Video games have came a long way since their beginnings. Some franchises have been successful, and others have been destroyed. Some have always prospered, and others failed miserably. But what makes a good video game? Is it the games of the past that make the games of the future?  In some ways, it is, and gamers have always wondered what games have really shined and influenced the games we play today.  Well, it seems those gamers will get their answer today.  TGR staff and writers have given their input; fights have been fought and words have been exchanged, but in the end, we have come up with our list of the 30 Most Influential Games of All Time. 

Contra

If you were a gamer during the 8- or 16-bit eras, then you have played this game. To put it simply for any gaming newcomers who may be reading this, Contra was the Halo of 1987. Fast-paced and action heavy, the Contra series mastered the art of the side-scrolling shooter, until finally hitting it’s peak with Contra 3: The Alien Wars, which is constantly seen on Top Games of All Time lists.

Dance Dance Revolution

Although Dance Dance Revolution (DDR), seemed to start as a niche game, it quickly turned into much, much more. It didn’t take long before the game became a hit all over the world. Dance Dance Revolution has changed perceptions of video games, while also influencing the music/rhythm genre as well.  While most music/rhythm games had consisted of musical instrument or “rapping” games, DDR flipped the switch and made a dancing game. Yes, it still involved music, but now you were dancing to the beat instead of making the beat. There have been a ton of DDR wannabes, but none have been anywhere near the caliber of the original.

Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong was one of the first platformers to hit the US, and influenced many future games, including Mr. Jumpman’s starring role in Super Mario Bros., which created possibly the most prominent video game character in history, Mario. Donkey Kong is also considered one of the first games to have a cutscene, and as you know, the cutscene has become a staple in video games of today.

Dragon Warrior

Before the Dragon Quest franchise became popular, it was simply known as Dragon Warrior. It spawned four classic rpgs on the NES alone, and hasn’t stopped since. Dragon Warrior was one of the first RPGs and featured something that has now become a staple in role playing games -- menu based combat.  Dragon Warrior was one of the first games with a menu based combat system, and almost every popular RPG since has featured it.

Final Fantasy VII

While Ocarina of Time’s influence may not be extremely easy to determine, Final Fantasy VII’s is very easy. For decades afterward, RPG designers have strived to reach the high watermark set by the seventh installment in the series. While FF6 is almost universally considered a better game, there is no match for FF7 in terms of leaving an imprint on the audience, and bringing new people into a once exclusionary genre.