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Some games change everything. Over the last several decades, video games have evolved rapidly, thanks to developers who kept finding new ways to surprise us with the tools they had. Their ideas gave us the franchises we still celebrate and the genre landmarks that continue to influence what games look like today.

In more than 50 years of game development, millions of titles have graced an evergrowing list of platforms. We have played in arcades, on personal computers, on home consoles and handhelds, and now on phones and tablets, along with virtual reality and augmented reality hardware. It’s an industry that has grown into a global market projected to approach $200 billion USD in 2025.

Timeless puzzle games like Tetris, ambitious Metroidvanias such as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and story-driven stealth action games like Metal Gear Solid did not come from limitless budgets or magic technology. They came from teams and industry visionaries who learned their hardware inside and out, then used it in smart, sometimes unexpected ways. The result was more than entertainment. Those games raised expectations for what the medium could do.

In this issue, we look at the birth of gaming, the rise and fall of arcades, the evolution of home consoles, and the growth of professional and personal computers by highlighting what we believe are some of the most important games in the medium’s history. Many early computers and game systems entered the home by emphasizing productivity first, then proved themselves as great gaming platforms. Along the way, they helped spark innovation and created the kind of nostalgia that lasts. 

With contributions from more than 25 authors, our team has worked tirelessly to bring this special issue together. We hope you enjoy it!

Ryan Burger, Publisher
Jarrod Kailef, Editor-in-Chief
Tristan Ibarra, Lead Graphic Design and Magazine Layout