Mikayla Leskey | Arts & Entertainment Editor
I’ve never lived in a world without video games. Which is probably not shocking at all considering I’m 19, but my point stands. Video games had already taken over the world when I was born, but I don’t think anyone expected the continued growth and new advancements the video game industry would make. Saying this, here are some of the most popular video games that more or less changed the world.
Pac-Man
Released in the 1980s to Arcade Games across the globe, Pac-Man became a game of wonder to everyone that played. It took over the world, and some think it’s due to Pac-Man becoming more than just a game, he became a character. A character that did one of the most universal things there is; eat. There was no violence, making it more consumable by kids.
Pac-Man was also amazing at promotion. It was everywhere. From cereal boxes to t-shirts to songs, Pac-Man was there, making everyone fall in love with this silly game. Pac-Man fully ensnared our society and made many obsess over this timeless game.
Mario Franchise
Mario is probably one of the most recognizable faces in the gaming industry today. What started as a simple plumber saving a princess grew into something so much more. It grew out of its predisposed story and became a cultural phenomenon. Mario was a character for the working-class man, proof that working hard will allow you to accomplish all your goals.
Mario influenced the entire world. He’s adaptable. You can play almost any game, from fighting to racing, tennis, board games, etc with Mario as the fact. It also helps that many of the games that Mario fronted were beginner-friendly, yet still enjoyable no matter the skill level.
GTA
GTA had a hand in changing the perception of what video games could be. Its controversial gameplay transformed the gaming industry. It allowed for games to take a darker edge to its story. It was one of the first games to have an immersive gameplay, especially when GTA 5 came out which added more sound effects than ever before. As well, of the open-ended gameplay, where your main objective was to only commit crimes.
GTA also helped bring a movie-esque experience into video games. From its scenery to its immersive story, GTA became an obsession for many. It brought technological advancements to the gaming industry and helped bring together online gaming. Allowing people from all over the globe to play with one another. GTA is a game about development and popular culture, it has led to multiple debates towards the idea of violence and freedom in games.
Minecraft
I can still remember the first Minecraft video I’ve ever watched. I was probably six or seven at the time, I was watching YouTube with my brother when he put on a video by CaptainSparklez showing off his Minecraft world, and since then I, like many others, had fallen in love with a block game. Minecraft had a huge impact on the world, one I don’t think many were expecting.
One of the main things that helped its popularity was that it’s a sandbox game with unending possibilities. It shaped the video game genre on YouTube, and it started Let's Plays. More than that, it is always expanding, always allowing for new gameplay, new minigames and new ways to play the game. It leads a legacy of bringing people together and having no limits to creation.
Candy Crush
Candy Crush is the game that changed mobile gaming. It’s a fun, colorful game that can be surprisingly challenging. It’s a constantly changing puzzle game that forces you to strategize. But no matter your skill level, everybody has gotten stuck on a level or two. It gives a lesson of never giving up and to not fear failure because you always have another try.
Candy Crush always lets the player plan their next step. It never leaves you guessing, always giving you information on the next level for you to think about if you have to close out of the app for one reason or another. Candy Crush also brings people together, with its friend list option. It allows you to see what level your friends are at or even send them boosts to improve their gameplay. It’s what gives the game its competitiveness.
The one thing that connects all of these games together though, is the community surrounding each game. Every one of these games became so successful because of the community that fell in love with them. It brought people together, allowing them to obsess over something that brought so much joy and potential to them.
These games changed the world because of the lasting impact they brought to society, of joining people together from across the globe just because of these games. They’re continuing to grow, allowing new generations to become as obsessed with these games as generations past. They’re timeless and honestly, I don’t know where we would be without them.
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