Cool Games, Big Impact: The 2025 Video Game Hall of Fame Finalists
The world of video games is super exciting, with lots of amazing games that have made a big difference. Recently, a museum called The Strong National Museum of Play chose some finalists for their 2025 Video Game Hall of Fame. These games are like the best of the best, and they come from all sorts of places and times. Let’s check out these awesome finalists and see what makes them so special!
Meet the Finalists: A Mix of Old and New
The 2025 finalists are a great mix of old and new games that show how much video games have changed over time. Here they are:
- Age of Empires: This game is like a history lesson where you build empires and fight battles. It’s been around since 1997 and is still super popular on computers.
- Angry Birds: You’ve probably heard of this one! It’s a mobile game where you slingshot birds to knock down pigs. It’s been downloaded billions of times and is like a cultural icon now.
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare: This first-person shooter game changed the way we play war games. It came out in 2007 and set a new standard for the genre.
- Defender: This arcade game from 1981 is like an old-school spaceship shooter. It’s really complex and was a big deal back in the day.
- Frogger: Another arcade classic from 1981, Frogger is all about helping a little frog cross the road and river without getting squished. It’s still popular today!
- GoldenEye 007: This game let you be James Bond and play a first-person shooter on your console. It came out in 1997 and was a huge hit.
- Golden Tee Golf: This arcade golf game has been in bars and arcades for ages. It’s like a classic you can always count on.
- Harvest Moon: This game is all about farming and living a peaceful life. It was a great change from all the action games out there.
- Mattel Football: This was the first really successful handheld electronic game, and it came out way back in 1977!
- NBA 2K: This basketball game series has been a big deal in the world of esports, where people compete professionally.
- Quake: This first-person shooter game was a big deal in the world of competitive gaming, or esports.
- Tamagotchi: This digital pet was like a toy and a game all in one. It was super popular in the ’90s.
These games were chosen because they’re really famous, they’ve influenced other games, they’ve been around for a long time, and they’re played all over the world.
How They’re Chosen: A Tough Job
The people at The Strong National Museum of Play work really hard to choose the finalists. They get thousands of nominations each year and pick the best ones based on how much they’ve impacted the gaming world and pop culture.
Guess what? You can help too! The top three games that get the most votes from fans count as one ballot in the final selection. So, if you love these games, go vote for them!
Why It’s Important: Celebrating Gaming History
The Video Game Hall of Fame is like a big party for all the amazing games that have made video games what they are today. The 2025 finalists are from all sorts of places and times, and each one has added something special to the world of gaming. By celebrating these games, we’re celebrating the history of video games and the fun they bring to our lives.
So, go check out these finalists and see which ones you love the most. And remember, voting ends on March 13, so don’t miss your chance to help choose the next big gaming legends!