Action – This genre is generally considered to be one of the most basic. This type of game relies on reflexes and quick thinking. In some cases however, it is more or less “button-mashing.” The Dynasty Warrior series of games is a prime example of button-mashing. From the very beginning, action games have always drawn large groups of players. While some do possess a storyline, more or less the objective of the game is to keep the player’s character alive.
Shooter - Some people may group shooter games with action, however due to changes in the depth and diversity of these games, they have become a stand alone genre. The title of this genre is self explanatory in that the main focus of the game is for a player to shoot opponents, or in some cases, objects. Most shooter games remain First Person Shooter, which means the view is through the eyes of the character, rather than seeing the character themselves running around. An example of one of the most popular shooter games out today is the Halo series.
Adventure – One of the most popular genres in video games today is the adventure genre. Unlike role playing games, these games feature characters that are already created, that the player sends on different quests or missions. Grand Theft Auto is an extremely popular adventure game that features a premade character following through on missions in order to complete the game.
Construction/Management – Large populations, whether just a general group or a specific group such as workers in a town, or animals on a farm are controlled in this type of genre. Facebook has implemented many games in this genre, the prime example being Farmville, where players work both alone and with other players in an effort to gain rewards.
Life Simulation – These types of games employ the managing of virtual life forms, whether it be human or otherwise, such as pets. The Sims is the most popular type in this genre, as well as My Sims, on the Wii, in which the player has to control all aspects of the characters life, down to the smallest detail, such as going to the bathroom.
Role Playing Games - RPGs, or role playing games, is another genre that has a large following. These are based on a storyline that the player follows with a custom made character. The player is able to control how the character levels up and gains stats. The Final Fantasy series is one of the most widely known and played RPGs on the market today.
Strategy – Strategy games are, quite simply, based on warfare. The basic objective of these types of games are to outsmart and out maneuver the opponent in an effort to gain dominance. There are both real time strategy games such as Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War, and, to use a classic example of turn based strategy, the game Risk, where players have to wait to take their turn to take over the board.
Vehicle Simulation/Racing – The types of vehicles in this genre are numerous, from cars, to boats, to motorcycles, and even planes. These types of games can go from simple racing, to demolition type play, such as Flatout.
Music/Party Games – This type of genre has become increasingly popular over recent years. The concept of these games is to let players sing, dance, even play the instruments in both modern and classic music. There are party games as well that do not focus on just music, but more towards allowing a group of people to enjoy a game together.
Puzzle Games - The most classic of all examples of this genre is Tetris. Most puzzle games do not involve story lines, but there are a few exceptions, such as Azada.
Trivia, Board and Card Games – Many classic games such as Monopoly and The Game of Life have been converted to video or computer game format. The main purpose of this conversion is to allow players to access these games on handheld systems on the go, as well as playing online, with other players.
Sports – These games were created for the purpose of recreating the experience of actually playing sports, as well as managing a sports team. Some of these games remain realistic in nature while others appeal to the more violent side of sports, such as NHL Hitz.
Educational – These games are designed with the purpose of teaching children, in a form of entertainment they will enjoy. These are generally marketed towards parents.
Exercise Games – Wii Fit has become one of the top names in video games for this genre. Again, the title is self explanatory in that these games provide a different way for players to exercise.
Art/Experimental Games – These games are designed with a certain purpose in mind – to elicit a specific reaction from the player. Most of these games are in the form of underground, independent developers, that are trying to break into the common form of video games.
