Ever since there has been recorded civilization there has been games. But which of these classic games had the most influence over today’s current gaming landscape? There’s been so many iconic games that have upended the industry and helped people find new ways to entertain themselves for generations. From board games to video games, to more modern casino games, there has never been more options than there is today.
Important Cultural Shifts in Gaming
Before delving into the classic games that have been the most influential, it’s important to understand the major cultural shifts in gaming that helped evolve the hobby. One of the biggest changes being the move from tabletop games to online multiplayer gaming. Certain strategic games such as Chess have seen massive boosts in popularity due to the accessibility of online matchmaking at websites like Chess.com. Even classic card and casino games like Roulette, Blackjack or Slots can be played digitally at sites like 888casino from the comfort of your own home. It’s great advancements like this that keep the gaming industry alive and well.
Another important cultural shift is the rise, fall and rise again of the video game industry. What was once seen, and a temporary fad is now a multi-billion dollar industry that shows no signs of stopping. Allowing players to do a little more than move their pawns across a game board, modern video games offer beautiful worlds that have helped push gaming into the mainstream.
5 Classic Games that have Changed Gaming Forever
Chess
It’s hard to talk about influential games without talking about Chess. From it’s ancient origins in 500CE to the modern online matchmaking sites, Chess is a game that will seemingly never go out of style. It’s the unique blend of simplicity and depth that keeps chess at the forefront of competitive gaming.
Since the days of Lasker, Capablanca, Alekhine, Marshall and Rubinstein, players have been competing around the world to earn the coveted Grand Masters status. It’s this seemingly endless well of depth that has made Chess one of the most influential games of all time.
Monopoly
Love it or hate it, it’s hard to deny Monopoly’s influence in bringing board games to the main stream. With more than a whopping 235 million copies sold, Monopoly can be found sitting on gaming shelves across the country. Most people know Monopoly for the dusty box in the closet that can turn even the most light-hearted family gathering into an all-out brawl.
But monopoly hasn’t always been the popular game that it is today. As covered in our extensive History of Board Gaming, Monopoly actually started out as a game called “The Landlord’s Game” which was more of a social critique of the property owning business than it was a game.
Settlers of Catan
Although it’s not quite reached the status of “classic” board game, Settlers has had a huge influence on the tabletop community nonetheless. This settlement building game is often seen as a gateway game into modern complex table top games. It’s acted as a sort of bridge between family games like Monopoly and Sorry! into more complicated games like Pandemic or Lords of Waterdeep.
Table top gaming has only grown since the days of Settlers of Catan offering a near endless supply of games. From card games, to strategy games, to miniature games, there’s something for everyone. In fact it can be a little daunting for new players who don’t quite know what games they enjoy yet. But luckily there’s a lot of great board game hobbyist websites like Board Game Geek that help players figure out where to go next.
Super Mario Bros
When talking about video games, few have had the influence and importance of the original Super Mario Bros for the Nintendo Entertainment System. At a time when the gaming industry was seeing a decline and people were wondering if there was any future in video gaming, the Nintendo Entertainment System and it’s flagship game Super Mario Bros saved the day.
It’s hard to overstate how important this game was to Nintendo and the gaming industry at large. Through rigid quality control and a focus on family friendly games, Nintendo proved that video games are here to stay. Since it’s release there has been many sequels, spinoffs, and even a blockbuster film, but none of that would have been possible without the massive success of the first Mario game.
Minecraft
Even though it’s certainly the most modern game on this list, Minecraft is a classic video game that has had ripple effects across every video game that has come after it. Originally created as a personal project by Marcus “Notch” Persson, nobody could have predicted just how big this game was going to be. There’s something strangely addictive about this block crafting game that encourages players to be creative instead of just achieving goals. From it’s procedurally generated world to the ability to host custom modded servers, Minecraft offers nearly unlimited avenues for creativity.
As of the time 2023, Minecraft is currently the bestselling video game of all time and is available on most platforms around the world. Many have attempted to replicate Minecraft’s formula but few have been able to see similar success. Minecraft’s influence has been massive in the video gaming world as many modern games include some kind of crafting or base building mechanics to keep players engaged. There’s also been a number of successful games directly inspired by Minecraft like the 2d open world platformer Terraria. Whether you’re sitting down to play a modern Nintendo game like Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or a heavy table top game like Gloomhaven, it’s important to understand the classic games that made it all possible. Even though many of the games on this list can feel dated, their influence in the world of gaming is no-less important.
