List of video game genres
Revision as of 11:24, 11 June 2020 by TheAlmightyGuru (talk | contribs)
This is a list of video game genres. These genres span game mechanics, themes, perspectives, and play styles.
Name | Description | Examples |
---|---|---|
Action | Games which require fast reflexes. | Combat, Vanguard |
Adventure | Games where exploration of interesting environments plays a heavy role. | Colossal Cave Adventure, King's Quest |
Beat 'em up | Player uses martial arts to beat up many foes. | Kung Fu, Karateka |
Casual video game | A game that can be easily and repeatedly started and stopped and doesn't require intense interaction. | Bejeweled, Little Inferno |
Dating simulator | ||
Driving | Games where driving a vehicle is a major element (though not racing). | Spy Hunter, Truck Simulator |
Endless runner | The player constantly moves forward through a procedurally-generated map avoid obstacles. | Canabalt, Alto's Adventure |
Fighting game | Player uses martial arts to beat up specific foes. | Karate Champ, Street Fighter |
First-person shooter | 3D first-person perspective, player shoots at enemies. | Wolfenstein 3D, Doom |
Full motion video game | Games which incorporate pre-filmed video sequences | Night Trap, The 7th Guest |
Graphical adventure | Adventure games which put heavy emphasis on their graphics rather than descriptions. | King's Quest, Shadowgate |
Humor | Games which feature a lot of humorous content. | Space Quest I: The Sarien Encounter, The Stanley Parable |
Light gun game | Games which require the use of a light gun. | Duck Hunt, Area 51 |
Metroidvania | Player explores a large world and finds items that unlock more of the world. | Super Metroid, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night |
Multi-genre video game | The game incorporates several different genres | TRON, ActRaiser |
Platformer | Side view 2D environment with gravity where the player moves up and down over multiple platforms. | Pitfall!, Super Mario Bros. |
Pornographic | ||
Puzzle | Requires logical thinking and reasoning rather than reflexes. | Minesweeper, Solitaire |
Racing | Games where you race against opponents or the clock. | OutRun, Mario Kart |
Rail shooter | Player's movement is on a fixed "rail," but they control where they can shoot. | Star Wars (original arcade game), Lethal Enforcers |
Real-time strategy | Strategy games where the action happens in real-time as opposed to turn-based. | Dune II, WarCraft |
Rhythm game | ||
Scrolling shooter | A 2D shooter where the player moves through a larger environment. | 1942, Defender |
Shooter | 2D environment, player shoots projectiles at enemies. | Space Invaders, Galaga |
Text adventure | Adventure games which predominately use text to describe the game world. | Zork, A Mind Forever Voyaging |
Turn-based strategy | Strategy games which give you time to think in between moves. | Civilization, X-COM: UFO Defense |