From Call of Duty to Sims 4
Many people call themselves gamers, but what that means really varies on the games you play. For instance, someone who plays Farming Simulator probably doesn’t have a lot in common with someone who plays Fortnite. With that in mind, here are 20 popular game genres and the kinds of players they appeal to.
1. Role-Playing Games
Also known as RPGs, these games are the perfect pick for those that enjoy story and character development. They like learning lore and making choices that actually have an impact on the narrative, wanting games that make them feel like main characters in their own movies. Some popular RPGs include The Witcher 3 and Skyrim.
2. Action RPG
Very similar to regular RPGs, what sets this variant apart is the emphasis on combat. These games care about story, but they also want to give lots of combat choices to make a fighter that perfectly suits your player style. Think of games like Elden Ring or Baldur’s Gate 3.
3. Shooter Games
Whether you prefer first-person or third-person, shooters are often for those that want the thrill of competition. You need to be a fast thinker, and should enjoy tactical gameplay, preferably with teammates and friends by your side. Some popular shooters include Call of Duty, Valorant, and even Fortnite.
4. Platformers
For retro gamers who aren’t quite ready to let go of this old-school genre, platformers involve movement challenges and reward players that practice the mechanics. That being said, modern platformers also intertwine deep and vibrant stories that make their worlds feel super rich, such as Celeste or Hollow Knight.
5. Horror
If you enjoy the thrill of being terrified, then horror games are a genre that get lots of love and are worth diving into. From zombie games to dark space explorations, all the way to psychological stories, there’s a horror game out there for everyone.
6. Adventure
Adventure may sound so vague and general, but the idea here is to focus on games that are story-driven and involve exploration. Essentially, these games involve a vast world to explore, and plenty of puzzles to keep you on your toes. Consider The Legend of Zelda or Uncharted as prime examples.
7. Strategy
Strategy games often involve turn-based mechanics that involve thinkers, planners, and tacticians. These are the perfect games for those that like controlling armies or advancing entire cities. Some popular games in the genre include Civilization, StarCraft, and Warhammer.
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8. Action
These games are about one thing, and one thing only, fighting with style. Often involving fast-paced and reflex-driven gameplay, players are challenged by constant movement, ever-increasingly-difficult bosses, and a vibrant world. Think of games like DOOM and Devil May Cry and you’ve got yourself action.
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9. Survival
Survival is all about managing resources and mastering one’s environment. For players that want to escape reality and set up a little homestead in another slice of the world, survival games like Minecraft, The Forest, and Subnautica stand out.
10. Visual Novels
Visual novels often involve minimal gameplay and instead focus on telling stories where the players can choose their actions. This is a great way to enjoy branching narratives and make impactful emotional choices, such as in Until Dawn and Doki Doki Literature Club.
11. Simulation
Simulation games essentially try to simulate a real part of life. Think of games that involve managing systems, or living out certain jobs or tasks. For instance, consider Microsoft Flight Simulator, Farming Simulator, and of course, everyone's favorite, The Sims 4.
12. Puzzle
For fans of adventure games that just want to focus on the puzzles, these games are often casual and relaxed. The stakes are usually a bit lower while players can test their mental prowess with clever mechanics, such as in Tetris Effect and Portal 2.
13. Racing
Compared to some of the other genres on this list, racing may feel a bit one-note. But despite that, these games are the perfect fix for speed junkies that want to feel like they’re right there on the road. It’s also a great way to fulfill fantasies of driving certain cars or mastering specific tracks—just think of games like Gran Turismo and Mario Kart.
14. MMORPGs
If you’re not familiar with gaming genres, MMORPG stands for massively multiplayer online role-playing game. It usually involves a fully functioning world, lots of player customization, and an adventurous storyline to play through. What makes it unique though is that you play with millions of other players, like in World of Warcraft or Elder Scrolls Online.
15. Rhythm
Rhythm games are all about the music! They challenge players to use their timing and pattern recognition skills to pump out tunes and vibe with the songs. For instance, Guitar Hero and Beat Saber are popular rhythm games.
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16. Fighting
You might think we already crossed action off our list, and while that’s true, fighting games are a whole other beast. Think of competitive games that are all about one-on-one combat and mastering quick combos, such as Street Fighter or Tekken.
17. Sandbox
Sandbox games prioritize exploration and freedom over everything else. They want you to be able to do anything and go anywhere, wanting to give you limitless options. With that in mind, Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2 stand out in the genre.
18. Battle Royale
Battle royales are games that pitch a whole group of players against one another. Think of competitive survival games that reward the last-player-standing. Prime examples of this include PUBG and Warzone, as well as the increasingly popular Fortnite.
19. Roguelike
Roguelike is the name of a genre that involves random odds that generate new challenges or arenas for players to get through. For instance, one very popular Roguelike is Hades, which keeps switching up the level layout to force players to come up with new strategies and adapt to ever-changing difficulties.
20. Sports
Finally, some players just want to make their sport fan dreams come true. FIFA and Madden are prime examples of sport games that put players right on the field and let them simulate gameplay to feel like one of the actual players.
