Dragon Quest, Silent Hill, Angry Birds, and EA's first FIFA title have been inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame.

The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York, announced the 2026 World Video Game Hall of Fame inductees on the 7th (local time). The four titles named this year are Angry Birds, Dragon Quest, FIFA International Soccer, and Silent Hill. The announcement was made official during an induction ceremony held at the museum's 'ESL Digital Worlds: High Score' exhibit, which celebrates the achievements of the Hall of Fame honorees. The inductees will be permanently displayed in the exhibit.

This year's class of inductees is notable for its diversity, spanning mobile, Japanese RPG, sports, and horror genres.

Dragon Quest, released for the Famicom in 1986, was selected for establishing the foundation of the Japanese RPG genre by adapting Western PC RPG conventions—such as those found in Ultima and Wizardry—for home console controllers. The museum also highlighted the game's introduction of player-driven choices that impact endings and narrative progression as a key contribution. It noted that the subsequent rise of countless Japanese RPGs and their global influence today serves as a testament to the impact of Dragon Quest.

Angry Birds, released by Rovio in 2009, is a mobile game with a simple premise: using a slingshot to launch birds at structures built by pigs. It is considered a symbol of the app ecosystem's expansion, which accelerated with the rise of the iPhone and smartphones. The game achieved massive global success, surpassing 2 billion cumulative downloads. The museum credited the game with helping users become comfortable with smartphone touch controls, much like how Windows Solitaire taught early computer users how to use a mouse.

Silent Hill is a horror game introduced by Konami in 1999. By focusing on a somber, unsettling atmosphere through real-time 3D graphics, limited visibility, and Akira Yamaoka's chilling score, the game expanded the boundaries of the horror genre. Its innovative systems, combined with elements like the aesthetic of a classic American town, religious cults, and pervasive fog, helped create a world that felt both familiar and alien. The museum stated that the game's psychological approach to horror, alongside its commercial success, made it a worthy inductee.

The FIFA series, which ran for many years until EA ended its licensing agreement, began with FIFA International Soccer, released for the Sega Genesis in 1993. Unlike its predecessors, it introduced an isometric camera angle that mimicked television broadcasts, bringing the excitement of soccer games to a wider audience. Although the initial release did not feature them, the series' system of securing licenses through partnerships for individual leagues, teams, uniforms, and stadiums is credited with fostering the professionalization of modern sports gaming.

Meanwhile, with the four new inductees announced, eight other finalists—Galaga, Tokimeki Memorial, Mega Man, RuneScape, League of Legends, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, PaRappa the Rapper, and Frogger—will have to wait for a future opportunity. Now in its 12th year, the World Video Game Hall of Fame has surpassed 50 total inductees with this year's additions.