The game industry is massive, generating hundreds of billions in revenue every year – and these figures are only expected to grow from here. However, the income generated varies greatly depending on their genre, with RPGs and strategy games leading the market in the United States according to a recent survey by Statista.
When we talk about game genres, we’re essentially referring to different categories or types of games that fall under the same umbrella – be it by their similar game mechanics, goals, or their themes. As such, game genres are a crucial way for developers and players alike to communicate about the experience a game provides.
In other words, the concept of a game genre is very akin to that of movie and book genres – think about how these types of media are categorized into genres like comedy, romance, action, self-help, thriller, and many more depending on their shared traits and themes.
In this article, we will list the game genres every game designer must know, with a brief explanation of their core elements and some examples.
Game genres every designer should know
Now that you know what game genres are, let’s delve deeper into the most popular and successful game genres of all time.
Action/Adventure games
Even though you might find games that are all about action or adventure, you are much more likely to find games catering to both genres at the same time. For this reason, they kind of coalesced into one, and have since been among the most lucrative genres in the gaming industry.
Action/adventure games, as the name implies, often focus on fast-paced combat and exploration, which involves a narrative-driven storyline with a huge emphasis on character development and problem-solving.
Despite being very fast-paced experiences, games in this genre are often made for a single-player experience, so players can take their time and leave no stone unturned as they explore the map for enemies and loot – or maybe a mischievously placed easter egg, who knows?
Speaking of the map, action/adventure games often promote a sense of exploration and discovery, featuring vast open-world environments that players can freely roam around. As far as the plot goes, it mainly unfolds through numerous cutscenes and dialogues, each revealing a little bit more about the world and characters around them.
Examples of games in this fantastic genre include world-renowned titles such as the Tomb Raider, Uncharted, and Assassin’s Creed series, featuring a mix of intense combat sequences, mind-boggling puzzles, epic soundtracks, impressive voice acting, and beautifully hand-crafted cinematics, culminating in truly unforgettable gaming experiences.
Party games
Party games are also one of the most popular kids on the block. They are very popular because they are purposefully designed to be played and enjoyed at a social gathering.
These games prioritize accessibility, simplicity, fun, and quick matches over complex gameplay, deep narrative, and deep progression systems, making them perfect for casual gaming sessions with friends and family members.
As party games are technically impossible to play alone, they focus heavily on multiplayer gameplay, often involving both cooperative and competitive gameplay that encourages interaction and socialization.
Furthermore, these games need to be accessible, have intuitive controls, and be governed by simple rules so that everyone – even the most casual gamer – can quickly pick them up and play.
As such, party games come in a plethora of forms. Classic examples include the potentially friendship-threatening Monopoly and Uno tabletop games, while more modern, digital counterparts include the Mario Party series and Jackbox Party Pack.
They feature a diverse mix of minigames and challenges that are designed to be completed quickly, allowing for fast-paced gameplay that keeps players engaged and entertained (more so when there’s friendly banter).
Role-playing games and their subgenres
Also known by the “RPG” acronym, role-playing games are another popular game genre. In an RPG, players take on the roles of fictional characters in an immersive world that is rich in lore, fantasy, and details.
One of the key features of RPGs is their intense focus on character development and deep progression systems. Developers give players the freedom to customize the appearance, skills, and even the stories of their characters, which creates an experience with immense replayability.
RPGs feature complex narratives that unfold as the player progresses through the game, which is often set in a sci-fi or fantasy world that is filled with lore and mysteries to unravel. Other key components in this genre include quests, interactable non-player characters (NPCs), and branching narratives.
Examples of popular RPGs include the Final Fantasy and The Elder Scrolls series, two of the most critically-acclaimed franchises in the genre.
However, that is not all – RPGs are very diverse in their presentation and gameplay, which led to the creation of multiple subgenres, such as:
- Action RPG (ARPG): fast-paced games that combine elements of RPGs and action games, often involving hack-and-slash gameplay where players are always on the lookout for gear upgrades. Examples include Path of Exile and the Diablo series;
- Massively Multiplayer Online RPGs (MMORPGs): as the name implies, these games are meant to be played online, allowing players to group up and interact with each other in a shared game world. They often have expansive lore, a vast open world, life skills (like gathering and crafting), instantiated dungeons, and regular updates. Examples include World of Warcraft and Black Desert Online;
- Roguelikes and Roguelites: characterized by procedurally generated levels and permadeath, they are unique in that each playthrough is different from the rest, with players starting from scratch (or with some upgrades, in the case of roguelites) with every death. Examples include The Binding of Isaac, Risk of Rain 2, and Noita.
Platformer games
Games in this genre are characterized by their focus on movement, jumping, and precise traversal through carefully designed levels.
The player typically controls a character moving from left to right (or up and down) through a series of obstacles, beating enemies, avoiding hazards, and completing boss fights on the way. It’s also common for designers to place collectibles and power-ups in hidden places, which players are encouraged to explore to find them.
They come in a variety of forms and aesthetics – from the cult-classic 2D Super Mario Bros to 3D iterations like Super Mario 64 and Mirror’s Edge. Some of these games might even incorporate gameplay elements from other genres, like light puzzle-solving and RPG-like progression systems to keep the game engaging and challenging.
Simulation and sports games
These two game genres are closely related to each other in that they are designed to simulate real-world activities and experiences in a virtual setting. They often feature detailed, realistic graphics and gameplay mechanics that allow players to engage in activities they might otherwise never do in real life, like piloting a commercial plane, running a city, and racing the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Focusing on realism, simulation and sports games typically include a realistic physics engine, detailed environments, and accurate depictions of processes happening in the real world. Sports games in particular are known for featuring realistic player models and accurate recreations of the most revered stadiums and arenas.
Examples of simulation games include Cities: Skylines (which is soon getting its second iteration) and Microsoft’s Flight Simulator. Sports games have the same old names popping up every year: FIFA, PES, NBA, Madden NFL, and NHL are some of the most popular sports game franchises currently on the market.
Strategy games
This game genre is all about requiring players to use their tactical and strategic thinking skills to curb whatever obstacles that may be thrown at them. A common trope found in these games is managing units and/or resources in a simulated environment, in which the players make decisions to achieve specific goals.
Like RPGs, the strategy genre is a broad one, with the main subgenres including:
- 4X: standing for eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate, 4X titles often involve players controlling and growing an empire to new heights. Games in this subgenre include Stellaris and Civilization VI;
- Turn-based strategy (TBS): decisions are made in turns instead of in real-time, so players have time to really think through their choices. Examples include The Last Spell and Terra Nil;
- Real-time strategy (RTS): in this subgenre, players are required to make decisions on the fly. Just like in life, more often than not, doing nothing will hurt you more than doing anything. Examples of RTS games include the world-renowned Starcraft 2 and Northgard;
- Grand strategy (GS): they are all about managing military campaigns and empires/nations over long periods, often having to make controversial decisions related to politics, economics, and diplomacy. GS games will put even the most conceited players’ strategic planning capabilities to the test. Examples of games include Europa Universalis 4 and Hegemony 3: Clash of the Ancients.
Shooter games
Shooter games often figure among the most popular ones year after year – their fast-paced nature and high-skill expression keep players engaged and yearning for more. As for how they work, well, they usually let the players choose which weapons they want to use (including an assortment of guns, grenades, and melee weapons) before spraying and praying in their general direction.
They come in two flavors:
- First-person shooters (FPS): the player controls a character from a first-person perspective, with precise mouse control being necessary. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is one of the most popular games in the genre;
- Third-person shooters (TPS): unlike FPS games, TPS titles use a third-person perspective, which often goes well with cover-based mechanics. Games in this subgenre include Returnal and Sunset Overdrive.
Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games
While MOBAs are a subgenre of strategy games, they are so popular right now that they deserve to be mentioned on their own. These games often involve two teams of players competing against each other in a virtual arena, where players control a character (also known as a hero or champion) with unique abilities, strengths, and weaknesses.
Generally speaking, the main objective of MOBAs is to destroy the enemy team’s base, which requires a surprising deal of teamwork and coordination. However, since matches tend to be fast-paced and independent of each other, players can choose to hop in for a casual match every now and then or grind the ranked ladders all day if they so wish.
Games in this genre include DotA 2 and League of Legends (LoL).
Sandbox games
Just like an actual sandbox lets the imagination of kids run wild, so do sandbox games. They are characterized by a large open world to explore, few (if any) objectives, and lots of freedom for players. Do you want to build a megalomaniac structure? Go for it! Want to create an unnecessarily gigantic farm or a pixel art in Minecraft? Yep, you can! Do you just want to explore and haul materials from far away? Hell yes!
In other words, sandbox games allow players to create their own open-ended gameplay experience. Games in this genre include the universally-acclaimed Minecraft and Kerbal Space Program.
Diving into the World of Video Game Genres
The realm of video games is teeming with diversity, spanning numerous video game genres that cater to an array of preferences and playstyles. Adventure games beckon those who yearn for captivating narratives and intricate puzzles to solve. Meanwhile, platform games offer thrilling acrobatics and gravity-defying challenges. Horror games send shivers down players’ spines as they navigate eerie environments. The action-adventure genre masterfully combines intense combat with epic storytelling, while fighting games test your mettle in combat one-on-one. Puzzle games boggle the mind with enigmatic riddles, and survival games thrust players into unforgiving wildernesses.
The world of indie games blooms with creativity, birthing innovative concepts in countless genres. Educational games meld fun with learning, and card games challenge your strategic prowess. Tactical role-playing games bring out the strategist in you, and action genre games shower you with fast-paced excitement. The shooter genre places players in command of firepower, and puzzle video games continue to stimulate the mind. Role-playing video games let you step into the shoes of a character and make impactful decisions within the game. Across these popular video game genres, be it the earliest video games or the modern video game categories, players find the perfect genre to suit their taste and embark on extraordinary virtual adventures.
Closing thoughts
In conclusion, game genres are categories used to categorize games based on their gameplay mechanics, art style, and overall design features. From action-packed shooters to deeply immersive RPGs, there is a lot to choose from, but no matter how finicky someone’s taste for gaming is they are bound to find something they enjoy.
For game development studios like Main Leaf, having a solid understanding of game genres is essential to create successful and engaging games. With 13 years of experience and a team consisting of more than 70 highly qualified professionals, we have the tools and expertise needed to develop top-quality games in Unity and Unreal game engines for the platform of your choice.
Whether you’re looking to create a hardcore RPG or a casual mobile game, we at Main Leaf would be pleased to bring your vision to life. Contact us today by requesting a quote down below!
