These 15 Games Nominated for 2016 Gaming Hall of Fame

The Strong National Museum of Play today announced the 15 finalists for this year's World Video Game Hall of Fame inductees. The nominees include some of the best-known and most influential games in history, including Grand Theft Auto III, John Madden Football, The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, and The Sims.

All of the nominees (full list below) have had an "undeniable impact on the world of gaming and popular culture," The Strong said in a statement.

2016 World Video Game Hall of Fame Finalists:

• Elite
• Final Fantasy
• Grand Theft Auto III
• John Madden Football
• The Legend of Zelda
• Minecraft
• Nürburgring
• The Oregon Trail
• Pokemon Red and Green
• Sid Meier's Civilization
• The Sims
• Sonic the Hedgehog
• Space Invaders
• Street Fighter II
• Tomb Raider

"These 15 World Video Game Hall of Fame finalists span decades, gaming platforms, and countries of origin--but what they all have in common is their undeniable impact on the world of gaming and popular culture," The Strong director Jon-Paul C. Dyson said in a statement. "They're among the most influential games of all time."

After receiving "thousands" of nominations from people around the world, the museum made its final determination for the finalists with the help of an advisory committee made up of journalists, scholars, and "other individuals familiar with the history of video games and their role in society."

The winners will be announced during a ceremony at The Strong museum on May 5. We will report back with the list of inductees at that time.

Inductees for the World Video Game Hall of Fame include games that "have enjoyed popularity over a sustained period and have exerted influence on the video game industry or on popular culture and society in general." More details about selection criteria can be seen here.

Last year, the following games became the first in the World Video Game Hall of Fame: Doom, Pong, Pac-Man, Super Mario Bros., Tetris, and World of Warcraft.

What do you make of this year's finalists? Let us know in the comments below!