#10 - Doom (1993)
Doom revolutionized gaming and sparked the first major controversy about video game violence. This first-person shooter was so influential that similar games were called “Doom clones” for years.
#9 - Street Fighter II (1991)
Street Fighter II created the competitive fighting game scene and became a cultural phenomenon that stretched far beyond arcades.
#8 - Mortal Kombat (1992)
Mortal Kombat didn’t just push the envelope; it tore the whole thing up and set it on fire. Those brutal fatalities had parents freaking out and politicians holding actual hearings in Congress.
#7 - Tomb Raider (1996)
When Lara Croft showed up in 1996, she was nothing like the typical video game heroes we were used to.
#6 - Halo (2001)
Halo launched with the original Xbox and practically carried the entire console, with Master Chief becoming Microsoft’s answer to Mario.
#5 - Grand Theft Auto
The Grand Theft Auto series thrived on controversy while becoming one of the most successful entertainment franchises in history.
#4 - Fortnite (2017)
Fortnite became a cultural phenomenon that changed how an entire generation socialized and expressed themselves.
#3 - Tetris (1984)
Tetris achieved universal appeal across all age groups and cultures, becoming one of the most recognizable games in history.
#2 - Pokémon (1996)
Pokémon created a global cultural phenomenon that changed portable gaming and social interaction forever.
#1 - Super Mario Bros. (1985)
Super Mario Bros. saved the video game industry after the 1983 crash and redefined what games could be.