### Platformers
1. **Super Mario Bros. (1985)**
- **Pop Culture:** Mario became an iconic character worldwide.
- **Business Impact:** Revitalized the video game industry post-1983 crash.
- **Trends:** Set the standard for side-scrolling platformers.
2. **Super Mario 64 (1996)**
- **Pop Culture:** Redefined Mario in 3D.
- **Business Impact:** Major success for the N64, influenced future 3D games.
- **Trends:** Revolutionized 3D platforming with its open-world design and controls.
3. **Donkey Kong (1981)**
- **Pop Culture:** Introduced Mario (originally "Jumpman") and Donkey Kong.
- **Business Impact:** One of the earliest successful arcade platformers.
- **Trends:** Popularized platform gameplay and character-driven narratives.
### First-Person Shooters (FPS)
4. **Doom (1993)**
- **Pop Culture:** Popularized the FPS genre and multiplayer deathmatches.
- **Business Impact:** Huge sales, leading to a series and many imitators.
- **Trends:** Introduced modding community and first-person perspective in gaming.
5. **Half-Life (1998)**
- **Pop Culture:** Lauded for its immersive storytelling and gameplay.
- **Business Impact:** High sales, leading to the creation of Valve and Steam.
- **Trends:** Advanced AI, narrative-driven FPS, and physics-based gameplay.
6. **Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)**
- **Pop Culture:** Defined modern military FPS.
- **Business Impact:** Massive sales, spawned annual releases.
- **Trends:** Popularized online multiplayer and cinematic single-player campaigns.
### Role-Playing Games (RPGs)
7. **Final Fantasy VII (1997)**
- **Pop Culture:** Iconic characters and story.
- **Business Impact:** Boosted PlayStation sales and popularized JRPGs in the West.
- **Trends:** Cinematic storytelling and pre-rendered backgrounds.
8. **The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)**
- **Pop Culture:** Vast modding community and widespread recognition.
- **Business Impact:** Huge sales, long-lasting popularity.
- **Trends:** Open-world exploration, player freedom.
9. **Pokémon Red/Blue (1996)**
- **Pop Culture:** Created a global phenomenon.
- **Business Impact:** Launched a multimedia franchise.
- **Trends:** Monster-collecting gameplay.
### Action-Adventure
10. **The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)**
- **Pop Culture:** Considered one of the greatest games of all time.
- **Business Impact:** High sales, defining title for the N64.
- **Trends:** 3D open-world design, lock-on targeting.
11. **Grand Theft Auto III (2001)**
- **Pop Culture:** Defined the open-world genre.
- **Business Impact:** Major commercial success.
- **Trends:** Non-linear storytelling, sandbox gameplay.
12. **Resident Evil (1996)**
- **Pop Culture:** Established survival horror as a genre.
- **Business Impact:** High sales, spawning a long-running franchise.
- **Trends:** Survival horror gameplay, resource management, cinematic storytelling.
### Fighting Games
13. **Street Fighter II (1991)**
- **Pop Culture:** Iconic characters and competitive play.
- **Business Impact:** Major arcade and home console success.
- **Trends:** Defined the fighting game genre, combo mechanics.
14. **Tekken 3 (1997)**
- **Pop Culture:** Popularized 3D fighting mechanics.
- **Business Impact:** Strong arcade and home console presence.
- **Trends:** Advanced 3D graphics, deep fighting mechanics.
15. **Super Smash Bros. (1999)**
- **Pop Culture:** Cross-over of Nintendo characters.
- **Business Impact:** Best-selling fighting game series.
- **Trends:** Unique platform fighting mechanics.
### Strategy
16. **Warcraft: Orcs & Humans (1994)**
- **Pop Culture:** Popularized real-time strategy (RTS).
- **Business Impact:** Led to Blizzard’s rise, Warcraft series.
- **Trends:** Resource management, faction-based gameplay.
17. **StarCraft (1998)**
- **Pop Culture:** E-sports phenomenon, especially in South Korea.
- **Business Impact:** Massive sales, long-term competitive scene.
- **Trends:** Asymmetrical factions, competitive RTS.
18. **Civilization (1991)**
- **Pop Culture:** "One more turn" syndrome.
- **Business Impact:** Long-running series, significant sales.
- **Trends:** Turn-based strategy, empire-building.
### Simulation
19. **The Sims (2000)**
- **Pop Culture:** Life simulation phenomenon.
- **Business Impact:** Best-selling PC game series.
- **Trends:** Sandbox gameplay, user-generated content.
20. **SimCity (1989)**
- **Pop Culture:** Iconic city-building game.
- **Business Impact:** Popularized simulation games.
- **Trends:** Urban planning and management gameplay.
21. **Animal Crossing (2001)**
- **Pop Culture:** Beloved life simulation, especially during the pandemic.
- **Business Impact:** High sales, strong community.
- **Trends:** Real-time gameplay, social simulation.
### Puzzle
22. **Tetris (1984)**
- **Pop Culture:** Timeless and universally recognized.
- **Business Impact:** Hugely successful on multiple platforms.
- **Trends:** Addictive puzzle mechanics.
23. **Portal (2007)**
- **Pop Culture:** Known for its unique gameplay and humor.
- **Business Impact:** Critically acclaimed, solidified Valve’s reputation.
- **Trends:** Puzzle-platforming, innovative physics-based gameplay.
24. **Myst (1993)**
- **Pop Culture:** Atmospheric and narrative-driven.
- **Business Impact:** Best-selling PC game of its time.
- **Trends:** First-person adventure, immersive storytelling.
### Racing
25. **Mario Kart 64 (1996)**
- **Pop Culture:** Popularized fun, family-friendly racing games.
- **Business Impact:** Major success for the N64, long-running series.
- **Trends:** Kart racing genre, multiplayer fun.
26. **Gran Turismo (1997)**
- **Pop Culture:** Known for its realism and car collection.
- **Business Impact:** Best-selling PlayStation game, influenced car culture.
- **Trends:** Realistic driving simulation, detailed car models.
27. **Need for Speed (1994)**
- **Pop Culture:** Popularized street racing and car customization.
- **Business Impact:** Long-running series with numerous successful titles.
- **Trends:** High-speed chases, customization options.
### Souls-like
28. **Demon's Souls (2009)**
- **Pop Culture:** Cult classic, started the Souls-like subgenre.
- **Business Impact:** Influenced a series of successful sequels and similar games.
- **Trends:** Challenging gameplay, dark fantasy setting.
29. **Dark Souls (2011)**
- **Pop Culture:** "Prepare to Die" ethos, strong community.
- **Business Impact:** Critical and commercial success.
- **Trends:** Punishing difficulty, deep lore, and interconnected world design.
30. **Bloodborne (2015)**
- **Pop Culture:** Gothic horror influence.
- **Business Impact:** Significant sales, PlayStation 4 system seller.
- **Trends:** Fast-paced combat, atmospheric world-building.
### Classic Arcade
31. **Pong (1972)**
- **Pop Culture:** One of the earliest arcade video games.
- **Business Impact:** Pioneered the commercial video game industry.
- **Trends:** Simple gameplay mechanics, competitive play.
32. **Pac-Man (1980)**
- **Pop Culture:** Iconic character, massive merchandise.
- **Business Impact:** One of the highest-grossing arcade games.
- **Trends:** Maze-chase genre, character-driven gameplay.
33. **Space Invaders (1978)**
- **Pop Culture:** Defined the shooter genre.
- **Business Impact:** Sparked the golden age of arcade games.
- **Trends:** Fixed shooter mechanics, high-score competition.
### Tactical Role-Playing Games (RPGs)
34. **Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (1990)**
- **Pop Culture:** Introduced the Fire Emblem series and popularized tactical RPGs in Japan.
- **Business Impact:** Established a long-running and influential franchise.
- **Trends:** Permadeath mechanic, character-driven narratives, grid-based combat.
35. **Final Fantasy Tactics (1997)**
- **Pop Culture:** Revered for its deep story and complex gameplay.
- **Business Impact:** Strong sales and critical acclaim.
- **Trends:** Job system, tactical grid-based battles.
36. **XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2012)**
- **Pop Culture:** Revived interest in tactical RPGs.
- **Business Impact:** Successful reboot leading to a renewed series.
- **Trends:** Turn-based tactics, base management, permadeath.