The Strong National Museum of Play announced the 2019 inductees to the World Video Game Hall of Fame on Thursday and added four new games to its roster.

Established in 2015, the World Video Game Hall of Fame honors all kinds of electric games — computer, handheld, console, arcade and mobile — and has recognized 24 games since its founding.

Criteria for inductees examines four categories: the game's icon status (is it widely recognized?), longevity (is it more than a passing fad?), geographical reach (are people playing it all over the world?) and influence (has the game affected the industry as a whole, popular culture or society in general?).

And the 2019 inductees are ... (drumroll, please!)

Microsoft Solitaire

Microsoft Solitaire debuted in 1990 on the Windows 3.0 computing platform and became ubiquitous around the world, according to a news release from The Strong Museum. Microsoft Solitaire has been distributed on more than a billion computers and 35 billion games are played per year.

Mortal Kombat

Mortal Kombat launched in 1992 and brought cutting-edge graphics and unique fighting styles to arcades, according to a news release from The Strong Museum. The game’s bloody depictions of violence also prompted national debate, including congressional hearings in the United States that led to the creation of the Entertainment Software Rating Board in 1994. Mortal Kombat also created an entire franchise and created music albums, action figures, other games, a theatrical stage show and Hollywood movies, according to the release.

Super Mario Kart

Worlds collided for video game lovers when Nintendo’s Super Mario Kart merged the beloved Super Mario Bros. characters with thrilling racing games in 1992. Super Mario Kart sold millions of copies on Nintendo systems and more than 100 million more units across other consoles, handhelds and arcade games, according to a news release from The Strong Museum. The game appealed to players of all skill levels, creating a social opportunity for people to engage in, and popularized the go-kart subgenre of racing.

Colossal Cave Adventure

Released in 1976, Colossal Cave Adventure used limited computer technology to create a text-based, interactive fantasy world, according to a news release from The Strong Museum. Although the game had no graphics and required players to type written commands, it helped lay the groundwork for other fantasy and adventure computer games.

Previous inductees have included Tetris, Tomb Raider, Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, The Sims, World of Warcraft and Grand Theft Auto III. A complete list can be found at www.museumofplay.org.

GSILVAROLE@Gannett.com