The Last of Us, Barbie Fashion Designer headline Video Game Hall of Fame 2023 class

Four inductees joined the World Video Game Hall of Fame at the Strong National Museum of Play, announced the organizers on Thursday: Barbie Fashion designer, Computer room, The last of usAnd Wii Sports. Recognized by the Hall of Fame for their influence on popular culture or on the gaming industry, the quartet of classic games will be on display this summer at the extensive The Strong National Museum of Play.

The 2023 World Video Game Hall of Fame inductees beat a strong list of nominees for this year’s recording, a group of finalists that also included Age of Empires, Angry Birds, Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare, FIFA International footballGolden Eye 007, NBA2K, Earthquake, And Wizardry.

In a press release, The Strong describes the impact of each game, starting with Digital Domain and Mattel Media’s Barbie CD-ROM game. Barbie fashion designerthe organizers noted, helped prove a market for games aimed at girls.

“Barbie fashion designer became a starting point for the girl games movement and shook up the software and gaming scene,” said collection manager Kristy Hisert. “It also led to important questions and discussions. What does it mean to be game for girls? Should there be games ‘for girls’ at all? What are the implications of these games? What are the consequences of gendering games?”

Original from Naughty Dog The last of us was praised by the Strong for its “deep storytelling, intimate exploration of humanity, thrilling game jumps and cutscenes, and memorable characters.”

“The last of us continues to be popular for its quality of gameplay and strong story,” video game curator Lindsey Kurano said in a statement.

Nintendos Wii Sport was a turning point for gaming; like it Barbie fashion designer, Wii Sports an untapped market. Aryol Prater, research specialist for Black games and culture, noted that Wii Sports “made gamers out of millions of people around the world who never thought of playing one before. It became a gaming phenomenon as news spread about the game getting various groups of people — including those in many senior centers — off their couches and working up a sweat with virtual bowling, tennis, and more.

Finally, Computer rooma title inspired by a previous World Video Game Hall of Fame inductee Space war, breaking new ground for being the first commercial video game. For Computer room‘s release in 1971, there really was no commercial ‘video game industry’.

“Computer room didn’t bring video games to the masses,” said Jeremy Saucier, assistant vice president for interpretation and electronic games, “but by showing that video games could reach a paying audience outside of computer labs, it laid the groundwork for the gaming industry.”

Barbie fashion designer, Computer room, The last of usAnd Wii Sports join last year’s inductees, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Mrs. Pac man, from Sid Meier CivilizationAnd Dance Dance Revolution, as Hall of Fame games. A total of 40 games have now been recognized by the World Video Game Hall of Fame.