It’s that time of year again… the curators of the World Video Game Hall of Fame at the Strong Museum of Play have announced the finalists for this year’s class of inductees.
The games fighting for a spot in the Class of 2022 are all classics, but many of the titles have been here before. For Civilization and Dance Dance Revolution, this will be their third attempt to gain entry into the World Video Game Hall of Fame. Sid Meier’s Civilization was previously a finalist in 2016 and 2019, while Dance Dance Revolution tried to groove its way to immortality in 2018 and 2019.
Four other titles are also getting a second chance on the World Video Game Hall of Fame shortlist, including Resident Evil (which was a finalist in 2017), Ms. Pac-Man (2018), Candy Crush Saga (2019), and NBA Jam (2020).
With six slots spoken for by repeat finalists, there were a few surprises among the games that are brand new to the process. That includes Microsoft’s beloved timewaster, Minesweeper, which could be considered something of a frontrunner after Windows Solitaire‘s inclusion in the Class of 2019. The 1990s as a whole were well-represented on the shortlist, which also included appearances from PaRappa the Rapper, Sony’s funky PSone era rhythm game, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the first 3D adventure from the Zelda franchise.
Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed, Michael Toy and Glenn Wichman’s Rogue, and Zynga’s Words With Friends rounded out this year’s list of finalists.
As in years part, the general public will be able to vote for their favorite finalist by visiting WorldVideoGameHallOfFame.org between now and March 24. The three games that receive the most votes will be submitted as a Player’s Choice ballot alongside the other ballots from the Hall of Fame’s International Selection Advisory Committee.
This year’s inductees will be announced during an online presentation on Thursday, May 5, at 10:30 AM (Eastern Time), and you can learn more about all 12 games after the break.
Meet the 2022 World Video Game Hall of Fame Finalists
Assassin’s Creed: Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed debuted in 2007 as a sequel to the popular Prince of Persia franchise but quickly stood on its own. The open-world, action-adventure game offered players a world of hidden artifacts, secret societies, and stealthy assassins with a code of honor. Assassin’s Creed drew loosely on the history of the Third Crusade and included an engrossing 3D environment that allowed players to explore 12th century Jerusalem, Damascus, Acre, and Masyaf. The game spawned its own franchise with 12 installments to date.
Candy Crush Saga: Candy Crush’s debut in 2012 helped propel the casual gaming frenzy. It combined traditional tile-matching with evolving mobile technology and an emergent free-to-play distribution model. With nearly three billion downloads (making it the most downloaded game on the Apple App Store) and a peak of nearly 300 million active users, it made gamers out ofa wide demographic of people from around the world.It also generated multiple spin-off games titles, but more importantly, it has inspired and influenced many of the free-to-play games that continue to dominate the mobile industry.
Civilization: Sid Meier’s Civilization became one of the most influential simulation and strategy games of all time after its release in 1991. Large in scope, the game invited players to develop their own empire over centuries of time, and the title launched a series of successor games including, in recent years, Civilization V and Civilization: Beyond Earth. With more than 33 million units sold, the popularity of the Civilization series disproves the common perception that it is always more fun to destroy than to create.
Dance Dance Revolution: Konami’s Dance Dance Revolution took Japanese arcades by storm in 1998, challenging players to use their balance and dexterity to step to the beat of popular music. The fast-paced game spread quickly to arcades across the world, and Konami spun out a home version of the game on the Sony PlayStation the following year. More than 100 versions of the game have been produced since 1998, and Dance Dance Revolution helped pave the way for iconic music games such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: Released for the Nintendo 64 gaming console in 1998, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time defined what a 3D action video game could be, influencing countless games that followed. The game’s combination of storytelling, puzzle-solving, and combat earned Ocarina of Time multiple “Game of the Year” awards in 1998. The game sold more than 7.6 million copies worldwide, and it continues to be recognized by players and critics alike as one of the best video games ever made.
Minesweeper: Microsoft debuted Minesweeper in 1992 as a preloaded game with its Windows software. This bite-sized logic puzzle hooked millions of computer users on the world of casual gaming, and even 30 years after its launch, its deft combination of simple design and complex cognitive challenges still charms players of all ages.
Ms. Pac-Man: Capitalizing on the success of the iconic Pac-Man arcade game, Midway launched Ms. Pac-Man in 1981. The sequel featured more sophisticated mazes, smarter opponents, and new challenges. It also reimagined the title character as female to acknowledge the girls and women who loved playing the first game.”. With its wide appeal, Ms. Pac-Man sold 125,000 cabinets within five years of its release, making it one of the five best-selling arcade games of all time.
NBA Jam: Midway Game’s NBA Jam jumped into the arcade in 1993. Its mixture of gravity-defying slam dunks, frenetic gameplay, over-the-top commentary, superior digitized graphics, and a roster of real and easily-recognizable NBA stars made it accessible to millions of players. It earned game operators $1 billion in revenues in its first year, and quickly cemented its place as the most important sports arcade game of all time.
PaRappa the Rapper: PaRappa the Rapper, a modestly rendered title for Sony’s PlayStation console, helped usher in the rhythm game genre after its launch in 1996. The game’s distinctive visuals, original songs, and accessible gameplay offered wide appeal across many age groups and an international audience. It set the stage for later music franchises such as Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, and Rock Band.
Resident Evil: Although it wasn’t the first horror video game, Resident Evil (or Biohazard as it was known in Japan)was the first game to popularize the “survival horror” genre. Created by game director Shinji Mikami and released by Capcom in 1996, Resident Evil spawned a billion-dollar media franchise while it helped demonstrate that video games could offer mature entertainment for older teenagers and adults.
Rogue: The fantasy adventure game Rogue debuted in 1980 and turned players into adventurers exploring dungeons, fighting monsters, wielding magic, and seeking treasure. The game had limited commercial success but its influence on the video game industry was immense. Rogue procedurally generated a new dungeon experience each playthrough, allowing for infinite “replayability.” It inspired an entire genre of games—often referred to as “roguelikes”—and forever changed the computer role-playing game market.
Words With Friends: For millions of people, Words With Friends was the first game they ever played on a smartphone. Launched in 2009, the game’s simple, turn-based, asynchronous gameplay (inspired by Scrabble) connected friends and family members in new and playful ways. It became a pop culture sensation played by a wide demographic of gamers, and even 13 years after its initial release, it continues to attract millions of monthly users.