Genre Glossary
Action
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- Score Attack: Games focusing on achieving high scores, often with limited lives or time constraints.
- Endless Runner: A sub-genre where the player continuously moves forward through a randomly generated, endless course.
- Fast-Paced Action: Arcade games designed around rapid reflexes and reaction times.
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- Character Action Games: Focused on stylish combat and character abilities, often featuring combo systems.
- Dungeon Hack: Hack and slash games set in dungeons or fantasy settings, emphasizing loot collection.
- Wave-Based Combat: Games where players face waves of enemies, often culminating in a boss fight.
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- Tactical Stealth: Emphasizes careful planning and execution of missions without being detected.
- Infiltration Games: Focus on sneaking into heavily guarded areas, often with objectives like espionage or theft.
- Evasion-Based Stealth: Games where the primary goal is to avoid detection and escape from hostile environments.
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- 2D Platformer: Traditional side-scrolling games focusing on precise jumping and obstacle navigation.
- 3D Platformer: Platform games in a 3D environment, often with more exploration elements.
- Puzzle Platformer: Combines platform mechanics with puzzle-solving elements.
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- Survival Battle Royale: Emphasizes survival mechanics, like resource gathering and environmental awareness, in addition to combat.
- Last Man Standing: A sub-genre focused on being the final survivor in a shrinking play area.
- Team-Based Battle Royale: Encourages cooperative play within teams to be the last group standing.
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- Bullet Heaven Arena Survivor: Standard top-down horde survival games with endless auto-firing projectiles and exponential item stacking (Vampire Survivors style).
- Physics-Based / Navigational Survivor: Survivor-like games incorporating platforming, vehicle driving, or physics-driven navigation while dodging endless mobs.
- Narrative / Extraction Survivor: Survivor games incorporating structured mission runs, character unlocks, or extraction-based progression loops between sessions.
Adventure
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- Narrative-Driven: Focused on storytelling and character development, with less emphasis on complex puzzles.
- Puzzle-Centric: Features challenging puzzles as the core gameplay element.
- Comedic: Emphasizes humor and often includes satirical or whimsical storylines.
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- Cinematic Graphic Adventure: Emphasizes a story-driven experience with high-quality graphics and cinematic presentation.
- Exploration-Based: Focuses on exploring environments with less emphasis on challenging puzzles.
- Character-Driven: Centers around deep character development and interactions.
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- Choice-Based: Focuses on player choices to drive the narrative, with multiple branching paths and endings.
- Text Puzzles: Incorporates puzzles within the text that players must solve to progress.
- Experimental Narratives: Offers unique storytelling methods, often breaking traditional narrative structures.
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- Crafting and Building: Emphasizes gathering resources to craft tools, build shelters, and create other survival items.
- Post-Apocalyptic: Set in a world after a catastrophic event, focusing on survival against harsh conditions and possible threats.
- Natural Wilderness: Focuses on survival in natural settings, often with realistic environmental challenges.
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- Ability-Based Exploration: Unlocking new abilities that allow access to previously inaccessible areas.
- Non-linear Exploration: Encourages exploration in an open-ended world where players can choose their path.
- Story-Intensive: Offers a more in-depth narrative experience in addition to the exploration and ability progression.
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- Dating Sim: A sub-genre focusing on romantic relationships, often with multiple potential partners and branching storylines.
- Interactive Drama: Heavily story-driven, focusing on emotional narratives and character development.
- Mystery and Detective: Centers around solving mysteries or crimes, often requiring player deduction and decision-making.
Educational - Informative
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Educational - Informative#Learning Adventures
- Historical Adventures: Focuses on exploring historical periods and events.
- Scientific Exploration Adventures: Involves learning about different scientific concepts through adventure gameplay.
- Cultural Discovery Adventures: Explores different cultures and traditions around the world.
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Educational - Informative#Math Games
- Basic Arithmetic Games: Focuses on teaching basic math skills like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
- Problem-Solving Math Games: Involves using math to solve complex problems and puzzles.
- Math Logic Games: Combines math skills with logical reasoning and critical thinking.
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Educational - Informative#Language Learning
- Vocabulary Building: Focuses on expanding vocabulary in a new language.
- Grammar and Structure: Teaches grammatical rules and sentence structure.
- Conversational Practice: Simulates real-life conversations to improve language fluency.
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Educational - Informative#Science and Nature Exploration
- Biology and Ecosystem Games: Teaches about living organisms and their environments.
- Physics and Chemistry Simulations: Involves interactive experiments and simulations to understand physical and chemical concepts.
- Astronomy and Space Exploration: Explores celestial bodies and the universe.
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Educational - Informative#History and Geography Learning
- World History Interactive Learning: Covers various periods and events in world history.
- Geography and Maps: Focuses on teaching geography through map-based games and quizzes.
- Cultural and Civilization Studies: Explores different civilizations and their historical impact.
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Educational - Informative#Puzzle-based Learning
- Educational Brain Teasers: Puzzles designed to enhance cognitive skills and critical thinking.
- Memory Improvement Games: Focuses on exercises and challenges to improve memory.
- Logic and Reasoning Puzzles: Involves solving puzzles through logical thinking and reasoning.
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Educational - Informative#Interactive Storybooks
- Narrated Children’s Books: Digital storybooks with narration for young readers.
- Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Books: Interactive stories where readers make choices that affect the outcome.
- Educational Comics and Graphic Novels: Combines storytelling with educational content in a comic format.
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Educational - Informative#Educational Simulations
- Virtual Labs and Experiments: Simulates scientific experiments and lab work.
- Economic and Business Simulations: Teaches economic principles and business management.
- Environmental and Ecological Simulations: Focuses on understanding and managing environmental ecosystems.
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Educational - Informative#Creativity and Art Education
- Digital Painting and Drawing: Teaches art skills using digital tools.
- Music Composition and Theory: Focuses on music composition and understanding musical concepts.
- Crafts and DIY Projects: Encourages creativity through virtual crafting and DIY activities.
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Educational - Informative#Health and Lifestyle Education
- Nutrition and Cooking Games: Teaches about healthy eating, cooking, and nutrition.
- Fitness and Exercise Apps: Focuses on physical health, including exercise routines and fitness tracking.
- Mindfulness and Well-being: Promotes mental health through mindfulness exercises and stress-relief activities.
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Educational - Informative#Advergame
- Brand Integration Games: Games that integrate specific brands or products into gameplay.
- Educational Marketing Games: Uses game elements to educate players about a product or service.
- Interactive Product Simulators: Simulates the use of a product or service in an interactive environment.
Fighting
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Fighting#Traditional 2D Fighter
- Combo-Based Fighter: Focuses on executing complex combinations of moves.
- Aerial Combat Fighter: Emphasizes aerial maneuvers and mid-air combat.
- Counter Strike Fighter: Centers around timing and executing counter moves.
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- Ring-Out Fighter: Winning by knocking opponents out of the ring or arena.
- Environmental Interaction Fighter: Uses elements of the arena or environment as part of combat.
- Free-Movement Fighter: Allows players to move freely in a three-dimensional space.
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- Pro Wrestling Simulators: Mimics professional wrestling shows, complete with theatrical moves and storylines.
- Arcade-Style Wrestling: Simplified and exaggerated wrestling gameplay, focusing on fun and accessibility.
- Realistic Wrestling: Aims to realistically simulate the sport of wrestling, including techniques and strategies.
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- Large Scale Battle Arena: Features battles in large arenas, often with multiple combatants simultaneously.
- Destructible Environment Arena: Arenas where the surroundings can be destroyed or used in combat.
- Multi-Level Arenas: Fights take place across multiple vertical levels or platforms.
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- Side-Scrolling Beat 'em up: Classic style where players move horizontally through levels, fighting groups of enemies.
- Cooperative Beat 'em up: Designed for two or more players to fight together against enemies.
- Survival Beat 'em up: Players must survive against waves of enemies for as long as possible.
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Fighting#Weapon-based Fighting
- Historical Weapons Fighter: Features weapons based on historical periods (e.g., samurai swords, medieval armor).
- Fantasy Weapons Fighter: Includes imaginative and non-traditional weapons (e.g., magic, futuristic weapons).
- Dual Wielding Fighter: Focuses on combat with characters wielding two weapons simultaneously.
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Fighting#Martial Arts Fighting
- Realistic Martial Arts: Simulates real-world martial arts styles and techniques.
- Mixed Martial Arts (MMA): Combines elements from various martial arts disciplines.
- Cinematic Martial Arts: Emphasizes over-the-top, movie-style martial arts combat.
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- Strategic Positioning Fighter: Emphasizes the importance of positioning and distance in combat.
- Turn-Based Tactical Fighter: Combines turn-based strategy elements with fighting game mechanics.
- Resource Management Fighter: Involves managing resources like energy or special move meters.
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- Multi-Level Platform Fighter: Combat across various platforms and levels within the arena.
- Environmental Hazards Fighter: Arenas with hazards or elements that can affect the outcome of the battle.
- Item-Based Platform Fighter: Includes the use of items to gain an advantage in combat.
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- Switch-In/Out Fighter: Allows players to switch between characters during a match.
- Team Synergy Fighter: Characters have special moves or abilities that work in tandem with their teammates.
- Multiplayer Tag Team: Designed for multiple players to each control a member of a tag team.
Gambling
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- Virtual Casino Resorts: Simulates the experience of visiting and playing in a full-scale virtual casino.
- Table Games Simulation: Focuses on classic casino table games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat.
- High-Stakes Casino Simulation: Designed for simulating high roller casino experiences with large bets and risks.
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- Character Gacha: Players spend in-game currency to receive random virtual characters, often for use in battles or quests.
- Item Gacha: Focuses on obtaining random virtual items that can enhance gameplay or aesthetics.
- Cosmetic Gacha: Involves collecting cosmetic items or appearances for characters or environments.
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- Texas Hold'em Poker: Simulates the popular Texas Hold'em variant of poker.
- Tournament Poker: Focuses on playing through structured poker tournaments.
- Casual Poker Games: Designed for more relaxed and informal poker playing experiences.
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- Themed Slot Machines: Slot games featuring specific themes like ancient civilizations, fantasy, or popular culture.
- Progressive Slots Simulation: Involves playing virtual slot machines with progressive jackpots.
- Classic Slot Simulation: Simulates traditional slot machines with basic mechanics and fewer paylines.
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Gambling#Betting and Wagering Games
- Parimutuel Betting Games: Focuses on bets pooled together, like horse racing bets.
- Fixed-Odds Betting Games: Involves betting against odds set by the bookmaker or the game itself.
- Peer-to-Peer Betting: Players place bets against each other rather than against a house or bookmaker.
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Gambling#Card Games with Gambling Elements
- Blackjack and Variants: Includes traditional blackjack and its various forms.
- Baccarat Simulation: Simulates the popular casino card game baccarat.
- High-Low Card Games: Involves guessing whether the next card will be higher or lower.
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Gambling#Virtual Lottery Games
- Scratch-off Lottery Simulation: Simulates the experience of buying and scratching off lottery tickets.
- Number Draw Lottery: Involves selecting numbers and simulating a lottery draw.
- Instant Win Games: Quick-play lottery-style games with immediate outcomes.
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Gambling#Dice Games and Craps Simulation
- Street Craps: Simulates more informal versions of craps, often played on the streets.
- Casino Craps Simulation: Replicates the casino-style craps experience.
- Dice Roll Prediction Games: Involves predicting the outcome of dice rolls or combinations.
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Gambling#Sports Betting Simulation
- Fantasy Sports Betting: Involves betting within a simulated fantasy sports environment.
- Virtual Sports Betting: Betting on simulated, computer-generated sports events.
- In-game Live Sports Betting: Offers live betting options during simulated sports matches.
Horror
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- Resource Management Survival: Focuses on managing limited resources like ammunition and health items.
- Isolation Horror: Emphasizes the feeling of being alone in a hostile environment.
- Escape Horror: Involves puzzles and challenges where the main goal is to escape from a confined setting.
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- Mind-Bending Horror: Features surreal environments and storylines that challenge the player's perception of reality.
- Fear of the Unknown: Focuses on creating fear through ambiguous threats and uncertain dangers.
- Narrative-Driven Psychological Horror: Emphasizes story and character development to convey horror.
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- Ghost and Haunting: Involves supernatural entities like ghosts and spirits.
- Occult and Rituals: Centers around occult themes, including rituals and demonic summoning.
- Exorcism Horror: Focuses on the theme of exorcising malevolent spirits or demons.
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- Creature Feature: Horror centered around encounters with monstrous creatures.
- Mutant and Bio-Horror: Involves genetically altered or mutated beings.
- Alien Horror: Focuses on extraterrestrial beings as the primary source of horror.
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- Post-Apocalyptic Zombie: Set in a world overrun by zombies following an apocalypse.
- Infection and Outbreak: Focuses on the outbreak of a virus or disease that creates zombies.
- Survival Against the Horde: Emphasizes surviving against waves of zombie attacks.
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- Eldritch Abominations: Features incomprehensible, cosmic entities.
- Madness and Insanity: Involves themes of sanity slipping away in the face of unimaginable horrors.
- Uncovering Forbidden Knowledge: Centers around the discovery of ancient, dangerous knowledge.
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- Mockumentary Horror: Presented in the style of a documentary with horrifying revelations.
- First-Person Camera Horror: The game is experienced through a first-person camera, often shaky and limited.
- Investigative Horror: Involves investigating mysterious events, often leading to unsettling discoveries.
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- Serial Killer Pursuit: Focuses on evading or confronting a serial killer.
- Teen Horror: Often features younger characters in scenarios reminiscent of slasher films.
- Gore and Violence: Emphasizes graphic violence and gore as key elements.
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- Victorian Horror: Set in a Victorian setting with themes of decay and aristocratic decline.
- Haunted Mansions and Castles: Centers around exploration of old, haunted buildings.
- Vampires and Werewolves: Involves classic Gothic horror creatures like vampires, werewolves, and other beings.
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Horror#J-Horror (Japanese Horror)
- Onryo and Yokai: Features traditional Japanese spirits and monsters.
- Urban Legends: Focuses on modern Japanese urban legends and folklore.
- Psychological and Atmospheric: Emphasizes a slow-building, atmospheric tension typical of Japanese horror.
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- Iconic Characters: Centers around memorable antagonists with distinct personalities, appearances, and identities that become the primary source of fear.
- Recurring Encounters: Emphasizes repeated interactions with the same characters, allowing the player to learn, anticipate, and ultimately dread their unique behaviors and presence.
- Character-Driven Narrative: Uses the history, motivations, and relationships of its central characters to drive the mystery, world-building, and progression of the story.
Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO)
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Massively Multiplayer Online#MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game)
- Fantasy MMORPGs: Set in magical realms with mythical creatures and magic systems.
- Sci-Fi MMORPGs: Featuring futuristic settings with advanced technology and space exploration.
- Historical MMORPGs: Based on historical periods, offering more realistic and historical settings.
- Sandbox MMORPG: Provides a vast, open world with player-driven content, economy, and storylines.
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Massively Multiplayer Online#MMOFPS (Massively Multiplayer Online First-Person Shooter)
- Tactical MMOFPS: Focuses on strategic and tactical gameplay in a first-person shooter format.
- Sci-Fi MMOFPS: Set in futuristic worlds, often with advanced weaponry and vehicles.
- Warfare MMOFPS: Centers around large-scale battles and military combat.
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Massively Multiplayer Online#MMO Strategy Games
- Real-Time MMO Strategy: Involves managing resources, building bases, and commanding armies in real-time.
- Turn-Based MMO Strategy: Players take turns making strategic decisions and moves.
- Economic MMO Strategy: Focuses on economic management, trade, and resource allocation on a large scale.
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Massively Multiplayer Online#MMO Racing Games
- Arcade-Style MMO Racing: Emphasizes fast-paced, action-packed racing.
- Simulation MMO Racing: Offers a realistic racing experience with accurate physics and vehicle dynamics.
- Open-World MMO Racing: Combines racing with open-world exploration elements.
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Massively Multiplayer Online#MMO Sports Games
- Team-Based MMO Sports: Players control a team in sports like soccer, basketball, or football.
- Individual Skill MMO Sports: Focuses on individual performance in sports like tennis or golf.
- Fantasy League MMO Sports: Involves managing fantasy sports teams based on real-world players and statistics.
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Massively Multiplayer Online#MMO Simulation Games
- Life Simulation MMO: Simulates aspects of daily life and social interactions.
- Business and Economy Simulation MMO: Focuses on running businesses and managing economies.
- Vehicle Simulation MMO: Involves operating and managing various types of vehicles, from cars to planes.
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Massively Multiplayer Online#MMOTCG (Massively Multiplayer Online Trading Card Game)
- Fantasy-Themed MMOTCG: Card games set in fantasy universes.
- Strategy-Based MMOTCG: Emphasizes strategic deck building and card play.
- Collectible MMOTCG: Focuses on collecting and trading digital cards.
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Massively Multiplayer Online#MMO Social Games
- Virtual World MMOs: Creates a virtual space for players to interact socially.
- MMO Party Games: Includes mini-games and activities designed for social interaction.
- Role-Playing Social MMOs: Encourages role-playing in social contexts and settings.
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Massively Multiplayer Online#MMO Sandbox Games
- Creative Sandbox MMOs: Offers tools and freedom to create and modify the game world.
- Survival Sandbox MMOs: Combines sandbox mechanics with survival elements.
- Exploration Sandbox MMOs: Focuses on exploring and discovering within a sandbox environment.
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Massively Multiplayer Online#MMO Battle Royale Games
- Last-Man-Standing MMOs: Focuses on survival and being the last player or team standing.
- Large-Scale Battle MMOs: Involves massive numbers of players in battle royale-style combat.
- Resource Management Battle Royale: Combines battle royale gameplay with resource gathering and management.
Music - Rhythm
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- Arcade Dance: Dance games typically found in arcades, often using dance pads.
- VR Dance: Utilizing virtual reality technology for an immersive dance experience.
- Fitness Dance: Focused on exercise and fitness routines based on dance moves.
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- Band Simulation: Games where players simulate playing in a band with different instruments.
- Interactive Music Videos: Games that allow players to interact with and alter music videos.
- Rhythm-Based Platformer: Platform games where actions are synchronized with the music.
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- Color and Shape Matching: Matching beats by color or shape recognition.
- Speed Matching: Games where matching speed increases with progression.
- Freestyle Beat-matching: Allows more creative freedom in matching beats.
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Music - Rhythm#Rhythm-based Combat
- Musical Fighting Games: Combat actions are timed to the rhythm of the music.
- Rhythm-Based Strategy: Strategic actions in battles depend on matching the rhythm.
- Adventure Rhythm Combat: Combines rhythm mechanics with adventure-style combat.
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Music - Rhythm#Instrument Simulation
- Guitar Simulation: Simulating playing a guitar, often with a guitar-shaped controller.
- Drum Simulation: Games focused on simulating drum playing.
- Orchestra Simulation: Simulating playing various orchestral instruments.
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- Competitive Karaoke: Scoring based on pitch accuracy, often in a competitive setting.
- Party Karaoke: Casual, party-focused karaoke games, often with a variety of songs.
- Singing Challenges: Games that pose specific singing challenges or tasks.
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- Turntable Simulation: Simulating the experience of being a DJ using turntables.
- Mixing and Remixing: Creating and remixing music tracks in-game.
- Rhythm-Based DJ Challenges: Challenges based on timing and rhythm in DJing.
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- Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) Simulation: Simulates the experience of using professional music production software.
- Loop-Based Composition: Creating music by arranging pre-recorded loops and samples.
- Interactive Music Creation: Allows players to interactively create music in a game environment.
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Music - Rhythm#Gesture-based Rhythm Games
- Motion-Controlled Rhythm: Utilizing motion controls to match rhythms.
- Touchscreen Rhythm Games: Rhythm games played by tapping or swiping on a touchscreen.
- Full-Body Rhythm Games: Using the player's entire body to match the rhythm, often with camera-based systems.
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Music - Rhythm#Story-driven Rhythm Games
- Rhythm-Based Narratives: Games where the story progresses through rhythm gameplay.
- Character-Centric Rhythm Stories: Focuses on characters and their development through music.
- Musical Journey: Games that take players on a journey or adventure through music.
Party - Board Games
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Party - Board Games#Board Game Adaptations
- Digital Versions of Classic Board Games: Electronic adaptations of traditional board games like chess or checkers.
- Themed Board Games: Board games adapted to fit specific themes, like fantasy or science fiction.
- Augmented Reality Board Games: Board games that use AR technology to enhance gameplay.
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Party - Board Games#Card Games
- Collectible Card Games (CCG): Games where players collect cards and build decks to compete against others.
- Trick-taking Card Games: Games like Spades or Bridge, where the objective is to win tricks.
- Cooperative Card Games: Card games where players work together to achieve common goals.
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- Pop Culture Trivia: Trivia games focused on popular culture topics like movies, music, and celebrities.
- Educational Trivia: Trivia with an educational focus, covering subjects like history, science, or literature.
- Theme-Based Trivia: Trivia games centered around specific themes or topics.
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Party - Board Games#Mini-games Compilation
- Party Game Collections: Collections of quick, easy-to-play mini-games designed for parties.
- Family Game Nights: Mini-games suitable for family play, including a mix of genres and styles.
- Competitive Mini-games: Fast-paced, competitive games focused on player vs. player action.
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Party - Board Games#Social Deduction Games
- Bluffing and Deception: Games where players must bluff or deceive others to win.
- Role Assignment: Games where each player has a secret role with specific goals.
- Mystery Solving: Involves deducing information based on clues and player interactions.
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Party - Board Games#Casual Party Games
- Icebreaker Games: Designed to help players get to know each other in a fun, informal setting.
- Quick Play Games: Easy to learn and play in short timeframes, suitable for any skill level.
- Interactive Party Games: Games that involve physical interaction or activities beyond the game board.
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Party - Board Games#Word Games
- Scrabble-like Games: Focus on creating words from a set of given letters.
- Word Association Games: Games that involve connecting words or ideas in creative ways.
- Word Puzzle Games: Challenges that involve solving word puzzles or completing word-based tasks.
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Party - Board Games#Strategy Board Games
- Resource Management Games: Games where players manage resources to achieve objectives.
- War and Conflict Games: Strategy games centered around warfare or conflict scenarios.
- Economic Strategy Games: Games focused on economic growth, trade, and resource allocation.
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Party - Board Games#Simulation of Traditional Board Games
- Historical Simulations: Board games that simulate historical events or periods.
- Real-world Scenario Simulations: Games that mimic real-world activities or professions.
- Fantasy and Sci-Fi Simulations: Simulations set in imaginative, non-realistic settings.
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Party - Board Games#Board Game Adventure
- Role-Playing Board Games: Combines elements of role-playing games with board game mechanics.
- Story-Driven Campaigns: Games with a strong narrative element, often played over multiple sessions.
- Exploration and Discovery: Focuses on exploring new areas or uncovering mysteries within the game.
Passive
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- Automated Business Simulators: Focuses on setting up and automating various business operations.
- Resource Management Idle Games: Players manage resources that accumulate over time, optimizing strategies for growth.
- Fantasy-Themed Idle Games: Features fantasy elements and settings, often with character and story development.
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- Number Growth Games: Focuses on growing numbers exponentially through upgrades and investments.
- Story-Driven Incremental: Incorporates a narrative that unfolds as the player progresses.
- Science and Technology Incremental: Themed around scientific discovery and technological advancement.
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- Action Clickers: Requires frequent player interaction through clicking or tapping.
- Adventure Clickers: Incorporates elements of adventure games, like quests and exploration, with clicker mechanics.
- Themed Clickers: Set around specific themes or concepts, from cooking to space exploration.
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- Zen and Meditative Games: Designed to induce relaxation through simple gameplay and soothing visuals.
- Nature and Scenery Exploration: Allows players to explore peaceful and beautiful natural settings.
- Mindfulness and Stress Relief: Focuses on activities that promote mindfulness and stress reduction.
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- Audio-Visual Experiences: Combines calming visuals with ambient soundscapes.
- Interactive Art: Players interact with and influence artistic environments or elements.
- Dynamic Environments: Environments that change and evolve, often based on player input or in real-time.
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- Interactive Screensavers: Allows minimal interaction, like influencing the movement or behavior of on-screen elements.
- Virtual Aquariums and Terrariums: Simulated natural environments that can be observed and sometimes interacted with.
- Living Desktops: Animated and interactive backgrounds for computer screens.
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Passive#Non-interactive Experiences
- Visual Novels and Storybooks: Primarily narrative experiences with limited interaction.
- Cinematic Experiences: Movie-like experiences where the player watches rather than interacts.
- Virtual Tours: Guided tours of real or fictional places, experienced passively.
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- Virtual Pet Watching: Observing the behavior and interactions of virtual pets.
- Nature and Wildlife Cams: Simulated natural environments with wildlife to observe.
- Surveillance Simulators: Simulating the experience of monitoring cameras or surveillance systems.
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Passive#Interactive Experiences
- Explorative Interactives: Allows players to interact with and explore environments at a leisurely pace.
- Educational Interactives: Interactive experiences designed to teach or inform.
- Narrative Exploration: Combines story elements with exploration and interaction.
Puzzle
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- Deductive Reasoning: Puzzles that require players to use logical deduction to solve.
- Sequential Logic: Involves solving puzzles in a particular order or sequence.
- Spatial Logic: Focuses on understanding and manipulating spatial relationships and geometry.
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- Cascading Match-3: Includes elements that fall and replace matched items.
- Swapping Match-3: Players swap items to create matches.
- Drag-and-Drop Match-3: Involves dragging items to create matches instead of swapping.
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- Rube Goldberg Machines: Involves creating complex contraptions to perform simple tasks.
- Gravity-Based: Centers around manipulating gravity to solve puzzles.
- Construction Puzzles: Players build structures or mechanisms to solve challenges.
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- Anagrams and Word Scrambles: Rearranging letters to form words or phrases.
- Word Search: Finding specific words hidden in a grid of letters.
- Word Association: Involves finding connections between different words.
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- Traditional Number Sudoku: Classic 9x9 grids with numbers.
- Thematic Sudoku: Variants that replace numbers with symbols, colors, or pictures.
- Multi-Level Sudoku: Complex versions with overlapping or interlinked puzzles.
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- Cryptic Crosswords: Clues involve puzzles within themselves.
- Themed Crosswords: Crosswords revolving around a particular theme or subject.
- Mini Crosswords: Shorter, quicker versions of traditional crosswords.
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- Photorealistic Jigsaw: Puzzles based on high-quality photographs.
- Illustrative Jigsaw: Features artistic or illustrative designs.
- 3D Jigsaw Puzzles: Three-dimensional puzzles, often of buildings or objects.
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- Falling Block Tile-Matching: Involving blocks that fall from the top of the screen.
- Rotating Puzzle: Requires players to rotate tiles or pieces to match.
- Path Creation Tile-Matching: Involves creating paths or connections between tiles.
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Puzzle#Pattern Recognition Puzzles
- Sequence Discovery: Identifying and continuing patterns.
- Shape and Color Patterns: Involves recognizing patterns based on shapes or colors.
- Hidden Object Puzzles: Finding specific items or patterns within a complex image.
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- Textual Riddles: Traditional riddles presented in text form.
- Visual Riddles: Riddles that involve interpreting images or visual cues.
- Interactive Riddles: Riddles that require interaction or manipulation to solve.
Racing
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- Realistic Track Racing: Focuses on accurately simulating racing on professional tracks.
- Vehicle Customization: Emphasizes detailed customization of vehicles for performance and aesthetics.
- Career Mode Racing: Offers a career mode where players progress through a racing career.
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- High-Speed Thrills: Features exaggerated speeds and simplified controls for a high-adrenaline experience.
- Power-Ups and Boosts: Includes special items or abilities to gain an advantage during races.
- Stunt Racing: Focuses on performing stunts or tricks during races.
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- Family-Friendly Kart Racing: Designed for all ages with a focus on fun and accessibility.
- Combat Kart Racing: Includes combat elements, allowing players to hinder opponents with various attacks.
- Fantasy Tracks: Races take place on imaginative and unrealistic tracks.
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- Freestyle Motocross: Focuses on performing tricks and stunts.
- MX Racing: Traditional motocross racing on dirt tracks.
- Supercross: Features stadium-based motocross with more technical tracks and obstacles.
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- F1 Simulation: Realistically simulates Formula 1 races, with authentic tracks and cars.
- Team Management: Involves managing a Formula 1 team, including strategy and development.
- Historical F1: Races featuring historical Formula 1 cars and tracks.
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- Rally Cross: Short races on mixed-surface tracks, often in closed circuits.
- Open Terrain Exploration: Races or challenges taking place in open, free-roam environments.
- Extreme Off-road: Focuses on extreme terrains and challenging conditions.
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- Illegal Street Racing: Centers around unsanctioned races in urban environments.
- Tuner Culture: Emphasizes car modification and street racing culture.
- Urban Circuit Racing: Races that take place on closed city streets or urban environments.
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- Point-to-Point Rally: Focuses on time trial races over closed public or private roads.
- Stage-Based Rally: Involves completing various stages and managing car condition between stages.
- Cross-Country Rally: Long-distance races often spanning multiple countries or terrains.
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- Classic Drag Racing: Straight-line races focusing on quick starts and gear shifting.
- Drag Race Tournaments: Organized events with multiple rounds and varying classes of cars.
- Street-style Drag Racing: Informal drag races, often in urban settings.
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- Jet Ski Racing: Races using personal watercraft on various water courses.
- Powerboat Racing: High-speed boat races on lakes, rivers, or coastal waters.
- Sailing Competitions: Focuses on sailing skills and navigating courses with wind-powered boats.
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- Futuristic Space Racing: Races set in outer space with advanced spacecraft.
- Air Racing: Involves piloting aircraft through competitive courses.
- Anti-Gravity Racing: Features high-speed races with anti-gravity vehicles on futuristic tracks.
Role-playing (RPG)
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- Open World RPG: Focuses on large, open environments with freedom in exploration and character progression.
- Story-Driven RPG: Emphasizes narrative and character development, often with complex storylines and deep lore.
- Choices and Consequences RPG: Offers meaningful choices that significantly impact the game's story and world.
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Role-playing#Japanese RPG (JRPG)
- Turn-Based JRPG: Classic style with turn-based combat systems.
- Anime-Styled JRPG: Features anime-inspired art and storylines.
- Strategic JRPG: Combines traditional JRPG elements with more strategic, often grid-based, combat.
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Role-playing#Action RPG (ARPG)
- Loot-Based ARPG: Focuses on collecting a variety of weapons, armor, and other items.
- Hack-and-Slash ARPG: Emphasizes fast-paced combat against large numbers of enemies.
- Souls-like ARPG: Characterized by challenging combat, a high level of difficulty, and a focus on learning from death.
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- Roguelike Dungeon Crawler: Features procedurally generated dungeons and permadeath.
- Labyrinth Exploration: Focuses on complex maze-like dungeons that players must navigate.
- Puzzle-Oriented Dungeon Crawler: Incorporates puzzle-solving into the dungeon exploration experience.
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Role-playing#Tactical RPG (TRPG)
- Grid-Based Tactical RPG: Involves strategic battles on grid-based maps.
- Real-Time Tactics RPG: Combines RPG elements with real-time tactical decision-making.
- Story-Focused TRPG: Emphasizes narrative elements within a tactical gameplay framework.
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- Procedural Rogue-like: Focuses on procedurally generated levels for a new experience every playthrough.
- Hardcore Rogue-like: Features a high level of difficulty with permadeath and minimal player guidance.
- Rogue-lite: Blends rogue-like elements with other genres, often retaining some progress after death.
- Rogue-like Deckbuilder: Combines card-drafting and deck-building mechanics with roguelike procedural progression and randomized encounters.
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- Action Souls-like: Fast-paced, stamina-driven melee combat set in dark fantasy worlds emphasizing dodge-timing and enemy telegraphs.
- 2D / Metroidvania Souls-like: Side-scrolling or top-down interpretations of Soulslike combat, navigation, and checkpoint mechanics (often called "Soulsvania").
- Extraction Souls-like: Combines multiplayer extraction risk-reward mechanics with deliberate, stamina-based combat and permanent gear loss.
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Role-playing#Deckbuilder Roguelike
- Standard Intent-Telegraphed Deckbuilder: Single-character run-based card drafting featuring deterministic enemy intent displays, node-map pathfinding, and passive relic synergies.
- Spatial / Multi-Floor Deckbuilder: Combines card drafting with tactical unit placement, grid board positioning, or multi-tiered lane defense mechanics.
- Dice / Probability Modification Deckbuilder: Hybridizes card drafting with randomized dice pools, slot manipulation, or active luck-mitigation mechanics.
Sandbox - Open World
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Sandbox - Open World#Open World RPG
- Fantasy Open World RPG: Set in a fantasy universe with quests, magic, and mythical creatures.
- Sci-Fi Open World RPG: Features futuristic settings, advanced technology, and space exploration.
- Historical Open World RPG: Based in a historical setting, focusing on realism and historical accuracy.
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Sandbox - Open World#Open World Action-Adventure
- Urban Adventure: Set in large, modern cityscapes with a focus on exploration and action.
- Wilderness Adventure: Involves survival and exploration in natural, often untamed environments.
- Mythological Adventure: Centers around mythological themes and settings.
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Sandbox - Open World#Open World Survival
- Post-Apocalyptic Survival: Focuses on surviving in a world after a catastrophic event.
- Natural Environment Survival: Involves surviving in natural settings with a focus on resource gathering and crafting.
- Sci-Fi Survival: Set in futuristic or alien environments with survival against extraterrestrial elements.
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Sandbox - Open World#Open World Simulation
- Life Simulation: Simulates various aspects of life, from daily activities to career progression.
- Ecosystem Simulation: Players influence and manage natural ecosystems and environments.
- Economic and Business Simulation: Involves managing economies, businesses, or entire cities.
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Sandbox - Open World#Open World Racing
- Exploratory Racing: Races that take place in a large, open environment, often with exploration elements.
- Competitive Open World Racing: Focuses on racing against other players in an open-world setting.
- Off-road Racing: Specializes in off-road terrain and challenges.
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Sandbox - Open World#Open World Strategy
- Empire Building: Focuses on building and managing an empire within an open world.
- Resource Management Strategy: Involves gathering and managing resources across a vast open world.
- Territorial Control: Centers around gaining and defending territory within an open world.
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Sandbox - Open World#Open World Exploration
- Narrative-Driven Exploration: Exploration that is guided by a strong story or narrative.
- Discovery and Mystery: Focuses on discovering secrets and solving mysteries within a vast world.
- Non-linear Exploration: Players choose their path and explore the world at their own pace.
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Sandbox - Open World#Open World Crafting
- Resource Gathering and Crafting: Involves collecting resources and crafting them into tools, buildings, or other items.
- Creative Crafting: Offers a high degree of freedom in creating and customizing items or structures.
- Survival Crafting: Combines crafting with survival elements, where crafting is essential for progression.
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Sandbox - Open World#Open World Building
- City and Settlement Building: Players build and manage cities or settlements.
- Structure and Architecture Building: Focuses on constructing individual buildings or architectural wonders.
- Landscape and Environment Building: Allows players to shape and modify the environment itself.
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Sandbox - Open World#Open World Multiplayer
- Massively Multiplayer Open World: Supports a large number of players in a shared open world.
- Cooperative Exploration and Building: Focuses on players working together to explore and build.
- Competitive Multiplayer: Includes player vs. player (PvP) elements in an open world.
Shooter
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Shooter#First-Person Shooter (FPS)
- Military FPS: Focuses on realistic, military-based combat scenarios.
- Sci-Fi FPS: Set in futuristic or space environments, often with advanced weaponry and technology.
- Horror FPS: Combines first-person shooting mechanics with horror elements, creating a tense, frightening experience.
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Shooter#Third-Person Shooter (TPS)
- Open World TPS: Features large, open environments and a focus on exploration alongside shooting.
- Cinematic TPS: Emphasizes story and character, often with high-quality graphics and cinematic cutscenes.
- Stealth TPS: Incorporates stealth mechanics, allowing players to avoid direct confrontation.
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- Squad-Based Tactical Shooter: Focuses on controlling a squad of characters, each with unique skills.
- Realistic Tactical Shooter: Emphasizes realism in weapons, tactics, and scenarios.
- Strategic Planning Shooter: Requires pre-mission planning and resource management.
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- Fast-Paced Arena Shooter: Emphasizes quick reflexes and rapid movement.
- Multiplayer Arena Shooter: Designed primarily for multiplayer combat in closed arena settings.
- Retro-Style Arena Shooter: Pays homage to classic, older arena shooters in style and gameplay.
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- Ability-Based Hero Shooter: Each character has unique abilities and roles.
- Team-Based Hero Shooter: Focuses on team play and strategy with diverse character rosters.
- MOBA-Influenced Hero Shooter: Combines elements of MOBAs with shooter gameplay.
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- Tactical Cover Shooter: Combines cover mechanics with tactical gameplay elements.
- Dynamic Environment Cover Shooter: Environments provide interactive cover options.
- Narrative-Driven Cover Shooter: Story-focused gameplay intertwined with cover-based shooting.
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- Sniping Games: Emphasizes long-range shooting accuracy.
- Target Shooting: Focuses on hitting static or moving targets with precision.
- One-Shot Kill Shooter: Games where precision and timing are crucial for survival.
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- Side-Scrolling Run and Gun: Combines side-scrolling action with continuous shooting.
- Platforming Run and Gun: Integrates platforming elements with fast-paced shooting.
- Arcade-Style Run and Gun: Features over-the-top action and simplified controls reminiscent of arcade games.
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Shooter#Bullet Hell - Shoot Em Up
- Vertical Scrolling Shooters: The action primarily moves vertically upwards.
- Horizontal Scrolling Shooters: Side-scrolling action where players navigate left or right.
- Pattern-Based Shooters: Focuses on memorizing enemy attack patterns for survival.
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- Rogue-like Twin-Stick Shooter: Incorporates elements of randomness and permadeath.
- Arcade Twin-Stick Shooter: Emphasizes high scores and wave-based progression.
- Cooperative Twin-Stick Shooter: Designed for multiplayer gameplay, often with shared objectives.
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- Arcade Rail Shooter: On-rails shooters typically found in arcade settings.
- Home Console Light Gun Games: Designed for home console light gun accessories.
- VR-Based Light Gun Shooter: Utilizes virtual reality technology for immersive shooting experiences.
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- Twin-Stick Top-Down Shooter: Uses dual joystick controls for movement and shooting.
- Strategy Top-Down Shooter: Combines top-down shooting with strategic elements like resource management.
- Rogue-like Top-Down Shooter: Features procedurally generated levels and permadeath mechanics.
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- Raid-Based Extraction: Session-based multiplayer shooters where players deploy into a contested zone to loot, complete objectives, and escape via restricted extraction points while risking all carried gear upon death.
- Extraction Royale: A hybrid merging battle royale shrinking map dynamics with player-versus-environment threats and gear persistence.
- Cooperative Extraction: PvE-focused extraction shooters prioritizing squad tactics and objective survival against AI hordes over player conflict.
Simulation
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- Virtual World: Simulates everyday activities in a virtual environment, often with open-ended gameplay.
- Social Simulation: Focuses on social interactions and relationship building within a simulated environment.
- Pet Raising Simulation: Involves nurturing and caring for virtual pets or creatures.
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- Flight Simulation: Realistically simulates aircraft flying, often with detailed cockpits and physics.
- Driving and Racing Simulation: Focuses on realistically simulating driving mechanics, including vehicle handling and road conditions.
- Marine Simulation: Simulates naval vessels, including boats, ships, or submarines, often focusing on navigation and maritime activities.
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Simulation#Construction and Management Simulation
- City Building: Players design, build, and manage a city, including infrastructure, utilities, and citizen welfare.
- Theme Park Management: Involves creating and running a theme park, including ride design, guest satisfaction, and financial management.
- Hospital Management: Simulates the running of a hospital, including patient care, staff management, and facility expansion.
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Simulation#Business Simulation
- Corporate Tycoon: Involves running a corporation, making strategic business decisions to maximize profits.
- Retail Management: Focuses on managing a retail business, including inventory, sales, and customer service.
- Startup Simulation: Simulates the experience of founding and growing a startup company.
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- Agricultural Management: Involves cultivating crops, managing livestock, and selling produce.
- Homestead Management: Combines farming with broader homesteading activities, such as crafting and building.
- Rural Life Simulation: Emphasizes the lifestyle and daily activities associated with rural living and farming.
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- World-Building: Players have control over an entire world, shaping landscapes and ecosystems.
- Population Management: Focuses on managing and guiding a population of followers.
- Moral Decision-Making: Involves making decisions that affect the game world, often with moral or ethical implications.
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- Space Exploration: Focuses on exploring space, discovering new planets, and encountering various space phenomena.
- Space Combat Simulation: Involves piloting spacecraft in combat, often with realistic space physics.
- Space Colony Management: Simulates managing a space colony, including resource gathering, habitat building, and interstellar trade.
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- First-Person Immersive Sim: Classic immersive sims prioritizing first-person player choice, interconnected systems, and environmental problem-solving (e.g., Deus Ex, Dishonored).
- Isometric / Third-Person Immersive Sim: Immersive sims rendered from top-down or third-person perspectives while retaining deep systemic simulation and multiple solution paths (e.g., Shadow Gambit, Divinity immersive elements).
- Systemic Roguelike Immersive Sim: A genre fusion combining randomized dungeon generation and permadeath with immersive sim emergent mechanics.
Sports
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- Club Management Simulation: Focuses on managing a soccer club, including tactics, transfers, and financial decisions.
- Street Soccer: Centers around more casual, urban-style soccer games with fewer players and improvised fields.
- International Tournament: Simulates international soccer tournaments like the World Cup.
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- Arcade-Style Basketball: Fast-paced, often with exaggerated gameplay and less adherence to traditional rules.
- Pro Basketball Simulation: Realistic simulation of professional basketball leagues and gameplay.
- Street Basketball: Focuses on 3-on-3, half-court basketball games, often played on urban courts.
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- MLB Simulation: Simulates Major League Baseball with authentic teams, players, and stadiums.
- Fantasy Baseball: Involves creating and managing a fantasy baseball team based on real player statistics.
- Arcade Baseball: Simplified, fast-paced baseball games with emphasis on fun and accessibility.
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- NFL Simulation: Realistic simulation of National Football League games.
- College Football: Focuses on the unique aspects of college-level American football.
- Tactical Football Management: Involves managing a football team’s strategies, rosters, and play calling.
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- Realistic Golf Simulation: Accurately simulates golf physics, courses, and professional play.
- Mini Golf: Focuses on fun and creative mini golf courses, often with whimsical themes.
- Fantasy Golf: Adds imaginative elements to golf, such as power-ups or unusual courses.
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- Professional Tennis Simulation: Simulates professional tennis matches and tournaments.
- Arcade Tennis: Simplified and fast-paced tennis gameplay, often with power-ups and special moves.
- Doubles Tennis: Focuses specifically on the doubles format of tennis play.
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- Beach Volleyball: Centered around beach volleyball mechanics and environments.
- Indoor Volleyball: Simulates traditional six-player indoor volleyball.
- Arcade Volleyball: Simplified, action-oriented volleyball with less focus on realistic gameplay.
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- NHL Simulation: Realistic simulation of National Hockey League games.
- Street Hockey: Focuses on casual, street-level hockey games, typically played on non-ice surfaces.
- Arcade Hockey: Fast-paced, action-oriented gameplay with exaggerated physics and rules.
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- Test Match Cricket: Simulates the longer, more strategic form of cricket.
- Twenty20 Cricket: Focuses on the shorter, more explosive version of the game.
- Street Cricket: Casual form of cricket often played in urban or backyard environments.
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- Fitness and Workout Games: Designed to provide a physical workout, often using motion sensors or VR.
- Dance-Based Exergames: Focuses on dance routines as a form of exercise and entertainment.
- Sports-Training Exergames: Simulates various sports activities for training and fitness purposes.
Strategy
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Strategy#Real-Time Strategy (RTS)
- Base Building RTS: Focuses on constructing and managing a base or headquarters while expanding territory and resources.
- Military Warfare RTS: Centers on large-scale military engagements, often with historical or futuristic themes.
- Economic Management RTS: Emphasizes resource management, economic growth, and trade over military conquest.
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Strategy#Turn-Based Strategy (TBS)
- Grid-Based TBS: Utilizes a grid system for movement and combat, emphasizing tactical positioning.
- 4X TBS: A blend of TBS with 'explore, expand, exploit, exterminate' mechanics, often set in space or historical settings.
- Character-Driven TBS: Focuses on individual units or characters with unique abilities, often in a squad-based setup.
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Strategy#4X (Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate)
- Space 4X: Set in space, with exploration of galaxies, colonization of planets, and space warfare.
- Historical 4X: Based on real-world history, focusing on the growth and expansion of civilizations over time.
- Fantasy 4X: Features fantasy settings with mythical creatures, magic, and unique lore-driven mechanics.
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- World Domination Grand Strategy: Involves controlling a nation or empire with the goal of global dominance.
- Political Intrigue Strategy: Focuses on diplomacy, political maneuvering, and backdoor dealings.
- Economic and Resource Management: Emphasizes managing a nation's economy, resources, and trade policies.
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- Maze Tower Defense: Players create mazes with towers to strategically direct and eliminate enemies.
- Survival Tower Defense: Focuses on enduring waves of enemies with increasing difficulty.
- Offensive Tower Defense: Incorporates elements of attacking or invading while defending.
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Strategy#MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena)
- Hero-Based MOBA: Each player controls a single powerful character with unique abilities.
- Objective-Focused MOBA: In addition to combat, players must complete specific objectives on the map.
- Hybrid MOBA: Combines elements of MOBAs with other genres, such as shooters or RPGs.
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- Tactical Auto Chess: Grid-based automated tactical battlers focusing on formation placement and racial/class trait synergies.
- Draft & Shop Autobattler: Economy-driven auto battlers centered around refreshing shops, managing gold interest, and upgrading unit stars.
- Asynchronous Autobattler: Autobattlers where players build teams that fight ghostly copies of other players' rosters asynchronously.
Tabletop
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- Classic Board Game Digital Versions: Digital adaptations of traditional board games like chess or checkers.
- Themed Board Games: Board games adapted to fit specific themes, like fantasy or science fiction.
- Augmented Reality Board Games: Board games that use AR technology to enhance gameplay.
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Tabletop#Tabletop RPG Adaptations
- Fantasy RPG Adaptations: Digital adaptations of fantasy tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons.
- Sci-Fi RPG Adaptations: Adaptations of science fiction tabletop RPGs, including futuristic settings and technologies.
- Horror and Mystery RPG Adaptations: Digital versions of tabletop RPGs focused on horror or mystery themes.
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Tabletop#Card Game Adaptations
- Trading Card Game (TCG) Adaptations: Digital versions of popular trading card games.
- Traditional Card Game Adaptations: Digital adaptations of classic card games like poker or bridge.
- Strategy Card Game Adaptations: Digital versions of more complex, strategy-oriented card games.
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Tabletop#Virtual Tabletop Simulators
- Multi-Game Simulators: Platforms that allow players to simulate a variety of tabletop games.
- Customizable Simulators: Offer tools for players to create and customize their own tabletop games.
- Community-Driven Simulators: Simulators with strong community support for sharing and playing user-created content.
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Tabletop#Turn-based Strategy Board Games
- Historical Strategy Games: Focus on historical settings and events.
- Abstract Strategy Games: Games that rely more on strategy than on luck or a strong theme.
- War and Conflict Games: Board games that simulate warfare or conflict scenarios.
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Tabletop#Multiplayer Board Game Simulations
- Competitive Multiplayer: Digital board games designed for player vs. player competition.
- Massively Multiplayer Board Games: Large-scale board games supporting many players simultaneously.
- Online Social Board Games: Board games that emphasize social interaction and community building.
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Tabletop#Classic Tabletop Game Adaptations
- Ancient and Traditional Game Adaptations: Digital versions of ancient or traditional games like Go or Chess.
- Family-Friendly Game Adaptations: Adaptations of games that are suitable for players of all ages.
- Party Game Adaptations: Digital adaptations of popular party games, often with a focus on group fun.
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Tabletop#Cooperative Board Games
- Team-Based Strategy Games: Games where players work together in teams to achieve objectives.
- Narrative Cooperative Games: Cooperative games with a strong storytelling component.
- Puzzle and Problem-Solving Cooperative Games: Games that focus on solving puzzles or problems as a group.