action-adventure | Rockstar Games | PlayStation 2 | [EU] |
Kingdom Hearts | Action role-playing | Squaresoft | PlayStation 2 | [EV] |
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker | Action-adventure | Nintendo | GameCube | [EW] |
Metroid Prime | Action-adventure | Nintendo | GameCube | [EX] |
Soulcalibur II | Fighting | Namco | Arcade | [EY] |
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell | Stealth | Ubisoft | Xbox | [EZ] |
2003 | Beyond Good & Evil | Action-adventure | Ubisoft | PlayStation 2 | [FA] |
Max Payne 2 | Third-person shooter | Rockstar Games | PC | [FB] |
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time | Action-adventure | Ubisoft | PlayStation 2 | [FC] |
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic | Role-playing | LucasArts | Xbox | [FD] |
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames! | Action | Nintendo | Game Boy Advance | [FE] |
2004 | Burnout 3: Takedown | Racing | Electronic Arts | PlayStation 2, Xbox | [FF] |
Dragon Quest VIII | Role-playing | Square Enix | PlayStation 2 | [FG] |
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | Action-adventure | Rockstar Games | PlayStation 2 | [FH] |
Half-Life 2 | First-person shooter | Valve | PC | [FI] |
Halo 2 | First-person shooter | Microsoft Game Studios | Xbox | [FJ] |
Katamari Damacy | Action | Namco | PlayStation 2 | [FK] |
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater | Stealth | Konami | PlayStation 2 | [FL] |
Rome: Total War | Strategy | Activision | PC | [FM] |
World of Warcraft | MMORPG | Blizzard Entertainment | PC | [FN] |
2005 | Civilization IV | Turn-based strategy | 2K Games | PC | [FO] |
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening | Action-adventure | Capcom | PlayStation 2 | [FP] |
God of War | Action-adventure | Sony Computer Entertainment | PlayStation 2 | [FQ] |
Guitar Hero | Rhythm | RedOctane | PlayStation 2 | [FR] |
Psychonauts | Platform | Majesco | PC | [FS] |
Resident Evil 4 | Survival horror | Capcom | GameCube | [FT] |
Shadow of the Colossus | Action-adventure | Sony Computer Entertainment | PlayStation 2 | [FU] |
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory | Stealth | Ubisoft | GameCube, PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox | [FV] |
2006 | Company of Heroes | Real-time strategy | THQ | PC | [FW] |
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion | Role-playing | Bethesda Softworks | PC, Xbox 360 | [FX] |
Gears of War | Third-person shooter | Microsoft Game Studios | Xbox 360 | [FY] |
Hitman: Blood Money | Stealth | Eidos Interactive | PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360 | [FZ] |
kami | Action-adventure | Capcom | PlayStation 2 | [GA] |
Wii Sports | Sports | Nintendo | Wii | [GB] |
2007 | BioShock | First-person shooter | 2K Games | PC, Xbox 360 | [GC] |
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare | First-person shooter | Activision | PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | [GD] |
God of War II | Action-adventure | Sony Computer Entertainment | PlayStation 2 | [GE] |
Halo 3 | First-person shooter | Microsoft Game Studios | Xbox 360 | [GF] |
Mass Effect | Action role-playing | Microsoft Game Studios | Xbox 360 | [GG] |
Portal | Puzzle-platformer | Valve | PC, Xbox 360 | [GH] |
Rock Band | Rhythm | MTV Games | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | [GI] |
Super Mario Galaxy | Platform | Nintendo | Wii | [GJ] |
Team Fortress 2 | First-person shooter | Valve | PC | [GK] |
2008 | Braid | Puzzle-platformer | Microsoft Game Studios | Xbox 360 | [GL] |
Burnout Paradise | Racing | Electronic Arts | PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | [GM] |
Dead Space | Survival horror | Electronic Arts | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | [GN] |
Fallout 3 | Action role-playing | Bethesda Softworks | PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | [GO] |
Gears of War 2 | Third-person shooter | Microsoft Game Studios | Xbox 360 | [GP] |
Grand Theft Auto IV | Action-adventure | Rockstar Games | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | [GQ] |
Left 4 Dead | First-person shooter | Valve | PC | [GR] |
LittleBigPlanet | Platform | Sony Computer Entertainment | PlayStation 3 | [GS] |
Persona 4 | Role-playing | Atlus | PlayStation 2 | [GT] |
Rock Band 2 | Rhythm | MTV Games | Xbox 360 | [GU] |
Spelunky | Platform | Derek Yu | PC | [GV] |
Street Fighter IV | Fighting | Capcom | Arcade | [GW] |
Valkyria Chronicles | Tactical role-playing | Sega | PlayStation 3 | [GX] |
2009 | Angry Birds | Puzzle | Rovio Entertainment | Maemo, iOS | [GY] |
Assassin's Creed II | Action-adventure | Ubisoft | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | [GZ] |
Batman: Arkham Asylum | Action-adventure | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | [HA] |
Bayonetta | Action | Sega | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | [HB] |
Dragon Age: Origins | Role-playing | Electronic Arts | PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | [HC] |
Left 4 Dead 2 | First-person shooter | Valve | PC, Xbox 360 | [HD] |
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves | Action-adventure | Sony Computer Entertainment | PlayStation 3 | [HE] |
2010 | Limbo | Platform | Microsoft Game Studios | Xbox 360 | [HF] |
Mass Effect 2 | Action role-playing | Electronic Arts | PC, Xbox 360 | [HG] |
Red Dead Redemption | Action-adventure | Rockstar Games | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | [HH] |
Rock Band 3 | Rhythm | MTV Games | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS | [HI] |
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty | Real-time strategy | Blizzard Entertainment | PC | [HJ] |
Super Mario Galaxy 2 | Platform | Nintendo | Wii | [HK] |
Super Meat Boy | Platform | Team Meat | Xbox 360 | [HL] |
2011 | Batman: Arkham City | Action-adventure | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | [HM] |
Dark Souls | Action role-playing | Namco Bandai Games | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | [HN] |
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim | Action role-playing | Bethesda Softworks | PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | [HO] |
Minecraft | Sandbox | Mojang | PC | [HP] |
Portal 2 | Puzzle-platformer | Valve | PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | [HQ] |
2012 | Dishonored | Stealth | Bethesda Softworks | PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | [HR] |
Journey | Adventure | Sony Computer Entertainment | PlayStation 3 | [HS] |
Hotline Miami | Action | Devolver Digital | PC | [HT] |
The Walking Dead | Adventure | Telltale Games | PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | [HU] |
2013 | Dota 2 | MOBA | Valve | PC | [HV] |
Grand Theft Auto V | Action-adventure | Rockstar Games | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | [HW] |
The Last of Us | Action-adventure | Sony Computer Entertainment | PlayStation 3 | [HX] |
2014 | Destiny | First-person shooter | Bungie | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One | [HY] |
2015 | Bloodborne | Action role-playing | Sony Computer Entertainment | PlayStation 4 | [HZ] |
The Witcher III: Wild Hunt | Action role-playing | CD Projekt | PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | [IA] |
2016 | Inside | Platform | Playdead | Xbox One | [IB] |
Overwatch | First-person shooter | Blizzard Entertainment | PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | [IC] |
2017 | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | Action-adventure | Nintendo | Nintendo Switch, Wii U | [ID] |