Recently, the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) stirred the gaming world by announcing Shenmue as the most influential game of all time. This announcement comes as part of a poll where the gaming public was asked to weigh in on the most impactful titles throughout gaming history.

Yu Suzuki’s Shenmue, released in 1999, was given the top spot for being a ‘pioneer for open-world gameplay,’ a statement that has sparked debate among gaming enthusiasts. The game is noted for popularizing Quick Time Events (QTEs), yet many believe its influence pales in comparison to that of Doom, which follows closely in second place.

The complete list reveals contradictions, with titles like Super Mario Bros and Ocarina of Time ranking among the top influential games, while newer titles such as Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 find themselves in the rankings unexpected due to their short existence in the market.

The list’s absurdity leads to skepticism regarding the motivations behind voting, suggesting that respondents perceived ‘influence’ more in terms of personal preference rather than legacy.

Full BAFTA Most Influential List:

1. Shenmue
2. Doom
3. Super Mario Bros
4. Half-Life
5. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
6. Minecraft
7. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
8. Super Mario 64
9. Half-Life 2
10. The Sims
11. Tetris
12. Tomb Raider
13. Pong
14. Metal Gear Solid
15. World of Warcraft
16. Baldur’s Gate 3
17. Final Fantasy VII
18. Dark Souls
19. Grand Theft Auto 3
20. Skyrim
21. Grand Theft Auto