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'Pong' -

Frequently cited as the world's first commercial video game, Pong is a simple yet timeless ball game that pits two players against each other with tennis-like gameplay. Pong was first released on the Magnavox Odyssey, the first commercially available video game console, in 1972. Soon after, Atari adopted the concept and released the game in arcades.

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'Pac-Man' -

First introduced as an arcade game in 1980, Pac-Man has become one of the most iconic and enduring figures in video game history. Since the first 'Pac-Man' arcade game, numerous remakes, sequels, and spinoffs have been released, and the popularity has even led to two television shows and a hit single, Buckner & Garcia's 1981 track 'Pac-Man Fever.'

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'Donkey Kong' -

Nintendo's answer to the massively successful 'Pac-Man' arcade game was 1981's 'Donkey Kong,' which not only introduced the world to the titular gorilla, but also to Mario. The game became an arcade staple and is recognized as giving birth to some of the industry's most iconic characters.

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'Frogger' -

A well-loved classic of arcade games that has seen numerous remasters and rereleases, the original 'Frogger' arcade game was introduced in 1981 by Sega.

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'Galaga' -

One of the greatest and most popular arcade games in history, 'Galaga' was first introduced in 1981. The classic pits the player against an endless stream of enemy aliens and spaceships who are determined to put a stop to Earth's anonymous guardian.

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'Metroid' -

Nintendo's long-running 'Metroid' franchise introduced one of the industry's first female protagonists, Samus Aran, in 1986. The series follows Samus on her adventures defending the universe from space pirates and a dangerous, intelligent race of aliens known as metroids.

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'Tetris' -

Believe it or not, thanks to its modern resurgence as a mobile game, the classic 'Tetris' puzzle game franchise is the second-highest-grossing game franchise in the world. The game was first developed in 1988 by Soviet engineer Alexey Pajitnov.

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'Sonic the Hedgehog' -

Sonic, the fastest hedgehog in the universe, burst on the scene in 1991 as Sega's answer to Nintendo's hugely popular Mario franchise. The blue speed demon and his endless fight against the evil Eggman became part of video game lore, and have remained popular for over 30 years.

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'Street Fighter' -

Arguably the most popular arcade game of all time and certainly one of the most famous fighting franchises to ever be released, 'Street Fighter' first hit arcades in 1991, and pitted now-iconic characters like Ryu and Chun-Li.

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'Mario Kart' -

The favorite racing game of adults and kids alike for 30 years now, the 'Mario Kart' franchise began in 1992. Since then, the 'Mario Kart' games have put players in the driver's seat as some of Nintendo's most popular characters in a fast-paced and funny race to the finish.

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'Doom' -

One of the greatest shoot-em-up games in history, 'Doom' follows an anonymous space marine through a bloody and fast-paced rampage, fighting against droves of hostile aliens. Released in 1993 and selling 3.5 million copies, 'Doom' is widely considered one of the greatest games in history.

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'SimCity 2000' -

After its predecessor, 'SimCity,' popularized the city simulation genre in 1989, 'SimCity 2000' burst on the scene in 1993 to completely revolutionize the genre with a new, isometric gameplay view. It is considered one of the greatest games of all time.

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'Crash Bandicoot' -

Crash, the genetically enhanced bandicoot created by the evil Doctor Neo Cortex, has become a cult-favorite video game icon since his first appearance on the PlayStation in 1996.

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'Super Mario 64' -

Released in 1996, 'Super Mario 64' marked a milestone for everyone's favorite Italian plumber and video games as a whole. The game's huge, open world was Mario's first foray into a 3D world, and is often counted as one of the best games of all time.

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'Tomb Raider' -

The 'Tomb Raider' franchise that gave birth to the iconic and beloved Lara Croft character began in 1996, and has since crossed over from video games into the worlds of films and comics.

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'Resident Evil' -

To this day, the 'Resident Evil' franchise remains the industry standard when it comes to horror games. The first entry, released in 1996 for Sony's PlayStation console, gave birth to media's no. 1 highest-grossing horror franchise.

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'GoldenEye 007' -

Based on the popular James Bond film, 'GoldenEye 007' proved to be Nintendo's third best-selling game for their Nintendo 64 console. First released in 1997, 'GoldenEye 007' puts players in the first-person perspective of the world's greatest spy as they navigate numerous levels in an attempt to save the world.

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'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' -

Just as monumental as 'Super Mario 64' was 1998's 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.' This game also took advantage of the Nintendo 64's cutting-edge technical capabilities to put Link and his quest to save Hyrule in a 3D world that was larger and more complex than ever before.

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'Spyro the Dragon' -

Sony's beloved purple dragon, Spyro, first appeared in his own platformer game 'Spyro the Dragon' in 1998. The game was one of the most sought-after that holiday season, and Spyro himself has remained a beloved character into the 21st century.

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'Pokémon: Red & Blue' -

For decades, the 'Pokémon' media franchise has held a firm grip on the title of the most popular portable game series, ever since the international release of 'Pokémon: Red & Blue' in 1998. The two companion games follow almost identical storylines that lead the player through Japan's bright and colorful Kanto region in a quest to find and capture all 151 unique Pokémon creatures.

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'Metal Gear Solid' -

A continuation of Konami's 'Metal Gear' series, the 'Metal Gear Solid' franchise is the brainchild of renowned video game auteur Hideo Kojima and was released for the PlayStation in 1998. Kojima's series introduced the world to Solid Snake, one of the industry's most beloved protagonists, and revolutionized the stealth-action genre.

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'Super Smash Bros' -

Since its first version in 1999, 'Super Smash Bros' has become one of the most beloved fighting games in history, bringing characters from all across the industry into one massive battle royale free-for-all.

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'The Sims' -

'The Sims,' first released in 2000, along with its successors, has become one of the most popular computer games of all time, selling over 200 million copies.

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'Kingdom Hearts' -

The 'Kingdom Hearts' franchise is one of the most successful crossovers in pop culture history, combining some of the Disney Universe's most beloved characters with other familiar faces from the legendary 'Final Fantasy' series. The first 'Kingdom Hearts' game was released in 2002.

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'World of Warcraft' -

Released in 2004, when it comes to classic MMORPGs, it's hard to beat 'World of Warcraft' in terms of popularity. At its height, in 2010, 'World of Warcraft' boasted 12 million monthly subscribers.

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'Guitar Hero' -

The 'Guitar Hero' series of music-based rhythm games is a long-time favorite for kids and adults alike, due in large part to its included guitar-shaped controller that allows players to feel like real rock stars as they play along with music's greatest hits. It was first released in 2005.

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'Assassin's Creed' -

Since the release of the first installment in 2007, the 'Assassin's Creed' franchise has become one of the highest-grossing video game franchise in history. Following the stories of numerous members of the Order of Assassins and other adjacent characters, the series has been frequently hailed for its consistently cutting-edge movement mechanics, colorful storylines, and breathtaking settings.

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'Minecraft' -

'Minecraft' became an instant classic when the small, independently-developed game was released in 2009. The sandbox game, which allows players to create just about anything imaginable using cubic building blocks, has become one of the most successful video games of all time.

Sources: (Bored Panda) (Popular Mechanics)

See also: The impressive evolution of video game consoles

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