Game genres

Computer games appeared in the middle of the last century. They weren't as exciting as modern games. There were very few of them and they differed significantly from each other. Later, in the 80s and 90s, more diverse games began to appear, which rapidly gained popularity among gamers. During this period, the concept of genre arose for a more convenient classification for users and developers. After the release of any popular game, there were a lot of analogues in which developers made their additions, but they used the same game mechanics. As a result of this evolution, whole categories of similar games arose around popular projects, which later formed genres.

So what is a game genre?

Game genre is a collection of games united by common characteristics of the game process (gameplay). Usually, the main criterion in its description is the action performed by the player, in contrast to the genre, for example, a literary work. In games, this concept is usually called a setting.

Game genres, surprisingly, cannot be categorized very clearly, because the same game can easily belong to different genres at the same time. However, this classification is very useful, because usually players prefer a certain type of games and, when a specific genre is announced by the developer, they can easily determine whether the game will be interesting to them or not.

Let's look at the most clearly separated genres in order of popularity among gamers (according to Playliner statistics for April 2018).

Action games

One of the most popular ones are action games. This genre has its own subgenres such as platform games, fighting games and, of course, shooter games that remain popular since 90-th. Also, this genre includes arcade, horror/stealth, sport, simulation and racing games.

Platform games

This genre includes games that were developed for consoles, but are now fully available on PC through the use of simulators and emulators, as well as updates and improvements from manufacturers. In these games, the gameplay usually consists of jumping and climbing, the character is able to perform many jumps, and the player is able to control the movements of the hero in the air. The most popular games in this genre include the well-known game Super Mario Bros., as well as Limbo, INSIDE, Unravel.

Shooter games

As the name suggests, shooters are games with weapons, often with violent gameplay, in which the player needs to shoot and hit the target. The simplest example of a shooter, without admixtures of other genres, can be a shooting game in a shooting range, where the player needs to hit the targets. In combination with other simple genres, shooters can be games that take place on the battlefield, with various combat missions. There are first-person shooter games, when the camera is displayed through the eyes of the game character, the legendary Doom can serve as an example of the first such game. In third-person shooter games, the player's character is visible on the screen, and the virtual camera is located behind or to the side, such as Max Payne 3.

Fighting games

In fighting games, one or more characters usually fight one-on-one against an opponent of approximately equal strength. Such games are often networked, designed for many users, with a large number of players. These can be hand-to-hand fights, battles with melee weapons or with the use of martial arts. Examples of such games can be Shadow Fight 2, Mortal Kombat.

Arcade

Arcade games are one of the oldest genres, for example, the game Q * Bert. The main task of such a game is to collect special objects in the level, sometimes you need to paint the level (for example, 3 in a row), find an exit or press the keys in time, often similar games are endless, in them you need to score the largest number of game points. The view in such games is usually from above, sometimes from the side. When combined with other genres, arcade games may have battles with enemies or traps to get out of.

Stealth games

In spy games, killing enemies is optional and sometimes punishable. The player needs to be stealthy and invisible, usually the player is a thief, spy, sniper or assassin. The character is often very vulnerable, it is better not to fall under direct attacks. The main devices of the player in such a game are silent weapons, various traps, night vision devices, explosives, etc. An example of such a game is Hitman 2.

Sport games

This genre can also be called «Esports» or «sports simulator». It can be divided into team and individual games, just like sports. The character is in a certain framework or territory, for example: on a playing field, or a stadium, and must strictly follow certain rules. In a single game, the player needs to control one character (simulation of swimming, golf, running, etc.), in a team game, the task is complicated by the need to navigate between team members (simulation of football, basketball, hockey). Examples of such games can be: NBA 2K19, FIFA.

Simulation

Various simulations belong to this genre. Sometimes simulation games are games in which the control of any technical means is simulated (vehicle simulation), for example: simulators of airplanes, tanks, sea and spaceships. Usually, the gameplay in such games consists in simulating various real situations, the screen shows the cockpit of the equipment in which the game takes place. The game has complex controls, involves a large number of keyboard buttons or requires the use of a separate control device.

There are life simulators or biological simulators, for example, on the one hand, the player simulates new species and their development in the ecosystem and on the other hand, players themselves can feel like an animal.

Another subgenre of this genre can be called construction and management simulation. The essence of these representations is to create, expand or manage fictional communities or projects with limited resources, such as Sim City.

Racing

The main task in games of this genre is a speed competition on a certain type of equipment. These can be car races, spaceships, exotic, non-existent animals, etc. An example of such a game can be the well-known Need for Speed: Underground.

Strategy

The next most popular voluminous genre with a large number of subgenres is strategy. There are economic, tower defense, wargame and card game strategies.

The main task in games of this genre is a speed competition on a certain type of equipment. These can be car races, spaceships, exotic, non-existent animals, etc. An example of such a game can be the well-known Need for Speed: Underground.

Economic strategy

This genre includes games in which the player is the owner of a city, country, institution or any territory. His task is the development of his territory: extracting resources, transforming them into goods, selling goods or using them for his own needs. In such games, there are usually no combat units, but a large number of types of resources, goods, sales points, and currencies. An example of such a game can be Capitalism II.

Tower defense

The essence of games of this genre is the construction of defensive structures that will automatically destroy enemies. Such games require a quick reaction, as over time you need to build more and more new improved structures, for example: Plants vs. Zombies, Orcs Must Die! Unchained.

Wargame

This genre implies that the player has a certain number of combat units, the composition of the army and its number are usually determined at the beginning of the battle and no longer change until the end of the game. Usually in such games there are missions, the purpose of each of which is to complete all the tasks received during the briefing. Actions can be both real-time and turn-based, for example: Blitzkrieg, World War II: Frontline Command.

Cardgame

They are also called board role-playing games. Such games require the ability to predict the moves of the opponent and make the development of events in one's favor. Usually, two or more players fight in such a game, each player has his own set of cards, which is unknown to the opponent. Each card is a separate unit of the army, the player places a card, and the opponent defends. Distinctive features of this genre are that the enemy's forces are unknown and after each move it is necessary to adjust the plan. An example game is Hearthstone.

RPG

And the last of the most popular genres of games are role-playing games or RPGs (role playing games). These include such subgenres as education, adventure, quest, puzzle, browser's, MUD, and MMORPG.

They are also called board role-playing games. Such games require the ability to predict the moves of the opponent and make the development of events in one's favor. Usually, two or more players fight in such a game, each player has his own set of cards, which is unknown to the opponent. Each card is a separate unit of the army, the player places a card, and the opponent defends. Distinctive features of this genre are that the enemy's forces are unknown and after each move it is necessary to adjust the plan. An example game is Hearthstone.

Education

A kind of genre, which is remembered by a very narrow circle of users, since these games are usually designed for preschoolers. In their pure form, games of this genre are used to teach young children numbers, the alphabet, and the names of things.

However, surprisingly, this genre is used in most games in the «tutorial» part. Examples of such educational games can be: English for children: houses and in the yard, Luntik – I want to know everything, etc.

Adventure

In the gamer lexicon, this genre is more often called «roaming». One of the earliest genres that was popular even before the advent of 3D games. In such games, the plot, interesting characters and atmosphere prevail over the gameplay, there are almost no battles, the player moves around the map, communicates with the characters, interacts with the environment, studying it and solving various puzzles. This genre, in turn, refers to text adventure games (text adventures), network text games (MUD) or interactive fiction. In such games, the player enters text commands using a keyboard, for example in the popular old game Zork. During the game, a description of the place appears in the text window, and the player uses a text line to set commands: how to use the inventory, where to move, what spell to use, etc. The most interesting thing is that the complete list of teams may not be known to the player, as it differs depending on the location.

Another type of this genre is graphic adventure games (graphic adventures), which replaced text games with the development of graphics. Point-and-click mechanics are widely used in such games.

A very popular subspecies of the genre in Japan is a visual novel. These are games with static graphics, in most cases in the style of anime. The player can independently develop the plot and change the ending of the novel, controlling the actions and development of events, and choosing different options.

An interactive movie can be a continuation of the previous subgenre. The essence of such a game is that, in a pre-recorded cartoon or sequence of movements, the player can control some actions of the main character.

And, as the logical apotheosis of this genre, we can single out real-time 3D adventures, which appeared with the development of 3D graphics. In these games, the traditional adventure gameplay is supplemented with some attributes that can be associated with action games, for example, freedom of movement.

Quests

Games in which it is necessary to solve a riddle, but at the same time the methods of solving it are unknown. For the solution, you need to find information on your own, communicate with different characters, who can ask new tasks in their answers. Most often, to solve a riddle, you need to use a special inventory in a certain place. An example is a game like The Walking Dead: The Game.

Puzzles

These are also puzzle games, just like quests, but in them you need to learn some rules or regularities to solve them, and then use these rules to perform simple combinations of actions that will lead to solving the puzzle, for example, Tetris.

Browser RPG

Popular representatives of this genre are games on social networks. The main action, the main gameplay is communication. In such games, you can communicate with several categories of characters (allies, enemies, merchants) and use your own method of communication with each category, for example: Found here, Gichka, KingsRoad.

MMORPG

Online role-playing games (MMORPG) stand for massively multiplayer online role-playing games or online role-playing games designed for many users. The main gameplay consists of traveling through the virtual world, communicating with other characters, and developing your character. Peaceful communication usually takes place in virtual cities, and pumping the character in trips outside them. In games of this genre, the participation of many players is very important, since a beautiful virtual world becomes completely useless in a single game. An example game is RuneScape.

With the further development of games, the genres became more and more mixed with each other, and today, at the top of this entire hierarchy of genres, five main types of games can be distinguished – an action game with an open world (open action), global strategy (global strategy), role-playing game with open world (open RPG), role-playing game (action RPG) and combat strategy (RTS).

Open action games

Another name for this genre is «GTA-like games». The main gameplay is the destruction of enemies in a huge area, often many different techniques are used in the games, but this is not necessary. This complex genre combines several simple ones, such as shooting, arcade, duel, simulator, survival. One such game is Grand Theft Auto V.

Global strategy

In simpler terms, games of this genre can be classified as god or ruler simulators. The gameplay in such games cannot be called dynamic, it consists in spreading across the state or world map, building bases, technical and scientific progress, building and developing combat units on the map. A good example is Civilization.

Open RPG games

The essence of this complex genre is that a free-to-explore world is added to the classic RPG. In fact, it is a combination of the genre of adventure games with quests. Examples of such games: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Gothic.

Action RPG

One of the top two in the evolution of genres, combines action games and role-playing games. The main gameplay is a constant battle, each level is a new battlefield, you can take a break from battles in small virtual towns where role-playing communication is concentrated. Examples: Mafia, Gun, S.T.A.L.K.E.R..

RTS or Combat strategy games

The second top genre in game development, which combines strategy and action games. The gameplay is divided into building a base to create an army and participating in battles. Excellent examples of such games can be: Warcraft III, Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty.

The most popular genres on PC include such games as network, role-playing, shooters, platformers and strategies, while on mobile devices simulators, card games, puzzles and puzzles are more popular.

Most likely, the number of genres described above is, of course, not the limit in the modern game industry, as games are becoming more and more complicated, and more and more exciting. Perhaps, with the introduction of virtual reality and other modern technologies, other, even more complex and confusing genres will emerge, but if you single out the main features of the gameplay in the game, you can always easily determine to which main genres it can be classified.