The World Video Game Hall of Fame at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York, has officially welcomed Rovio’s Angry Birds, which has more than 5 billion downloads since its 2009 debut.
Angry Birds joins the Class of 2026 with Silent Hill, Dragon Quest, and FIFA International Soccer. The ceremony at The Strong on May 7, 2026, took Angry Birds into the hall of fame with titles drawn from almost four decades of gaming history.
“Angry Birds helped launch not only billions of birds but the entire mobile gaming revolution. It shattered records and helped transform people’s relationships with the palm-sized communication and gaming devices they carry in pockets and purses.”
Krist Hisert, director of collections management at The Strong National Museum of Play
The first of it’s kind
Angry Birds introduced tens of millions of people to touch-based mobile gaming at a watershed moment in the smartphone era. As simple as it was by design, Angry Birds’ core gameplay involved launching birds from a slingshot into pig-filled structures.
It’s a long wait to get here. Angry Birds was a finalist in 2025, when it failed to be inducted along with Defender, GoldenEye 007, Tamagotchi, and Quake.
“What started as a game with incredibly simple mechanics and instantly recognizable designs has conquered transmedia categories far beyond its origins. We’ve got our live games, but ‘Angry Birds’ can also be enjoyed as licensed products, animations, feature films and activity parks.”
Ben Mattes, creative officer for Angry Birds
Mattes also said that being inducted into the Hall of Fame means the brand is “standing shoulder to shoulder alongside the very greatest of gaming” and called it “a truly special recognition.”
Movies and More
The property has expanded into a full entertainment franchise. The Angry Birds Movie debuted in 2016, a sequel followed in 2019, and The Angry Birds Movie 3 is set to release in December 2026. This kind of momentum keeps kids interested and adults taking them to the movies.
Founded in 2015, the World Video Game Hall of Fame is open to games of all kinds. These range from arcade to console to handheld and mobile. These games must have gained sustained popularity. They must also have had an influence on the industry or culture. Each year, the museum staff create a shortlist of contenders, based on four criteria: influence, icon status, longevity and geographic reach. Then the public votes on their favorite games to induct.
This year’s inductees will now sit alongside 49 other landmark titles already in the hall. Not many claim the sort of cross-platform cultural impact that Angry Birds accomplished. This went from a mobile screen to movie theatres and theme parks. It all came from a game about angry birds.
