Shenmue has been voted the most influential video game of all time from the BAFTA Games awards!

The classic from Yu Suzuki beats out competition from massive hitters such as GTA, Super Mario and more to top the charts on this public vote.

CLICK HERE TO READ!

Shenmue has been recognised as the game that changed it all!

Even SEGA Japan took note despite staying silent for the 25th anniversary in December 2024

https://twitter.com/SEGA_OFFICIAL/status/1907590636473323603

And a lovely message from YSNET was posted in the last few hours:

It is an honor to see Shenmue receive this prestigious award. It brings me great joy to know that our pursuit—to capture the essence of the real world within a game—continues to reach and resonate with so many hearts. Thank you, truly, from the bottom of my heart. –Yu Suzuki https://t.co/3wo5zySfmI

— YS NET Inc. (@YSNET_Inc) April 3, 2025

Lets see if any publishers are watching this!

Talking about publishers, Dennis Mendel who is “Developing Business and Publishing Activites at United Games Entertainment” and head of ININ Games posted a message about Shenmue winning a Bafta over on LinkedIn:

Other Game Industry legends also had kind words to say about Shenmue:

Congrats to Shenmue! It's a fantastic game. And DOOM is at #2! There's always room to improve, so I'm grateful for and happy with that spot. Thanks @BAFTAGames! https://t.co/jDNDLtYKu9

— John Romero 🤘🏽 (@romero) April 3, 2025

Wow. Two months after its release, BAFTA has rated us as the seventh most influential game of all time! And in the top spot is my beloved Shenmue! I'm invited to a Bentley whisky tasting today, so I'm motivated to celebrate! https://t.co/KAb63sBb4G

— Daniel Vávra ⚔ (@DanielVavra) April 3, 2025

As previously seen, the love for Shenmue and it’s influence on gaming has been recognised by some real notable individuals:

Thanks for making open world a thing, @yu_suzuki_jp! #Cyberpunk2077 x @Shenmue_3 👊🏼#gamescom2019 pic.twitter.com/BCJOhALm1X

— Cyberpunk 2077 (@CyberpunkGame) August 21, 2019

CONGRATULATIONS SHENMUE COMMUNITY! THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU COME TOGETHER!

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UPDATE:

Following the news breaking, a multitude of Gaming News Sites and even the Mainstream Media have picked up this incredible feat and released their own respective articles.

ITV even shared the triumph during their main news segment, the full portion of the news program is available to watch here:

Please find below a list of all of the various articles posted across the world below. We will update this page as and when we spot more of this fantastic coverage that Shenmue is getting!

• 3D Juegos – https://www.3djuegos.com/juegos/shenmue/noticias/25-anos-despues-mejor-fracaso-sega-se-convierte-juego-influyente-historia-encima-metal-gear-solid-doom
• 4Gamer – https://www.4gamer.net/games/416/G041647/20250403088/
• AS MeriStation – https://as.com/meristation/noticias/ni-mario-ni-gta-este-es-el-juego-mas-influyente-segun-una-encuesta-de-bafta-n/
• Bafta – https://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/most-influential-video-games-of-all-time-poll
• DTF – https://dtf.ru/games/3679312-shenmue-vliyatelnaya-igra-bafta
• Daily Mail – https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-14565491/Cult-classic-Shenmue-named-influential-game-time-Bafta-poll.html
• Digital Journal – https://www.digitaljournal.com/business/shenmue-voted-most-influential-video-game-ever-in-uk-poll/article
• EuroGamer – https://www.eurogamer.net/shenmue-voted-most-influential-game-of-all-time-in-bafta-poll-beating-doom-and-mario
• Famitsu – https://www.famitsu.com/article/202504/38845
• Forbes.com – https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattgardner1/2025/04/03/shenmue-named-baftas-most-influential-game-ever-in-shock-poll/
• France 24 – https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250403-shenmue-voted-most-influential-video-game-ever-in-uk-poll
• Games Latest News – https://gameslatestnews.com/2025/04/04/shenmue-tops-bafta-influential-games-poll/
• Game Rant – https://gamerant.com/bafta-poll-most-influence-video-game-best-shenmue/
• Game Reactor – https://www.gamereactor.eu/bafta-poll-names-a-surprising-title-as-the-most-influential-game-of-all-time-1523493/
• Game Reactor France – https://www.gamereactor.fr/un-sondage-des-bafta-designe-un-titre-surprenant-comme-le-jeu-le-plus-influent-de-tous-les-temps-1798203/
• Gaming Yugatech – https://gaming.yugatech.com/gaming/shenmue-crowned-most-influential-game-of-all-time-in-bafta-player-poll/
• Gamezilla – https://www.gamezilla.it/shenmue-sul-podio-il-pubblico-dei-bafta-celebra-un-capolavoro/
• GTA Boom – https://www.gtaboom.com/Grand_Theft_Auto_Robbed_by_Unlikely_Game_in_BAFTA_Poll
• IGN –https://www.ign.com/articles/bafta-announces-the-most-influential-video-game-of-all-time-and-its-a-real-head-scratcher
• IGN Japan – https://jp.ign.com/shenmue12/78991/news/
• IGN Latin America – https://latam.ign.com/baldurs-gate-iii/107724/news/los-bafta-anuncian-el-videojuego-mas-influyente-de-todos-los-tiempos-y-es-uno-que-no-hubieras-imagin
• IGN Spain – https://es.ign.com/videojuegos/214966/news/bafta-anuncia-el-videojuego-mas-influyente-de-todos-los-tiempos-y-es-una-verdadera-sorpresa
• Inverse – https://www.inverse.com/gaming/shenmue-bafta-doom-zelda-super-mario-bros
• ITV – https://www.itv.com/news/2025-04-03/shenmue-the-most-influential-video-game-of-all-time-according-to-bafta-poll
• La Libre – https://www.lalibre.be/dernieres-depeches/2025/04/03/shenmue-elu-jeu-video-le-plus-influent-de-tous-les-temps-IY5I6GF7JNFIJCWDR5UFZNOZOU/
• Msn – https://www.msn.com/en-gb/entertainment/news/cult-classic-shenmue-named-most-influential-game-of-all-time-in-bafta-poll/ar-AA1CbmmX
• PC Gamer – https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/the-baftas-declares-shenmue-and-a-game-that-came-out-2-months-ago-more-influential-than-tetris-and-expects-us-to-all-just-go-along-with-that/
• Playstation Universe – https://www.psu.com/news/bafta-has-named-shenmue-as-the-most-influential-video-game-of-all-time/
• Polygon – https://www.polygon.com/news/550231/shenmue-bafta-most-influential-game-all-time
• PSU – https://www.psu.com/news/bafta-has-named-shenmue-as-the-most-influential-video-game-of-all-time/
• Pure Xbox – https://www.purexbox.com/news/2025/04/bafta-announces-list-of-top-21-most-influential-games-ever
• Push Square – https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2025/04/dodgy-list-of-most-influential-games-ever-puts-2-month-old-rpg-in-the-top-10
• RTL Today – https://today.rtl.lu/entertainment/news/a/2291033.html
• RockPaperShotgun.com – https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/shenmue-beats-doom-as-the-most-influential-game-of-all-time-in-bafta-poll
• SEGAbits.com – https://segabits.com/blog/2025/04/05/shenmue-wins-bafta-award-for-most-influential-video-game-of-all-time/
• SEGA-Mag.com – https://www.sega-mag.com/actualite/shenmue-elu-jeu-le-plus-influent-de-tous-les-temps-aux-bafta-38561
• Taipei Times – https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2025/04/04/2003834617
• The Gamer – https://www.thegamer.com/shenmue-name-most-influential-video-game-all-time-bafta/
• The Guardian – https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/apr/03/shenmue-voted-the-most-influential-video-game-of-all-time-in-bafta-poll
• The Independent – https://www.independent.co.uk/business/cult-classic-shenmue-named-most-influential-game-of-all-time-in-bafta-poll-b2726433.html
• The Irish News – https://www.irishnews.com/news/uk/cult-classic-shenmue-named-most-influential-game-of-all-time-in-bafta-poll-JCYZTVS43ZIEFLYJ6VULS74S3I/
• The Standard – https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/cult-classic-shenmue-named-most-influential-game-of-all-time-in-bafta-poll-b1220444.html
• Time Extension – https://www.timeextension.com/news/2025/04/bafta-crowns-shenmue-the-most-influential-video-game-of-all-time-in-surprise-result
• VideoGamer.com – https://www.videogamer.com/news/bafta-awards-segas-shenmue-as-the-most-influential-video-game-of-all-time/
• Xbox Era – https://xboxera.com/2025/04/03/bafta-poll-crowns-sega-classic-as-the-most-influential-video-game-of-all-time/
• Yahoo! Finance – https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/cult-classic-shenmue-named-most-230100990.html