The 1999 action game Shenmue yesterday was named the most influential video game of all time following a survey organized by BAFTA, the British association that honors films, television and video games.
The series, created by Japanese designer Yu Suzuki, stars a young Ryo Hazuki as he seeks to avenge the death of his father, killed by a mysterious martial arts specialist.
The game is split into three instalments (Shenmue I, II and III) and was, at the time of the first instalment’s release, the most expensive game in history to produce.
File photo: EPA
While the third instalment was available on PlayStation 4 and PC, the first two defined the brief history of the Dreamcast console, the first so-called sixth-generation console, released by Japanese manufacturer Sega in 1998.
Having become a cult classic among many gamers, Shenmue is known as a pioneer in open-world gaming and for popularizing the “quick-time event,” a moment in which the player is asked to perform a specific action within a given time limit.
“Games are an immensely innovative force and it’s brilliant to recognize those titles which have truly shaped the course of our medium,” said Luke Hebblethwaite, head of the BAFTA video games division.
Suzuki said that he was “deeply honored and grateful” to see Shenmue come out on the top in the poll and thanked the “fans around the world who have continued to love and support” the game.
Doom, the series that helped popularize first-person shooters and enjoyed immense commercial success, came second in the survey of thousands of players.
Developed by id Software for PC and released in 1993, the game puts players in the role of a soldier facing demons in a universe blending science fiction and horror.
In third place was Super Mario Bros, the platform game developed by Nintendo in 1985, in which the red-suited plumber Mario navigates levels to save Princess Peach.
Unanimously acclaimed upon its release, it remains one of the best-selling games of all time, with more than 40 million copies sold worldwide.
Also in the top 10 were Half-Life (1998), The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998), Minecraft (2011), Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (2025) and Super Mario 64 (1996).
The annual Bafta Game Awards are scheduled to take place at a ceremony in London on Tuesday next week.
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