The Strong’s World Video Game Hall of Fame just revealed the 12 finalists for the 2026 class and the list is a genuinely fascinating mix of arcade legends, genre-defining RPGs, horror icons, and billion-player online giants. The 12 nominees 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. Several of these are first-time finalists including Silent Hill, Mega Man, and League of Legends — which would become the largest multiplayer game ever inducted if it wins.

The criteria for induction are not just about popularity. Every game must demonstrate icon status, longevity, geographical reach, and genuine cultural or design influence to qualify. That framework is why games like Skyrim, which has been ported to everything from Amazon Alexa to smart refrigerators and has sold over 60 million copies, and RuneScape, which is still actively played by millions 25 years after launch, are serious contenders against arcade classics like Galaga and Frogger that defined what video games even were for an entire generation.

Fans can vote right now through March 13 at worldvideogamehalloffame.org as part of the Player’s Choice ballot. The top three games by public vote will form a single ballot that joins votes from an international committee of gaming journalists and scholars. GDC attendees in San Francisco this week will also cast a collective ballot. The final inductees are announced in a ceremony on May 7, 2026 at The Strong’s new ESL Digital Worlds exhibit in Rochester, New York.

EXCLUSIVE: The 12 Games Fighting for a Spot in the Video Game Hall of Fame in 2026 Are Here 🎮🔥