Video Game Hall of Fame Welcomes Tamagotchi, Quake, GoldenEye 007, and Defender in 2025 Induction Ceremony

In 2025, the International Center for the History of Video Games at the Strong Museum in New York inducted the pet simulator Tamagotchi, the iconic shooter Quake, GoldenEye 007, and the arcade classic Defender into the World Video Game Hall of Fame.

The project administration noted that Tamagotchi, released in 1996, set a trend for caring for digital pets, becoming a significant mobile entertainment phenomenon.

On the other hand, the celebrated game Quake was recognized for its groundbreaking 3D engine and engaging online multiplayer, forming the foundation for the rise of esports and contemporary shooters.

Defender earned its place in the hall for its revolutionary arcade mechanics, characterized by high difficulty and fast-paced action. GoldenEye 007 gained its honorable spot for its pioneering gameplay and local multiplayer experience for four players.

Currently, the World Video Game Hall of Fame features a total of 49 games, including the aforementioned titles:

— Pong (inducted in 2015);
— Tetris (inducted in 2015);
— DOOM (inducted in 2015), 1993, id Software;
— World of Warcraft (inducted in 2015);
— Super Mario Bros. (inducted in 2015), 1985, Nintendo;
— Pac-Man (inducted in 2015), 1980, Namco;
— Sonic the Hedgehog (inducted in 2016);
— The Sims (inducted in 2016);
— Grand Theft Auto III (inducted in 2016);
— The Oregon Trail (inducted in 2016);
— The Legend of Zelda (inducted in 2016);
— Space Invaders (inducted in 2016);
— Donkey Kong (inducted in 2017), 1981, Nintendo;
— Pokémon Red and Green (inducted in 2017);
— Street Fighter II (inducted in 2017), 1991, Capcom;
— Halo: Combat Evolved (inducted in 2017);
— John Madden Football (inducted in 2018), 1988, Electronic Arts (EA);
— Spacewar! (inducted in 2018);
— Final Fantasy VII (inducted in 2018), 1987, Square;
— Tomb Raider (inducted in 2018), 1996, Core Design;
— Colossal Cave Adventure (inducted in 2019);
— Microsoft Solitaire (inducted in 2019);
— Mortal Kombat (inducted in 2019);
— Super Mario Kart (inducted in 2019), 1992, Nintendo;
— Bejeweled (inducted in 2020), 2001, PopCap Games;
— Centipede (inducted in 2020), 1981, designers Ed Logg and Dona Bailey;
— King’s Quest (inducted in 2020), 1984;
— Minecraft (inducted in 2020);
— Animal Crossing (inducted in 2021);
— Microsoft Flight Simulator (inducted in 2021);
— StarCraft (inducted in 2021), 1995, Blizzard Entertainment;
— Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (inducted in 2021);
— Dance Dance Revolution (inducted in 2022);
— The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (inducted in 2022);
— Ms. Pac-Man (inducted in 2022);
— Sid Meier’s Civilization (inducted in 2022);
— Barbie Fashion Designer (inducted in 2023);
— Computer Space (inducted in 2023);
— The Last of Us (inducted in 2023);
— Wii Sports (inducted in 2023);
— Asteroids (inducted in 2024);
— Myst (inducted in 2024);
— Resident Evil (inducted in 2024);
— SimCity (inducted in 2024);
— Ultima (inducted in 2024).