These 12 Games Could Go Into A Video Game Hall Of Fame

The Strong Museum has announced the nominees for induction into its World Video Game Hall of Fame class for 2017. These include 12 well-known and influential titles, including Donkey Kong, Final Fantasy VII, Halo: Combat Evolved, Windows Solitaire, Mortal Kombat, Myst, Pokemon Red and Green, Portal, Resident Evil, Street Fighter II, Tomb Raider, and Wii Sports. This is the third wave of inductees, following rounds in 2016 and 2015.

The winners will be announced during a ceremony at The Strong museum in Rochester, New York on Thursday, May 4.

"These 12 World Video Game Hall of Fame finalists span decades, gaming platforms, and countries of origin--but what they all have in common is their undeniable impact on the world of gaming and popular culture," The Strong museum's Jon-Paul C. Dyson said in a statement.

"They're among the most influential games of all time."

The Strong museum let the public nominate games for induction, and responses came in from more than 100 countries. The finalists were chosen by an "international selection advisory committee" comprised of journalists and scholars connected to the video game industry.

There have been two classes of the Strong Museum's World Video Game Hall of Fame so far, including Doom, Grand Theft Auto III, The Legend of Zelda, The Oregon Trail, Pac-Man, Pong, The Sims, Sonic the Hedgehog, Space Invaders, Super Mario Bros., Tetris, and World of Warcraft. These are on permanent display at The Strong museum.

Games are recognized for a number of criteria, including "icon-status," longevity, and geographical reach, as well as impact on design and development on other games, pop culture, and society.

You can learn more about the criteria and selection process here on The Strong's website.