Picture this: it’s 1998, and Jerry Seinfeld is hunched over an arcade cabinet, chasing a high score in Frogger. Fast forward to 2025, and that very game—alongside esports pioneers, digital pets, and handheld legends—could be immortalized in the World Video Game Hall of Fame. On Thursday, the Hall unveiled its 12 finalists for this year’s induction, igniting a week of public voting that’s sure to spark debates among gamers of every generation. Come May 8, the winners will take their place in a shiny new exhibit at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester.

This year’s lineup is a wild ride through gaming history. We’ve got Age of Empires, the strategy titan that turned players into armchair emperors. Angry Birds, the mobile sensation that flung feathered fury into billions of downloads and even hatched blockbuster films. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the shooter that rewrote the rules of online combat. And don’t sleep on Tamagotchi—those needy little virtual pets that had kids everywhere scrambling for batteries in the ‘90s.

The list doesn’t stop there: Defender, Golden Eye, Golden Tee, Harvest Moon, Mattel Football, Quake, and NBA 2K round out the contenders, each a heavyweight in its own right. “These games aren’t just titles—they’re cultural earthquakes,” says Jon-Paul C. Dyson, director of The Strong’s International Center for the History of Electronic Games. “From arcade cabinets to mobile screens, they’ve shaped how we play and what we expect from games.”

Rewind to 1977. Mattel Football hits the scene, a chunky handheld that became the first electronic gaming smash. Its simple beeps and blinking lights didn’t just entertain—they laid the groundwork for the Game Boys and smartphones we can’t put down today. Leap ahead to 2009, and Angry Birds swoops in, turning touchscreens into slingshot battlegrounds. With billions of downloads, it didn’t just dominate phones—it spawned toys, movies, and a merchandising empire.

Voting’s open now, and the stakes feel personal. Will Quake frag its way to victory? Can NBA 2K dunk on the competition? Or will Frogger hop past them all, proving a “Seinfeld” cameo is the ultimate power-up? The public gets a say until the week’s out—then it’s up to the Hall to crown the champs. Mark your calendars for May 8, when gaming’s past and present collide in Rochester.