Wii Sports Joins the 2023 World Video Game Hall of Fame 

After 17 years since its release, Wii Sports has finally gained the recognition it deserves for The Strong to induct it into the World Video Game Hall of Fame. Since its release in 2006, Wii Sports has garnered widespread attention from the gaming community due to its simple nature of controls and its social elements in encouraging gaming parties. Furthermore, Wii Sports attends to many sports enthusiasts like golf, bowling, boxing, baseball, and tennis games.

However, the rise of Wii Sports was not only due to the game itself but also how Nintendo went a few steps further to turn Wii Sports into the ultimate showcase of their new hardware. For instance, by bundling a fresh copy of Wii Sports with their new console, Nintendo guaranteed that everyone who bought a Wii would experience its potential right out of the box. By doing so, Nintendo propelled Wii Sports as a game for gamers and non-gamers of all ages. Thus, after six years since their first nomination, Wii Sports finally joined the World Video Game Hall of Fame in 2023.

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What Is the World Video Game Hall of Fame?

The World Video Game Hall of Fame is an international hall of fame for video games launched in 2015. The people in charge of overseeing any administration process are The Strong. The Strong is a highly interactive, collections-based educational institution devoted to studying and exploring play by preserving and researching historical objects, manuscripts, and other materials that reflect and document the importance of play in American cultural history.

For example, after introducing the World Video Game Hall of Fame in 2015, they have reviewed 74 games with games like The Oregon Trail series or the FIFA series multiple times after nomination. Moreover, Wii Sports, after its first nomination in 2016, finally got their approval based on the four criteria they set, which are Icon Status, Longevity, Geographical Reach and Influence. Thus, by introducing the World Video Game Hall of Fame in 2015, they can learn the role of playing video games in learning and human development.

Why Was Wii Sports Selected? 

According to Aryol Prater, a research specialist for black play and culture at The Strong, Wii Sport was honoured for putting motion-based technology into living rooms across the world, where anyone from young children to older adults could grab a controller and join in virtual boxing, bowling, basketball, tennis matches and rounds of golf. Furthermore, Prater also praised their catering for older adults who embraced the games for their health and social benefits.

In his own words, Prater stated: “With more than 82 million copies sold, Wii Sports is one of the best-selling video games of all time, but its true influence comes from the fact that it made gamers out of millions of people around the world who never thought about playing one before. It became a gaming phenomenon as news stories proliferated about the game getting diverse groups of people — including those at many senior centres — off their couches and breaking a sweat with virtual bowling, tennis, and more.”

List of World Video Game Hall of Fame From 2015-2023

Other than Wii Sports, attached below is the list of games inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame From 2015-2023. 

• 2015 — Pong (1972), Pac-Man (1980), Tetris (1984), Super Mario Bros. (1985), Doom (1993), and World of Warcraft (2004).
• 2016 — The Legend of Zelda (1986), Sonic the Hedgehog (1991), Space Invaders (1978), Grand Theft Auto III (2001), The Oregon Trail (1971), and The Sims (2000).
• 2017 — Donkey Kong (1981), Halo: Combat Evolved (2001), Pokémon Red and Green (1996), and Street Fighter II (1991).
• 2018 — Spacewar! (1962), John Madden Football (1990), Tomb Raider (1996), and Final Fantasy VII (1997).
• 2019 — Colossal Cave Adventure (1976), Microsoft Windows Solitaire (1990), Mortal Kombat (1992), and Super Mario Kart (1992).
• 2020 — Bejeweled (2001), Centipede (1981), King’s Quest (1980), and Minecraft (2011).
• 2021 — Animal Crossing (2001), Microsoft Flight Simulator (1982), StarCraft (1998), and Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (1985).
• 2022 — The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998), Ms. Pac-Man (1982), Dance Dance Revolution (1998), and Sid Meier’s Civilization (1991).
• 2023 — Barbie Fashion Designer (1996), Computer Space (1971), The Last of Us (2013), Wii Sports (2006).

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Concluding Remarks 

In conclusion, the induction of Wii Sports into the World Video Game Hall of Fame is justifiable due to its Longevity, Status, Influence and Geographical Reach. Furthermore, the game has revolutionised the social gaming community and games in general, as multiplayer games are the norm for gaming developers and gamers. What do you think about Wii Sports’s induction into the World Video Game Hall of Hame? Let us know on our Facebook, Instagram and X pages. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Other Games Besides Wii Sports Were Selected to Join the World Video Game Hall of Fame？

To put into perspective, The Strong will choose 4 games yearly to include in the World Video Game Hall of Fame. In 2023, The Strong has selected Wii Sports, The Last of Us, Barbie Fashion Designer and Computer Space. While we still are unsure what games they will include next year, Baldur’s Gate 3 is definitely one of the games people will vote for, as it is near perfection.

Which Games Did Wii Sports Beat in the Race for the World Video Game Hall of Fame?

While we are unsure of the amount of nominees per year for the World Video Game Hall of Fame, the last round of nominees recently are usually 12. Thus, after Wii Sports induction with The Last of Us, Barbie Fashion Designer and Computer Space, it means that Age of Empires, Ensemble Studios, Angry Bird, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, FIFA International Soccer, GoldenEye 007, NBA 2K, Quake and Wizardry loss.

How Do Video Games Become Eligible for the World Video Game Hall of Fame?

Video games become eligible for the World Video Game Hall of Fame by meeting the Strong’s four criteria, which are Icon Status – the game is widely recognisable; Longevity – the game has enjoyed popularity over time; Geographical Reach – the game meets the above criteria across international boundaries and; Influence – the game has exerted significant impact on the design and development of other games, on other forms of entertainment, or on popular culture and society.