Twelve video games are in the running for induction into the World Video Game Hall of Fame this year.
Officials at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester announced the finalists for the 2026 class on Thursday. The list includes a mix of arcade classics, console hits, and modern online and mobile games.
The finalists are Angry Birds, Dragon Quest, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, FIFA International Soccer, Frogger, Galaga, League of Legends, Mega Man, PaRappa the Rapper, RuneScape, Silent Hill, and Tokimeki Memorial.
Jon-Paul C. Dyson, director of the International Center for the History of Electronic Games at The Strong, said the finalists represent a wide range of eras and platforms, from 1970s arcade games to 1990s PC titles and one of the most popular mobile games ever created.
Fans can help choose this year’s inductees by voting in a “Player’s Choice” ballot from March 5 through March 13 at the World Video Game Hall of Fame website. The three games receiving the most public votes will be grouped together on a single ballot that will be considered alongside ballots from the International Selection Advisory Committee, made up of journalists and scholars from around the world.
Attendees at the Game Developers Conference will also have an opportunity to vote, with their collective choices forming an additional ballot.
The final inductees will be announced during a ceremony at The Strong on May 7 at 10:30 a.m. The hall of fame is located in its new home within the museum’s ESL Digital Worlds exhibit.
Established in 2015, the World Video Game Hall of Fame recognizes games that have achieved widespread recognition, demonstrated longevity, reached audiences across international boundaries, and significantly influenced the video game industry or popular culture.
