10 Most Influential Creators In Modern Video Games

10. Ken Levine

Creating such heavy-hitting RPGs as System Shock 2 and the Bioshock franchise, Ken Levine is the man credited with inventing an immersive first-person RPG formula that's still used in a variety of titles to this day.

From the subterranean halls of Bioshock's Rapture to the heavenly vistas of Infinite's Columbia, Levine has created some of the most stunning worlds of the last two decades, each imaginatively designed and hugely ambitious in scope.

But they're more than just pretty faces. Each of Levine's worlds are crammed with a cutting-edge approach to environmental story-telling, the creator's unique attitude towards level design meaning that each player earns the story through exploration rather than being force-fed lengthy cut-scenes. Merging gameplay and story so seamlessly utilised the immersive nature of video games in a way many game developers had never thought of.

As a result, it's commonplace to see many newer releases attempt to replicate the innovations that Levine and his team put in place. Big name franchises such as Dishonored, Deus Ex and Prey are a mere few of the examples that toyed with the creator's revolutionary concepts.

With Levine currently working on a new project underneath his recently established studio, it's only a matter of time before he innovates once more.