A dozen finalists are fighting a battle for video game glory.
The Strong’s World Video Game Hall of Fame in Rochester, New York dropped the curtain on the finalists that are vying for a coveted spot in the Hall. Several of this year’s titles have caused an impact on the toy department over the years, inspiring action figures, vehicles, plush, and more since their release.
“It’s always difficult to narrow the World Video Game Hall of Fame nominations down to just 12 finalists because there are so many games that have had an enormous influence on popular culture or the video game industry itself. This year’s finalists are some heavy hitters,” says Jon-Paul C. Dyson, Director of The Strong’s International Center for the History of Electronic Games. “Angry Birds turned millions of smartphone users into gamers. FIFA International Soccer is a worldwide best-seller with every yearly update. Computer Space was the very first arcade machine — so its importance in history can’t be overstated. And then there’s a brilliant game like The Last of Us, which has become a smash hit TV show for HBO.”
The 2023 World Video Game Hall of Fame finalists are Age of Empires, Angry Birds, Barbie Fashion Designer, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Computer Space, FIFA International Soccer, GoldenEye 007, The Last of Us, NBA 2K, Quake, Wii Sports, and Wizardry.
Public voting for the Player’s Choice ballot runs through March 22 via the Hall’s official website.
The Strong will honor this year’s inductees in a virtual ceremony on May 4.
