Ocarina of Time Nominated For Induction Into the Video Game Hall of Fame
Posted on March 18 2022 by Alexis S. Anderson
Arguably the best game ever made, Ocarina of Time, has yet to claim a spot in The Strong National Museum of Play’s World Video Game Hall of Fame. The museum started honoring influential games in the industry in 2015, but this is the first year Ocarina of Time has made the shortlist of nominees. It is joined by other iconic games like Dance Dance Revolution and Microsoft Minesweeper. An International Selection Advisory Committee of gaming journalists and scholars will vote on the winners, but the public can also chime in. The Player’s Choice ballot carries the weight of one judge, and voting will be open through March 24th if you’d like to voice your support for one of the twelve nominees.
The full list of this year’s finalists is as follows:
- Assassin’s Creed
- Candy Crush
- Dance Dance Revolution
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- Microsoft Minesweeper
- Ms. Pac-Man
- NBA Jam
- PaRappa the Rapper
- Resident Evil
- Rogue
- Sid Meier’s Civilization
- Words with Friends
Traditionally four games are inducted per year, but greater numbers have been honored in the past. As anyone can nominate a game for consideration, it is quite a feat just to be a finalist. It is surprising, though, that Ocarina of Time isn’t already an inductee, and even more surprising that this is its first time as a finalist given that it frequently appears high on Best Video Games of All Time lists. But, other industry powerhouses like Tetris, Donkey Kong, and The Legend of Zelda itself have snapped up earlier spots. You can see all 32 current honorees here.
The Strong Museum discussed Ocarina of Time’s inclusion on the shortlist saying this:
Released for the Nintendo 64 gaming console in 1998, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time defined what a 3D action video game could be, influencing countless games that followed. The game’s combination of storytelling, puzzle-solving, and combat earned Ocarina of Time multiple “Game of the Year” awards in 1998. The game sold more than 7.6 million copies worldwide, and it continues to be recognized by players and critics alike as one of the best video games ever made.
The winners will be announced on May 5th at 10:30am during a virtual ceremony. You can learn more about The Strong Museum and this year’s nominees here.
Are you excited to see Ocarina of Time so close to induction into the Hall of Fame? Are there any games on the list of finalists that surprise you? Let us know in the comments.
Source: Strong National Museum of Play (via Nintendo Life)
Alexis S. Anderson is a Senior Editor at Zelda Dungeon who joined the writing team in November, 2014. She has a JD from the UCLA School of Law and is pursuing a career in Entertainment and Intellectual Property Law. She grew up in the New Jersey suburbs with her parents, twin brother, and family shih-tzu.
