BAFTA — the UK's leading arts charity honoring excellence across film, gaming, and television — has unveiled a surprising choice for the most influential video game ever created.

Public Vote Crowns Unexpected Champion

The British Academy conducted nationwide polling that placed classic titles like GTA, Tetris, and Minecraft behind a surprising frontrunner: Sega's 1999 Dreamcast masterpiece Shenmue.

A Trailblazing Achievement

This groundbreaking action-adventure pioneered open-world storytelling with its richly detailed recreation of 1980s Yokosuka, following protagonist Ryo Hazuki's quest for justice.

"Pioneering first-person shooter" Doom claimed second place, with Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. (1985) completing the podium.

Creator's Emotional Response

"I am profoundly humbled by this recognition," said Yu Suzuki, visionary behind the Shenmue series. "Our original mission was to explore how lifelike games could become — this honor proves that ambition still inspires players today."

Complete Rankings Revealed

The full list includes 21 groundbreaking titles:

• Shenmue (1999)
• Doom (1993)
• Super Mario Bros. (1985)
• Half-Life (1998)
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
• Minecraft (2011)
• Super Mario 64 (1996)
• Half-Life 2 (2004)
• The Sims (2000)
• Tetris (1984)

Looking Ahead to 2025 Awards

The next BAFTA Game Awards ceremony will honor current titles on April 8, 2025, with Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 leading nominations alongside Astro Bot and Still Wakes the Deep.

This follows Baldur's Gate 3's dominant performance at the 2024 awards, where it claimed five trophies including Best Game.