In just a few days, BAFTA will announce the winners of its annual video game awards ceremony. Ahead of the event, gamers had the opportunity to vote for the most influential game of all time.

The final ranking consists of 21 titles, and if you thought DOOM, Half-Life, GTA 3, or Super Mario Bros. would take the top spot, you'd be mistaken. Instead, Shenmue claimed first place. It's a controversial choice, but there are some solid arguments in favor of this cult classic from 1999.

According to experts, Shenmue presented a dynamic and highly detailed world filled with NPCs living their own lives. Many of these mechanics later influenced open-world games, with the GTA series (both the original and GTA 3) being notable examples.

Interestingly, the list also reflects some recency bias. For example, Baldur's Gate 3 (a well-deserved spot, reinforced by Swen Vincke’s phenomenal speech at The Game Awards) and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II made the cut—though the latter's inclusion certainly raises questions.

Main image: steampowered.com

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