15 Most Influential Video Games Of All Time

The titles that wrote themselves into the book of gaming history.

Innovation is a particularly hard thing to come by in 2015 - just ask Hollywood and the likes of Jurassic World or Terminator: Genisys; both movies attempting to tick-box their way into the sales record books without the barest hint of originality. For games it's a bit different, as when you think about that idea of why you buy a sequel to something, it's usually to further the enjoyment of that game's particular 'feel'; to expand on things that worked, fix what didn't and ultimately be a worthwhile addition to your collection. More recently companies like Ubisoft, Activision, 2K and EA have realised just how little they have to do to a core formula to justify another release - hence things like Assassin's Creed: Unity or WWE 2K15 being a remarkable step-up in graphical wallop, but an almighty slap in the face to fans in terms of worthwhile gameplay. That idea might be genius in business terms, and when the development team knows what they're doing it can even lead to a totally satisfying release like Fry Cry 4 - something produced, refined and delivered within a short two year window to maximum success - but what of those games that didn't fall back on what went before? The ones that carved their own names into the history books and stood firm knowing they had something special - knowing that all that would come after, would take from what they did first?

 
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Gaming Editor
Gaming Editor

WhatCulture's Head of Gaming.