There’s absolutely no doubt that the Gaming Industry has grown rapidly in the past couple of years and gamers today are willing to try new games from different kinds of challenging and fun genres.
Video games have been divided into numerous different genres and these genres also contain several sub-genres within them, so it can be quite hard for gamers to choose the right type of genre for themselves.
Do not worry, as with the help of this comprehensive genre guide, we will try to provide you guys with a complete guide on all the different video game genres and subgenres currently available to play to help gamers make the right choice.
So grab a cup of coffee, chill out, and let’s take a look at the different types of gaming genres:
Guide To All The Video Game Genres
1. Action (One of the Oldest Genre In Gaming)
I feel that Action might be the best genre to start off our list today, and I still remember that my first action game was Tekken 3 which I played back when I was a kid.
Defeating your opponent and ensuring they run out of health is one of the vital elements in the Action gaming genre. This genre mainly focuses on physical challenges which mostly include fighting and defeating your enemy.
We will list the subgenres below for you guys.
Shooter
Shooter is a subgenre where players use different types of weapons and hunt down their enemies just like in every single COD Games.
Players can use long or short-range weapons to take out their enemies. If you’re a new gamer who recently got into the gaming world then you must’ve heard about FPS games, Those are First Person Shooter games that are played from a first-person perspective and every single Call of Duty game is the best example for it.
On the other hand, third-person shooters (aka TPS) are played from a third-person perspective like PUBG and Fortnite. Both are shooter games that can be played from a third-person perspective easily without any hassle.
Fighting
Next up is the Fighting sub-genre that involves hand-to-hand combat between 2 or more players. This genre mostly involves grappling, punching, kicking, and more.
Battles in this subgenre usually take place in a small arena or location with limited space and players will have special abilities depending on the type of character they choose. Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter games are perfect examples of fighting games that provide immense fun to the players.
Stealth
Ah! Stealth is another subgenre that falls under the Action genre, this genre requires players to eliminate their enemies without being detected. Simply hiding in plain sight and executing your plan is what Stealth games are all about. The best examples of games belonging to this sub-genre are the popular Assassin’s Creed Games and the legendary Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell games.
Hitman Games are another great example of what a stealth game should play like. If you have played hitman games before then you must be familiar with how the player needs to disguise themselves as a Guard or a worker, sneak into restricted areas, and execute various covert actions.
Survival
Do you have what it takes to survive in difficult survival video games? If yes, then the Survival subgenre is what you should go for. It is a subgenre that usually consists of an open open-world environment and players need to start from scratch by crafting their tools, shelters, and clothes, and hope to make it out alive by surviving in extreme conditions.
Ark II might be a sublime example of a good Survival game and our favorite survival games are Rust and Minecraft. Do let us know your favorite Survival games in the comments below!
Beat-em-up
Ever felt like taking on a bunch of enemies by yourself in a video game? The Beat-em-up sub-genre is another action subgenre where players face off against waves of enemies using their various fighting moves and maneuvers.
Streets of Rage is in my opinion the best example of a perfect Beat-em-up game.
Rhythm
Rhythm games are music-based games such as Guitar Hero which challenges gamers to keep up with the beats of a specific song. Players need to press different kinds of button combinations to keep up with the beats of the songs in the game to successfully complete a given level in-game.
2. Adventure Games
Adventure games are also known as quest games where players need to step out into the game’s world and complete a set of specific quests to progress further in the game.
Games in this genre are categorized into different subgenres according to their gameplay features, and currently, there are tons of great adventure games in which players need to solve mysteries, puzzles, etc. to indulge in and enjoy.
Let us now discuss all the subgenres of Adventure games:
Graphic Adventures
Graphic adventure games are a subgenre of adventure games that use cinematic graphics to convey the adventure to the gamers. The best example of a graphic adventure would be Life is Strange, and the intuitive Sherlock Holmes games.
Text Adventure Games
If you’re an Old School gamer then you might have played a few of the Text-based Adventure games back then and these games were also earlier known as Interactive Fiction Games.
The gameplay of these games is Text-based and players need to make full use of their keyboard to make commands for players’ movement and actions. I’m not really a fan of text-based games in particular but The Hobbit can be a good game to start with if you’re looking to play Text-based Adventure games.
Interactive Movie
This subgenre is quite intriguing and fun, as games in this subgenre contain different types of pre-recorded gameplay elements that are enacted with real people, in real-life locations, and are shown to the players as either part of the game’s main storyline or depending on the player’s in-game choices.
Her Story is the best example of an Interactive Movie game where the player’s choice will allow specific pre-recorded clips to play as players progress further in the game’s storyline.
Visual Novels
Another subgenre of Adventure games is Visual Novels. These games require players to build up their character traits to progress further. The characters themselves are depicted in static graphic formats and dialogues are conveyed through texts.
Games in this genre usually have multiple endings to experience and dialogue options to choose from. Policenauts and Kanon are a few of the Best Visual Novel games available out there.
Real-Time 3D
Next up is Real Time 3D games. The games in this subgenre don’t have pre-rendered scenes, instead, they have a real-time 3D environment that players can explore to their heart’s content, and discover various items and activities to engage with
Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the best examples of Real-Time 3D Adventure games as players can explore a freely discoverable 3D environment at their own pace.
3. Action-adventure games
The games in this genre have elements from both the Action and Adventure games. This has got to be my favorite genre.
In this genre, players would need to complete quests as well as engage in brutal combat scenarios and other interesting side activities. For example, In The Legend of Zelda games, the main focus of players is on completing diverse quests and missions, while also engaging in different types of lethal combat scenarios as well.
Now that we know what this genre is all about, let’s check out all the subgenres that Action-Adventure games have been divided into.
Survival Horror
When I think of Survival Horror, all the entries in the Resident Evil franchise come to my mind as games in this subgenre are similar to survival games but also feature horror elements and a great story.
Survival Horror games aren’t a piece of cake as compared to other story-based games, but they do require quick and precise thinking on the player’s part to safely get out of sticky situations in-game.
Metroidvania
Metroidvania games are another type of Action-adventure that keeps players from progressing further into the game until they’ve found or achieved a specific gameplay element or crossed a specific checkpoint.
The games in this subgenre also let players upgrade their character with new tools, weapons, and abilities so they could access different areas in the game. Dead Cells is a perfect example of a sublime Metroidvania game.
4. Role-playing games (RPGs)
Role-playing games or RPG genre is also referred to as Computer Role-playing games (CRPG) and the majority of the games in this genre feature medivial or fantasy settings for example Assassin’s Creed games, Minecraft, and more.
Players in these games control the character’s actions in a well-defined open-world environment and engage in lots of activities throughout their playthroughs. We will list all the subgenres below for you guys.
Sandbox RPG
The first subgenre of RPG games is surely Sandbox RPG and the games in this genre let players show off their creativity in the game without any restrictions, in a seemingly unending world
Games in this genre may lack a bit of structure and objectivity that is usually found in games that have dedicated worlds, stories, and characters present in them already but games in this subgenre are nevertheless, extremely enjoyable and fun to play.
Some of the best examples of great Sandbox RPG games are Minecraft, Elden Ring, and The Witcher 3, as in these games players need to be creative and survive the world according to their gameplay preferences.
Action RPG
Games that combine elements from both RPGs and action games are known as Action RPG games. These games emphasize combat and as well as RPG elements in the game’s main gameplay loop to keep players engaged for a long time by involving them with numerous quests and activities. Skyrim is one of the best examples of great Action RPGs for gamers.
One thing I love about Action RPGs is that the storyline in these games is immaculate and keeps gamers hooked until the end.
Tactical RPG
Tactical RPGs, known as Strategy RPGs and also known as Simulation RPGs in Japan, are games that play more like traditional board games. Players need to use chess-like strategies to win the game and claim victory for themselves. Final Fantasy Tactics is one of the most sublime Tactical Role-playing games that comes to mind.
MMORPG
MMORPGs are online games that consist of elements from both Role-playing games and massively multiplayer online games. These games consist of up to 100 players seamlessly co-existing in a single game world and taking on the various activities present, either alone or teaming up with other players.
These games are played worldwide and the revenue for these games exceeded half a million dollars back in 2005 which is a big achievement in the gaming community. Star Wars: The Old Republic, New World, and Lost Ark are a few examples of the best MMORPGs out there.
First Person Party-Based RPG
If you’re not a serious/hardcore gamer then you probably shouldn’t get into First Person Party-Based RPG games as they are challenging and might require players to lead a party of adventurers through dungeons from first person’s perspective. Numerous games like Bird’s Tale, Might, and Magic are a few games that fall into this category.
Roguelike
Games that require players to start a specific level all over again after getting eliminated are known as Roguelike Games.
Games like Hades and Risk of Rain are a few of the best examples of Roguelike games where players need to start all over again after losing a level.
5. Simulation Games
The simulation Genre of gaming consists of video games that emulate real-life activities. The video games in this category emulate day-to-day activities of various forms such as training, driving, working, etc.
The simulation genre is divided into several sub-genres and we will discuss them all one by one down below.
Life Simulation
In Life Simulation Games, players control the aspects of the life of one or more characters as these games are all about growing and maintaining a virtual life of your character in the game.
Games from the Sims franchise are all the perfect examples of Life Simulation Games where players need to create their very own customized characters, control their lives, and fulfill their needs and desires, just like in real life.
Construction and Management Simulation
Construction and Management Simulation is my favorite subgenre of Simulation game where players need to manage a whole city, zoo, construction site, etc.
Sim City Buildit is the best example of a Construction and Management Simulation game as players need to construct different houses and buildings and even manage them later on as well.
Vehicle Simulation
As you might have guessed by the name itself, this genre consists of vehicle simulation games where players need to drive cars, trucks, buses, and even fly airplanes, etc.
Vehicle Simulation games are the best games to enjoy after a tiring day as they can calm your mind as you drive through the streets with your favorite vehicle. Driving School might be one of the best examples of a perfect Vehicle Simulation game.
6. Strategy Games
Finally! The strategy genre in gaming consists of games in which players are required to make decisions that will determine the outcome for their clan or kingdom.
Players need to carefully develop strategies and tactics that would further help them and their teams in the future.
Clash of Clans is one of the best strategy games that players can play in their free time and if you feel like diving deep into the Strategy genre then let’s further check out the subgenres of Strategy games.
1. Real Time Strategy (RTS)
Games that fall under this category require players to collect and maintain resources such as bases, defenses, weapons, etc. while also upgrading them simultaneously.
Age of Empires, and Northgard are two of the best Real Time Strategy games that players can enjoy in their free time.
2. Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Turn Based Strategy is a subgenre that consists of Strategy games where players take turns while playing. Players in Real Time Strategy games play simultaneously but that is not the case in this subgenre.
In these games, players must take care of every little detail related to their kingdom or Nation. From building an army and battling enemies to farming for crops and spreading cultural influence, turn-based Strategy games allow players to control their nations with the help of methodical, turn-based tactical gameplay mechanics.
Civilization games are the perfect examples of Based Strategy games.
3. Real Time Tactics (RTT)
Another subgenre we have is Real-time Tactics and games that fall under this category and require players to focus on logistics and production more than combat. Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines is in my opinion the perfect Real Time Tactic game.
4. Turn Based Tactics (TBT)
So, Turn-Based Tactics consist of games that basically use military tactics and this subgenre has its roots in miniature wargaming as well.
Games in this subgenre have a much more detailed environment compared to a few other Strategy subgenres such as Turn Based Strategy or Real Time Strategy games. Fire Emblem is a great Turn Based Tactic game.
5. 4X
4x is another subgenre of Strategy games that includes games from both Turn-based and Real-Time Strategy subgenres.
Games in this specific subgenre have four primary goals and those are: exploring, expanding, exploiting, and exterminating. Galactic Civilization is surely one of the best examples of 4x games.
6. Artillery
This subgenre is quite simple as the games that this genre has consist of two or three players and might even involve tanks trying to destroy each other. World of Tanks is the perfect example of Artillery games.
7. Tower Defense
Tower Defense games mostly require players to defend their kingdom from waves of enemies using tower defense structures.
Player’s Towers can slow down enemies or eliminate them as well, In short, these games are highly enjoyable and we highly recommend you give these games a try.
Games like Clash of Clans, Plants vs Zombies, and Dungeon Defenders are good examples of Tower defense games where players need to defend their base from enemy attacks using different types of tower defenses.
8. Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA)
Multiplayer Online Battle Arena consists of action, Role-playing, and strategy elements where players compete against other players from around the world. Clash Royale and Brawl Stars both are great Multiplayer Online Battle Arena.
9. Grand Strategy Wargame
As the name suggests, this subgenre consists of games that require a grand strategy like using a nation’s troops/army, and resources to achieve a specific goal. Europa Universalis IV is the best example of a perfect Grand Strategy Wargame.
10. Wargame
The final Subgenre of Strategy games we have is Wargame and the games in this category consist of two or more players that command the opposing team.
Wargame is a subgenre where many historical battles or the whole war is recreated. Mostly the games in this genre consist of land combat however, Naval and air combat are also featured in these games.
7. Sports
Who doesn’t enjoy playing sports games with their friends or solo? Scoring a goal against your opponent or eliminating your friend in a one-on-one WWE wrestling match feels good.
This genre of gaming covers games such as golf, soccer, cricket, etc. Games in this genre can also cover Olympic games as well so now let us dive deep into this genre and check out all the subgenres it has.
Team Sports
Sports games where players control a whole team against their opponent are known as Team sports games. FIFA games might be the perfect example of a great Team Sports game as they’re also considered one of the greatest soccer games ever made.
Racing
We don’t think that this subgenre needs any explanation as it consists of some of the best games such as Forza Horizon, and Need for Speed where players need to cross the finish line before their opponents.
Sports-based Fighting
This subgenre is somewhat connected with the fighting subgenre and includes games like Boxing, WWE 2k, and much more where players compete in a professional arena against their opponent.
Games under this subgenre have some set of rules and regulations that players need to follow to win the match.
Competitive
Competitive games consist of Esports titles like Overwatch, Team Fortress, and more where players compete against numerous different players worldwide.
8. Idle Games
Games that don’t require players to engage in lots of exploration activities or take on many in-game tasks are known as Idle games. Clicker Heroes is a sublime example of a great Idle game for players.
Like every other gaming genre, Idle games also consist of several subgenres so let us now discuss more about them all one by one down below.
Casual
Games that fall under the Casual subgenre are mainly great for short-time gaming sessions where players just wanna chill out after a tiring day.
Stardew Valley, Among Us, and Angry Birds are a few best Casual games for players who are looking to play some Casual games in their leisure time.
Programming
Also known as Coding games, Programming is another subgenre of Idle games where players compete or overcome challenges/obstacles in the game by coding.
When I think of a great Programming game Code Hunter surely comes to my mind where players enjoy the game using Java or C#.
Board or Card
Traditional mind games such as chess, poker, checkers, etc. in video games are known as Board or Card games and these games fall under this subgenre.
These games require sharp thinking and quick decision-making to win, if you’re a gamer who loves taking on challenges then we highly recommend you give these games a try.
Party
Idle games that are designed for four or more players are known as Party Games. Players in these games can chill and have fun with their friends. Mario Party is an exquisite example of a great Party game for players.
Educational
Games that fall under this subgenre are basically for teaching purposes and are used in numerous schools as well. Educational games are great for kids as they help in making their brains much sharper and a few of the best Educational games are Big Brain Academy, Immune Attack, and The Amazon Trail.
Art
Art games are video games that are soothing and express an emotional feeling to the audience through their magnificent art.
Journey, Braid, and Flower are a few of the best Art games out there so don’t forget to check them out for yourself.
Exergame
If you’re a fitness freak then Exergames are what you should try out next as these games are played using a controller that allows players to simulate a physical activity or an exercise. Wii Fit is the perfect example of a great Exergame.
Advergame
Adergame, short for advertisement games, are those types of games that fall under this subgenre and are more like an advertisement for a specific product or company as they are created to help sell a product through digital means. Doritos VR Battle is a great example of an Advergame as it is more like an advertisement to sell Doritos.
9. Puzzle Games
Puzzle games are those games that test the grey cells of gamers who are constantly up for an exciting challenge in a game.
Players in puzzle games need to solve problems/quests to progress further. Now let us check out the different subgenres of this specific gaming genre.
Logic
Games that fall under this category usually require players to solve logic puzzles. This category includes Brain games.
Trivia
Trivia games are those games in which players need to answer a specific number of questions before the timer runs out. If the players can answer the question before time elapses then they’ll be rewarded with precious points.
Conclusion
This was our complete Go-To Guide for all the Video Game Genres available and we hope that you will have a better understanding of all the video game genres now that we’ve elaborated on them in great detail.
If you have any doubts regarding the information provided above, then feel free to let us know in the comments section below and we’ll do our best to clarify or update it as soon as possible.
