Greatness Recognized: Quake, GoldenEye 007, and Tamagotchi Enter the Video Game Hall of Fame

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Some games are good. Some are excellent. But a rare few achieve true greatness—titles that leave a permanent mark on gaming history. For the past ten years, the National Museum of Play has been honoring these legendary creations by inducting them into the Video Game Hall of Fame. And in 2025, four more icons have earned their place among the all-time greats.

This year’s inductees are:

  • Quake

  • GoldenEye 007

  • Tamagotchi

  • Defender

Unlike some awards determined by closed-door panels, these inductees were chosen by public vote, making their win a testament to their lasting impact on players around the world. It was a close race—these four narrowly edged out other popular finalists like Angry Birds, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Age of Empires, Frogger, Harvest Moon, and Mattel Football.

Quake

A Look Back at Past Legends

Each year, the Hall of Fame continues to honor gaming milestones. In:

  • 2024: Resident Evil, Myst, SimCity, Asteroids, and Ultima were inducted.

  • 2023: The Last of Us, Wii Sports, Barbie Fashion Designer, and Computer Space received the honor.

  • 2022: Sid Meier’s Civilization, Ms. Pac-Man, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and Dance Dance Revolution took their place in gaming history.

With the 2025 class now enshrined, the Video Game Hall of Fame continues to preserve and celebrate the games that shaped generations—and still spark joy today.

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