The Most Important Video Games Ever

That’s the impact that a generational game title can have on someone, which has altered more than just the video games industry but even cultural trends worldwide.

Gaming has gone on to widen its definitions and can now mean many things. What a gaming session is to one person today is different to others. It could be anything from playing an EA FC online match to playing jackpot pokies at Joe Fortune; people get their gaming thrills in so many ways. With an industry that is expected to reach $334 billion in revenue by the end of this year, it shows how dynamic and different the gaming world can be.

One thing hasn’t changed; the video game world has hosted some critical titles that supersede what it is to be a video game. Whether it was almost like a piece of art, a cultural dynamic shift, or something that helped people escape from the doldrums of day-to-day life, video games have a special place. Here are some of the most crucial video game titles in the industry's history: Get your controller ready and enjoy the ride.

Grand Theft Auto Vice City: The Neon Dream and Sandbox Gameplay

GTA Vice City is still played today, a testament to how good a video game is. The team at Rockstar brought together a living, breathing city that mimicked the best things of 1980s Miami. When you sit and play it, you feel like you’ve jumped into an episode of Miami Vice or the movie Scarface. With legendary actors like Ray Liotta, Dennis Hopper, and Burt Reynolds all performing parts, it is a recipe for an instant classic.

An instant classic it was, selling almost 20 million copies and is considered one of the most important video games ever made. It’s continuing popularity and cultural significance after over 20 years show that this is a game that will last the test of time: a piece of art that takes you back to a place from before.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Modern Warfare 2 is a game that puts you into a battleground after a few button presses. It coincided with the release of Halo 3, and together, these two games built an online video gaming landscape that we enjoy today. It was the combination of everything that makes a good video game where MW2 succeeded. The storyline for the single-player gameplay was captivating, the gameplay was some of the best we have ever seen for a first-person shooter, and the multiplayer was a world of its own. A lot of competitive shooters are forever indebted to the way MW2 created a hyper-competitive and fair gaming experience.

When you realize that this game had a top-class story mode, a multiplayer that has not been surpassed, and a makeup of design and aesthetics that has lasted the test of time, you realize how important this game is. It’s not only been crucial to first-person shooters and online gaming but the makeup of what makes a great video game.

NFL 2K5

If you are tuned into the world of video games, you will hear the complaints and disappointment every year when the next Madden release comes. The same game copied and pasted, with little innovation or immersion. A focus on Ultimate Team, which brings the sought-after micro-transactions. Because of this, things like Franchise Mode, Superstar Mode, and any creative elements within the game were ignored.

This is where NFL 2K5 comes in, a game almost 20 years old that still has people playing it because no modern American football game has been able to compete with it. Create-A-team and create-a-stadium, topped with features like first-person views and an ESPN license, propelled the sports simulation game standards to new heights and, unfortunately, a measurement that has yet to be reached.

Halo: Combat Evolved

Halo has had some legendary game titles come out, but for us, Halo: Combat Evolved takes the pick as the most critical and influential title. Its broke ground for online gaming, introducing things like LAN parties and online matchmaking, creating a socially dynamic and competitive element alongside the incredible FPS experience. Gaming went from a singular experience to a shared one, and it has never looked back since Halo: Combat Evolved. It set the stage for games like CS2 and beyond, and they are eternally thankful for this title.

It led to the birth of eSports, an essential growth in the industry, and it also showed what could be done through a video game aspect; the storyline, the gameplay, and the immersion all topped the charts for the games out at the time and created a standard that has been hard to maintain over the years. The cultural significance stays there, as you cannot imagine the speech “Double Kill!” without hearing the Halo announcer's voice.