The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), the UK's premier independent arts organization honoring excellence across film, television and gaming, has unveiled its surprising choice for the most influential video game ever made.

The Surprising Top Pick

BAFTA conducted a nationwide UK survey revealing that while legendary titles like Grand Theft Auto, Tetris, World of Warcraft, Minecraft, Doom and Half-Life 2 all made the elite list, the runaway winner was 1999's Shenmue for Dreamcast.

This groundbreaking action-adventure game pioneered open-world storytelling, following protagonist Ryo Hazuki's quest to avenge his father's murder in what BAFTA describes as "an unprecedentedly detailed recreation of 1980s Yokosuka."

The Runners-Up

Classic titles rounded out the top five:

• 1993's Doom - The revolutionary first-person shooter
• Super Mario Bros. (1985) - The NES platformer that defined a generation
• Half-Life (1998) - Valve's paradigm-shifting FPS
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998) - Nintendo's N64 masterpiece

Notably absent were modern hits like Grand Theft Auto V, Halo and Fortnite.

Creator's Emotional Response

"I am profoundly honored," said Shenmue creator Yu Suzuki. "When we began development, we asked ourselves 'How lifelike can a game world become?' This recognition proves our pioneering vision continues inspiring creators decades later."

Suzuki extended special gratitude to the series' passionate fanbase: "Your unwavering support fuels our ongoing journey. This isn't the conclusion - more Shenmue stories await!"

Complete Rankings

The full list of BAFTA's 21 most influential games includes:

• Shenmue (1999)
• Doom (1993)
• Super Mario Bros. (1985)
• Half-Life (1998)
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
• Minecraft (2011)
• Through Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (2025)
• Super Mario 64 (1996)
• Half-Life 2 (2004)
• The Sims (2000)

Looking Ahead

The 2025 BAFTA Game Awards ceremony occurs April 8th, with Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, Astro Bot and Still Wakes the Deep leading nominations. Last year's big winner Baldur's Gate 3 took home five awards including Best Game.