The Story Behind 1001 Video Games

Part of Quintessence Editions' long-running "1001... Before You Die" series, the video games volume was first published in 2010 under general editor Tony Mott, then editor of the magazine Edge. Where the series began with films and albums, this entry argued that games had matured into a cultural form worth the same canonical treatment.

Its 1001 entries span from the earliest arcade and mainframe experiments through home consoles, PCs, and handhelds, with short essays from dozens of critics making the case for each title. The list you are tracking here is drawn from that canon.