Overview
- The Strong National Museum of Play, which announced the 2026 class Thursday, inducted Angry Birds, Dragon Quest, FIFA International Soccer and Silent Hill into the World Video Game Hall of Fame.
- The new class is now installed in the museum’s Hall of Fame rotunda as part of the ESL Digital Worlds exhibit in Rochester, New York.
- The Hall evaluates nominees on influence, icon status, longevity and global reach, accepts public nominations, and relies on journalists and scholars for final advice.
- Curators cited each game’s impact: Angry Birds popularized touch-based mobile play, Dragon Quest shaped JRPG design, FIFA established a global sports franchise, and Silent Hill advanced psychological horror.
- The four beat a finalist slate that included Frogger, Galaga, League of Legends, Mega Man, PaRappa the Rapper, RuneScape, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Tokimeki Memorial.