17 Shocking Video Game Facts You Didn’t Know

Video games are full of surprises, from wild stories to amazing records. Some of these facts will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew. Here are 17 jaw-dropping facts that will change the way you see gaming.

1. Mario Was Named After a Real Person

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The iconic plumber Mario was named after Mario Segale, an American businessman who rented out a warehouse to Nintendo of America. When Nintendo was developing “Donkey Kong,” the character initially had no name. After Segale demanded overdue rent, the developers decided to name their character “Mario” in his honor, and the rest is gaming history.

2. The First Video Game Was Created in the 1950s

Image Credit: Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL)/Public Domain/Wiki Commons

Long before “Pong” or “Pac-Man,” the first video game ever created was called “Tennis for Two,” developed in 1958 by physicist William Higinbotham. It was a simple tennis simulation displayed on an oscilloscope, intended to entertain visitors at the Brookhaven National Laboratory’s open house. Though basic, it laid the groundwork for the entire gaming industry.

3. Pac-Man Was Inspired by Pizza

The design for Pac-Man was inspired by something we all love—pizza. Creator Toru Iwatani came up with the idea when he removed a slice from a pizza, creating the character’s iconic shape. His goal was to create a game that appealed to women as well as men, focusing on eating rather than violence, which was common in most games at the time.

4. Minecraft’s World Is Bigger Than Earth

Image Credit: Mojang Studios, Xbox Game Studios

The world of “Minecraft” is one of the largest ever created in a video game. It’s so big, in fact, that its map is roughly eight times larger than the Earth’s surface. The game’s procedurally generated world can stretch up to 60 million blocks, allowing for endless exploration, building, and creativity. Essentially, you could spend a lifetime wandering through Minecraft’s landscapes and still not see everything.

5. The Longest Video Game Marathon Lasted Over 35 Hours

In 2019, Carrick Lawrence set the Guinness World Record for the longest video game marathon on a role-playing game by playing “World of Warcraft” for 35 hours and 35 minutes. He streamed the entire session online, taking only minimal breaks, showing incredible stamina and dedication to his craft—or game.

6. “The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall” Has a Massive Game World

While “Skyrim” is massive, its predecessor, “The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall,” has an even larger game world—so large that it’s roughly the size of Great Britain. The game features over 15,000 towns, cities, villages, and dungeons, making it one of the biggest open-world games ever made, even by today’s standards. Exploring every inch of it would be a near-impossible task.

7. One Game of Civilization II Lasted 10 Years

In 2012, a gamer named “Lycerius” shared his 10-year-long game of “Civilization II” on Reddit, which he described as a “hellish nightmare.” By the end, the world was a dystopian wasteland with only three superpowers locked in a 1,700-year-long war. The story went viral, leading to a dedicated group of fans trying to bring peace to the war-torn world he had created.

8. “Grand Theft Auto V” Is the Most Profitable Entertainment Product Ever

“Grand Theft Auto V” isn’t just a successful video game—it’s the most profitable entertainment product of all time. Since its release in 2013, it has generated over $6 billion in revenue, outpacing even the highest-grossing films, like “Avatar” and “Avengers: Endgame.” Its combination of a compelling single-player campaign and a continually updated online mode has kept players coming back for years.

9. “P.T.” Was a Secret Silent Hill Game

“Silent Hills” was supposed to be the next entry in the beloved horror series, and “P.T.” was its playable teaser. Released as a mysterious, free game on the PlayStation Store, “P.T.” terrified players with its looping hallways and eerie atmosphere. It wasn’t until players completed the demo that it was revealed to be a teaser for “Silent Hills,” which sadly never saw the light of day after the project was canceled.

10. The Highest Score Ever in Pac-Man is a Perfect 3,333,360 Points

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In 1999, Billy Mitchell became the first person to achieve a perfect score of 3,333,360 points in “Pac-Man.” This means he cleared all 256 levels without losing a single life, and he ate every dot, fruit, and ghost possible. Reaching this perfect score requires not just skill but an incredible amount of precision and patience, as one mistake can ruin the run.

11. A Sega Genesis Game Was Released in 2022

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Yes, you read that right. In 2022, a brand-new game was released for the Sega Genesis (Mega Drive outside the U.S.), a console from the early ’90s. The game, “Demons of Asteborg,” was developed by indie studio Neofid Studios and released both digitally and as a physical cartridge. This proves that retro gaming is still very much alive and well, with developers and fans keeping the spirit of old-school gaming alive.

12. “The Sims” Was Originally Designed as an Architecture Simulator

“The Sims,” the life simulation game where you control virtual people, was originally intended to be an architecture simulator. Will Wright, the game’s creator, envisioned a tool for designing and building homes. The life simulation aspect was added later to give players a reason to care about the houses they built, leading to the creation of one of the most successful gaming franchises of all time.

13. The Oldest Esports Tournament Is Over 40 Years Old

Image Credit: Joi Ito/CC BY 2.0/Wiki Commons

Esports might seem like a recent phenomenon, but competitive gaming has been around for decades. The first-ever esports tournament was held in 1972 at Stanford University for the game “Spacewar!” The grand prize? A year’s subscription to “Rolling Stone” magazine. The competitive gaming scene has grown immensely since then, but it all started with a simple space-themed game.

14. A Bug in “Space Invaders” Became a Feature

Image Credit: Samantha Marx/Creative Commons Attribution 2.0/Wiki Commons

In the original “Space Invaders,” the game speeds up as you clear more aliens. This was actually the result of a bug—due to hardware limitations, the game’s processor could handle fewer moving objects more quickly. Instead of fixing the bug, the developers left it in, and it became a key feature of the game, adding to its challenge and intensity.

15. “Animal Crossing” Was Inspired by the Creator’s Loneliness

Katsuya Eguchi, the creator of “Animal Crossing,” was inspired to create the game after moving to a new city for work. Feeling lonely and isolated, he wanted to design a game that would allow players to form connections and build communities, even in a virtual space. The result was a game that encourages players to create their own little world filled with neighbors, friends, and a sense of belonging.

16. The Most Expensive Video Game Development Ever

“Star Citizen,” an ambitious space simulation game, holds the record for the most expensive video game ever developed, with a budget surpassing $500 million as of 2023. Despite being in development for over a decade, the game is still in alpha, with no official release date in sight. The project’s scale and scope are unprecedented, with features like detailed space exploration, combat, and a persistent universe.

17. The Konami Code: The Most Famous Cheat Code

Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, Start. Known as the Konami Code, this famous cheat code has appeared in countless games, providing players with extra lives, power-ups, or other bonuses. It was first used in the 1986 game “Gradius” and became iconic after being included in “Contra.” The code has since become a part of pop culture, appearing in non-gaming contexts as a fun Easter egg.

19 Underrated Video Games You Need to Try

In a world filled with gaming blockbusters, it’s easy to miss out on some real hidden gems. While everyone’s busy talking about the latest AAA releases, there’s a whole collection of underrated games that bring fresh ideas, unique storytelling, and gameplay experiences that stand out from the crowd. These lesser-known titles offer a lot of fun without all the hype, and they might just become your next favorites. Here’s a list of 19 underrated games that deserve a spot in your rotation—grab a controller, give them a try, and see what you’ve been missing out on.

19 Underrated Video Games You Need to Try

17 Mobile Games Worth Downloading Right Now

Mobile gaming has become one of the easiest ways to pass the time, challenge your brain, or enjoy a competitive match with friends. With thousands of games available, finding the ones worth your time can feel overwhelming. Whether you like puzzles, fast-paced action, or strategy, this list covers games you won’t regret downloading.

17 Mobile Games Worth Downloading Right Now

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