Thousands of entries for the new world video game hall of fame have been whittled down to 15 contenders, including Angry Birds, Minecraft and Sonic the Hedgehog.

The world’s only collections-based museum devoted to play, The Strong museum in New York, has established the new hall of fame to recognise the impact that popular games have had on the video game industry on or popular culture and society in general. It recognises games of all types from arcade, console, computer, handheld and mobile.

The nominees are: Angry Birds, the Sims, Sonic the Hedgehog, Space Invaders, Doom, FIFA soccer, the Legend of Zelda, Minecraft, the Oregon Trail, Pac-Man, Pokemon, Pong, Super Mario Bros., Tetris and World of Warcraft.

“The 15 finalists for the World Video Game Hall of Fame span decades, gaming platforms, and geographies – but what they all have in common is their undeniable impact on popular culture and society in general,” said Jon-Paul Dyson, director of The Strong’s International Center for the History of Electronic Games.

“Whether it’s the ground-breaking game Pong or a more recent viral sensation like Minecraft, all of these games have helped shape the way that people across the globe play and relate to one another.”

The final 2015 inductees, chosen with guidance from an international selection committee, will be announced at The Strong museum on 4 June.