13 Most Influential Video Games of the Past 45 Years
News Source
β’Sat, 26 Sep 2026 17:23:35 GMT
π° What Happened
Polygon has published a list of the 13 most influential video games of the past 45 years. It starts with Pac-Man and Rogue, both from 1980, and covers games that changed how later titles were made.
The writers note that developers rarely set out to change an industry. Most are simply trying to give players a good time, some escapism or something to think about. Influence often shows years later, when new games borrow their ideas.
π The Backstory
Pac-Man showed that a game character could become a famous mascot and a pop culture icon, long before Mario did the same for Nintendo. Rogue began the idea of a run that is never the same twice, where players get one life and a fresh world each time they play.
Video games grew from arcades in the 1970s into a global industry worth more than films and music. Many modern genres borrow from early experiments. Polygon timed the piece around excitement for big releases such as Grand Theft Auto 6.
π― Why It Matters
The list shows how old games still shape what people play today. It is also a short history of the medium for new players.
Polygon has published a list of the 13 most influential video games of the past 45 years. It starts with Pac-Man and Rogue, both from 1980, and covers games that changed how later titles were made.
The writers note that developers rarely set out to change an industry. Most are simply trying to give players a good time, some escapism or something to think about. Influence often shows years later, when new games borrow their ideas.
Pac-Man showed that a game character could become a famous mascot and a pop culture icon, long before Mario did the same for Nintendo. Rogue began the idea of a run that is never the same twice, where players get one life and a fresh world each time they play.
Video games grew from arcades in the 1970s into a global industry worth more than films and music. Many modern genres borrow from early experiments. Polygon timed the piece around excitement for big releases such as Grand Theft Auto 6.
The list shows how old games still shape what people play today. It is also a short history of the medium for new players.