Texas isn’t just about barbecue and football. It’s one of the most influential places in video game history. From genre-defining shooters to wildly creative indie hits, developers across the Lone Star State have left their mark on gaming culture. In honor of National Video Game Day, let’s take a look at six legendary titles made right here in Texas, starting with one of the most important games of all time.
1. DOOM – The Game That Changed Everything
Developer: id Software (Richardson, TX)
Release Year: 1993
DOOM didn’t just launch the first-person shooter genre. It redefined what video games could be. With its blistering pace, demonic pixelated enemies, and iconic shotgun, DOOM became a worldwide phenomenon almost overnight. It’s brutal. It’s fast. It’s loud. And yes, it was born in Texas.
2. Quake – More Guns, More Gore, More Glory
Developer: id Software (Richardson, TX)
After DOOM came Quake, the 3D cousin that took online multiplayer to new heights. This game set the stage for modern esports and online gaming long before Twitch was even an idea.
3. Borderlands – Guns, Chaos, and Dark Humor
Developer: Gearbox Software (Frisco, TX)
With its cel-shaded art style, absurd weapon count, and post-apocalyptic flair, Borderlands became a cult classic and birthed one of the biggest loot-shooter franchises of all time.
4. Metroid Prime – Nintendo’s FPS Gem
Developer: Retro Studios (Austin, TX)
Texan developers brought Samus Aran into 3D with this atmospheric, genre-bending masterpiece. It was so good, Nintendo let them do the whole trilogy.
5. El Paso, Elsewhere – A Modern Indie With a Local Soul
Developer: Strange Scaffold (El Paso, TX)
Imagine Max Payne meets Blade in a budget motel off I-10. This noir vampire shooter is slick, emotional, and proudly made in the Borderland.
6. A Dual Hand Disaster: Trackher – Retro Score-Chasing Madness
Developer: As An Enemy Studios (El Paso, TX)
A fast-paced, split-screen arcade challenge where you control two ships at once. Made in El Paso, this game is a love letter to old-school difficulty and futuristic design.
People Have Played DOOM On What?!
One of the most legendary things about DOOM is that it can run on almost anything, and gamers love to prove it. Some of the most ridiculous (and real) things people have played DOOM on:
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A pregnancy test screen
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A digital camera
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A smart fridge
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A potato-powered calculator
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Inside Minecraft using redstone logic
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On a McDonald’s cash register
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A Lego brick with a screen hacked into it
If it has a screen and a chip, someone out there is probably trying to run DOOM on it.
Game Over? Not in Texas
Whether you’re into brutal shooters, immersive sci-fi, or indie oddities, Texas developers have made something for every gamer. And let’s not forget, one of the greatest games of all time came straight out of Richardson.
So next time you’re fragging demons or blasting through Borderlands, raise a toast to the Lone Star State. Happy National Video Game Day!
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