From the humble beginnings of pixel adventures to the modern marvels of virtual reality, the gaming industry has traveled a path of innovation and growth. Throughout this development, the popularity of game genres has risen and fallen due to a variety of factors spanning regions, platforms, and player demographics. The global gaming market is only predicted to grow in scale. Therefore, to be a part of it, it is crucial to understand the trends in gaming genres and games like slots.
Over time, some genres have become entrenched as perennial favorites, while others have moved aside, making way for new experiences. For example, the emergence of open-world sandbox games has provided players with limitless freedom and exploration, which has led to a rise in the popularity of games across platforms.
Geographical boundaries do not limit the appeal of game genres, as cultural nuances significantly influence player preferences in different regions. In Eastern markets, where story-driven narratives have a significant influence, role-playing games (RPGs) are more in demand. Meanwhile, adrenaline-pumping first-person shooters (FPS) remain a favorite among Western gaming communities.
Platforms also play a key role in shaping the genre’s popularity. The proliferation of mobile gaming has democratized the industry, providing an accessible experience that regular players will enjoy. Easy access and low thresholds of entry have led to the rise in popularity of genres such as puzzle, simulation, and casual games, which appeal to a diverse group of players, including those who may not have considered themselves traditional gamers.
Genres such as adventure and platformers offer inclusive experiences designed for a wide age range, bridging the generation gap. On the other hand, the rise of competitive cyber sports games has attracted a younger and more competitive audience, making gaming a welcome spectator sport.
In this article, we look at the evolution of game genres over time, the impact of regional tastes, and the influence of platforms and demographics.
List of main game genres
As in other art forms, game genres are not too strict and are mostly controversial. A game can have the basis of one genre but contain elements of other genres, for example, Prince of Persia is a melee game with platforming sections and XCOM is a turn-based strategy game with RPG elements. Let’s take a look at a brief tree of the genres on offer:
Action – a dynamic and immersive experience in which players engage in intense combat and reflex-based challenges, often focusing on hand-eye coordination and strategic thinking. The action video game genre includes the following sub-genres:
Platformer – games that require you to control a character to move through a two-dimensional or three-dimensional environment, overcome obstacles, and jump across platforms to progress through the game;
Combat – focused on one-on-one or group combat scenarios where players control characters with unique abilities and sets of techniques to defeat opponents and emerge victorious;
First-person shooter (FPS) – one of the most popular genres of video games, which involves exploring the game world through the eyes of the protagonist and engaging in intense battles using firearms and other ranged weapons to defeat enemies and achieve objectives;
Third-person shooter (TPS) – involves controlling a third-person character and engaging in combat using firearms and other ranged weapons to overcome obstacles and enemies in the game world;
The stealth video game genre revolves around the player controlling a character who must avoid detection and move quietly and stealthily through the game world, using cunning strategies and stealthy tactics to achieve objectives without engaging in confrontation;
The Survival Horror sub-genre combines elements of survival and exploration with an emphasis on creating a tense and frightening atmosphere in which players must confront terrifying and often supernatural threats while managing limited resources to survive the experience;
Battle Royale games feature large numbers of players competing against each other in a “last survivor” mode where they collect weapons, equipment, and resources while the playing area shrinks over time, causing intense confrontations until only one player remains. or the team remains victorious.
The adventure genre of games encompasses a wide range of events that typically involve exploration, puzzle-solving, storytelling, and character development. Players embark on a journey to unravel a narrative or open world. Under genres of adventure games can be:
Adventure games include story-driven experiences in which players embark on a journey, solve puzzles, interact with characters, and explore a variety of worlds to advance the story and solve its mysteries;
Interactive film games refer to a type of interactive storytelling very similar to film, where players make decisions and take limited actions that affect the development of the story and its many possible outcomes.
In role-playing games, players take on the roles of fictional characters, often with customizable attributes and abilities, immersing themselves in a richly interactive world and making decisions that shape character development, relationships, and the overall narrative. Sub-genres can be:
Role-playing (RPG) games provide an interactive experience in which players control characters, often with customizable attributes and abilities, and participate in an engaging narrative, character development, and decision-making that affect the game’s narrative and gameplay;
The massively multiplayer online (MMO) video game genre refers to a type of online game that involves a large number of players simultaneously in a persistent virtual world that fosters social interaction, cooperative gameplay, and elements of competition in a shared game environment;
Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games involve teams of players competing against each other in strategic, focused battles, controlling unique and powerful characters with unique abilities, to destroy the opposing team’s base and emerge victorious.
Simulation games replicate real-world actions, scenarios, or systems, providing players with an immersive and realistic experience in which they can simulate various aspects of life, from modeling vehicles to running virtual cities or running a business. Popular sub-genres:
Simulation – games that create virtual environments that replicate real-world actions, processes, or systems, allowing players to experience and interact with realistic simulations to learn, experiment, and have fun;
The sports genre in games includes virtual representations of real-world sports and sporting events, allowing players to compete, strategize and enjoy a variety of sports without leaving the game environment;
Racing games focus on gameplay based on dynamic and competitive driving, where players drive vehicles while participating in races, time races, or other challenges, often aiming to post the best lap times or defeat other opponents.
The strategy video game genre refers to elaborate planning, resource management, and tactical decision-making that allows players to strategize and outwit opponents to achieve specific goals or control vast areas in the game world. Common subgenres:
In real-time strategy (RTS) games, players control and manage armies, resources, and bases in real-time, which requires quick thinking, strategic planning, and multitasking to outsmart and defeat opponents;
In Turn-Based Strategy (TBS) games, players take turns making strategic decisions and moves, allowing for careful planning and consideration of different outcomes, often within a grid or tactical environment;
In Tower Defence games, players must strategically place defensive structures or towers on predetermined paths to fend off waves of approaching enemies and prevent them from reaching a particular point or objective.
The casual game genre caters to a wide audience due to its simple and accessible game mechanics, designed for short play sessions and enjoyable entertainment without complex training or serious commitment. Casual games can be:
Puzzle games challenge players to solve various problems, riddles, or puzzles using logic, pattern recognition, and critical thinking, promoting mental alertness and creative problem-solving;
Rhythm games are designed to have players match their actions or activities to a rhythm, requiring precise timing and coordination to achieve high scores or progress through rhythmic challenges;
Party games are focused on providing multiplayer, social, and light-hearted entertainment, often including mini-games and cooperative or competitive activities designed for groups of players in social networks or gatherings.
The top video game genres of 2023
So, what is the most popular video game genre? According to Statistics In 2022, American gamers favored the following game genres:
Let’s take a closer look at the positions of the most popular video game genres from this table, which we as an outsourcing company have expertise in, and consider what made them so popular.
Action
Action games bring adrenaline and endorphins, so it’s no surprise that they rarely lose popularity. Some of the biggest franchises among popular action games:
- The Last of Us
- Grand Theft Auto
- God of War
- Undiscovered
Shooter
Shooting brings joy, which is why it was invented as one of the first game mechanics. Shooters have always had a huge audience. To name a few:
- Half-Life
- Doom
- Sense of Duty
- Battlefield
- Insurgency
Simulator
These types of games help players explore new but close-to-reality experiences, which attracts a decent audience. Some of the most successful simulator franchises are:
- Euro Truck Simulator
- Lawn Mowing Simulator
- City Horizons
- PC Builder Simulator
RPG
Role-playing games are great for indulging your imagination by impersonating a character. Some of the most iconic modern RGP franchises:
- The Witcher
- The Ancient Scrolls
- Elysium Disco
- Diablo
Strategy
Although strategy games are challenging to the intelligence of players, they are indeed one of the most valuable game genres. Some of the best examples of still popular strategy games are the following franchises:
- Stellaris
- XCOM
- Sid Meier’s Civilisation
Racing
Speed has always attracted people, and playing racing games is much cheaper and safer than actual fast driving or racing. Some of the biggest racing franchises:
- Thirst for Speed
- FORZA Autosport
- Gran Turismo
- Mud Rally
- Total War
Fighting
What could be funnier than beating a friend in a fight without actually hurting someone (other than emotionally)? The passion for fighting games is embedded in our nature. Here are some good examples of fighting games:
- Mortal Kombat
- GigaBash.
- street fighter
- Soulcalibur
Sports
Sports games often evoke very similar emotions as playing or watching real sports, but without having to sweat. The most popular sports games are:
- FIFA
- EA Sports UFC
- NBA
- NHL
Thus, we can conclude that the world of games is very diverse and you can choose any or try all of them. We have tried to describe each type of game in detail to make your choice easier. We hope you can spend your time with pleasure!