Once upon a time, video game genres were easy to define, and only a few of them really existed. Over time, as with music and film genres, lines began to blur, and new, exciting ideas started to form new genres and subgenres that would go on to grow into industry-defining behemoths. What you like will help you choose which video game genres you want to play. Are you after a game of chance or skill? What viewpoint would you like to have in the game? Do you like to play alone, in a pair, or in a big team? Do you like war games or something a little bit less violent and a little bit calmer? These are the questions you should ask yourself to figure out which genres you’ll like best. Let’s take a look at the main genres and a few of their subgenres to define what’s out there.

Sandbox

Sandbox games mean lots of open worlds, on-linear gameplay, and lots of choices for players to make to customize their experiences. What started as something minimal and niche has grown into one of the better-known online game genres available today. Sandbox games feature a lot less of a goal-oriented approach to gaming and offer more opportunities to do lots of things with no particular end goal- other than surviving and thriving- in mind.

Real-time strategy (RTS)

RTS games have been around a lot longer than people realize. The first game associated with that genre title was Dune 2, in which both players and AI characters interacted in real time. There are no turns to wait here; everything comes at you like it would in a real-world situation. You need to find, conserve and manage your resources and know what’s happening all over the game map.

Shooters (FPS and TPS)

First-person and third-person shooters account for some of the best-selling games on the market today. What started as one overall genre branched out into two equally popular ones. The premise of any shooter game is usually more or less the same; kill enemies and stay alive. You can view the game as your character (FPS), a third person (TPS), or, in some cases, both. These games are often very fast, meaning you need nimble fingers and an excellent internet connection.

Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA)

This is a particularly popular genre of online games. The MOBA really started to take over with the rise of Warcraft and is currently dominated by games like DOTA 2 and League of Legends. Usually, these games are top-down and played in real-time. Here again, you need to manage your resources well, whether we’re talking about the SIMs or any kind of warfare game. Depending on the game you choose, you might need to build a community or command a few units.

Role-playing (RPG, ARPG, and More)

There are a number of different kinds of RPGs, though one thing is universal; they’re all role-playing games.

  • An RPG covers everything from Dungeons and Dragons to Fallout.
  • An ARPG (action) usually focuses on combat.
  • An MMORPG (Massive multiplayer online) is a variation on the MOBA we mentioned earlier.
  • A TRPG (tactical) will ask you to think creatively and focus on tactics to get through the game.
  • A roguelike RPG usually features turn-based gameplay and some action
  • A rogue-lite RPG will miss out on one of the key elements of a roguelike game.

Simulation and sports

Hello SIMs! Simulation games simulate real-life activities like Microsoft Flight Simulator or Wii, and sports games speak for themselves.

Puzzlers and party games

These genres tend to overlap a little; they both put a lot of focus on game mechanics, and you might be playing according to a theme or the rules of a tabletop game. A puzzler might just be a set of puzzles or a game in which puzzles play a prominent role (these are often action based as well), and a party game is often multiplayer with a series of spinoffs.

Action-adventure

The name speaks for itself. Action-adventure games do cross over with some other genres, particularly puzzlers and, in some cases, shooter games as well. Primarily single-player games, these are played in a linear fashion from start to finish. Sometimes some fun side quests are included.

Survival and horror

Survival games can be an open world, with no object other than finding, conserving, and creating resources and surviving. Horror games are often linear, similar to action-adventure games. There are as many different kinds of horrors as there are ways to scare people!

Platformer

Our last genre is one that has remained largely unchanged for a long time now. Many platformer games have stuck to their 2D, sidescroller roots. You’ll need to do a lot of running, jumping, and exploring as you work your way through the different levels. Think Donkey Kong, Mario Brothers, and Sonic the Hedgehog.

Wrap Up

If you understand these basic genres, you’re A for away in the world of gaming.

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