The 2025 edition of the World Video Game Hall of Fame has brought much-awaited news to fans of first-person shooters: Quake, the iconic title developed by id Software in 1996, is now part of the select group of video games that, according to The Strong museum in New York, have marked a before and after in the history of digital entertainment. Beside Quake, other big names like GoldenEye 007, Defender y Tamagotchi have received this recognition, thus consolidating themselves as references that have influenced both popular culture and the video game industry itself.
This addition is a tribute to the trajectory of Quake, a title that revolutionized action games thanks to its 3D graphics engine, the focus on competitive multiplayer and the creation of an active community around mods. It is no coincidence that Quake has been considered one of the precursors of eSports and online gaming as we know them today, allowing players to compete against each other through dedicated servers and establishing technical standards that have been maintained for decades.
Quake's footprint in the industry
Quake debuted almost 30 years ago And its influence continues to this day. The Strong National Museum of Play highlights how Quake's 3D engine represented a technological leap that marked the evolution of first-person shooters. The client-server architecture was pioneering, allowing for multiplayer games. fluent and laying the groundwork for the proliferation of eSports. You can also check out how the Quake remaster has revitalized its impact on the current scene at the Quake remaster.
Furthermore, Quake opened the door to the creation and distribution of mods, giving rise to projects as important as Team Fortress, whose success would eventually lead to hugely popular independent titles. The Quake community not only expanded the lifespan and reach of the original, but also helped define an essential part of gaming culture: the ability to customize and experiment with the games we love.
Chosen of 2025
The ceremony held at the museum itself in Rochester, New York, served to remember the legacy of the other award-winning titles along with QuakeAs the jury highlighted, the selection criteria revolve around the iconicity, legacy, international reach e influences in industry and society. Thus, both GoldenEye 007 , the Defender y Tamagotchi have left their mark: the former for making console multiplayer a massive experience, Defender for raising the difficulty and competitiveness in arcades, and Tamagotchi for bringing virtual pet simulation to several generations of players.
Quake co-creator John Romero himself participated in the celebration and recalled how the development It represented an evolution compared to other id Software titles such as Doom, betting on a technology that was unprecedented at the time and imagining new forms of online interactionTo delve deeper into the history of pioneering games, you can visit the selection of classics without emulators.
An open and participatory selection process
Each year, the World Video Game Hall of Fame selects 12 finalists based on nominations from fans and experts. An international panel of journalists and academics, along with public voting, then determines which games will become part of the permanent exhibition. This year, Quake's inclusion was recognized for its historical and technical impact, cementing its legacy among the most influential titles of all time.
This time, the list of contenders included well-known names such as Age of Empires, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Angry Birds, Frogger, and NBA 2K, but only four titles managed to pass all the filters and join the collection. To date, 49 games have earned this recognition, a testament to their ability to stand the test of time and continue to influence new generations of gamers and developers.
The Quake Code: A Living Legacy
One of the most remarkable aspects of Quake, according to the museum's curators, is that its code is still relevant today. It is one of the few video games whose base engine It is still used in modern projects, and many current developers acknowledge Quake's direct influence in both technical and creative terms. To better understand this influence, check out the Quake demo with ray tracing.
The words of Lindsey Kurano, curator of electronic games at The Strong, sums up the impact: “Few games can boast that their DNA—their code—is still present in current titles, even several decades after their release.”
Quake's entry into the World Video Game Hall of Fame is therefore a recognition not only of its initial success, but of a relevance that is still alive Almost thirty years later, Quake can now boast of being in the same room as other undisputed classics and of having marked the path of the multiplayer shooters, the competitive scene and the creative freedom of the modder community.