When you think of the most influential games of all time, there’s likely a handful of titles that instantly spring to mind — things like Super Metroid, Ocarina of Time, Halo, etc. But behind those universally recognized games, there are a few lesser-known ones that are just as influential, if not more so. Chief among those is an obscure but beloved open world game called Shenmue, and it’s finally getting the recognition it deserves. A new poll from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards Shenmue the title of most influential game of all time, beating out the likes of Zelda, Doom, and more.
Originally released on the Sega Dreamcast in 1999, Shenmue tells the story of Ryo Hazuki, a young martial artist seeking revenge against the man who ended his father’s life. The beauty of Shenmue lies in how free-form of an experience it is, entirely reliant on the player piecing together how the world and systems work.
