Popular video game genres such as platformers and shooters speak for themselves. But there are many genres of video games that aren't as well known. In this article, we'll take a look at some of the more niche video game genres, explain what they are, and recommend the best games in each genre.
1. Text stories
The visual novel genre blurs the line between literature and video games. These works of interactive fiction are rich in text and do not contain much action at all. They are usually played in the first person and present you with a deep story and memorable characters. Unlike many video games, the "gameplay" elements in the visual novel are fairly minimal. In most cases, your interaction with the game is limited to moving through text fields, choosing dialogs, and sometimes solving easy puzzles. This genre is more focused on building an interesting world than revolutionary gameplay. Often times, your choices in conversations directly affect the story. Visual novels are very popular in Japan, so anime-style art is common in these games. Recently, they have become more popular outside of Japan thanks to several key series, many of which you can enjoy right now. A fantastic visual novel to start with is the Ace Attorney series. In it, you play as Phoenix Wright and other lawyers who must defend their unfairly accused clients. Apart from that, we covered some other visual novels that you should play, such as the Zero Escape series.
2.4X
4X is a type of strategy game in which you have four objectives: explore, expand, exploit and destroy. Unlike some of the relatively simple gameplay offered by other genres on this list, 4X games are incredibly deep and often take a long time to play. In the 4X title, you control an empire and have to manage such important aspects as battles with neighboring kingdoms, conquering new territories and managing resources. If you like challenging gameplay, you will love what 4X games have to offer. You will have to consider the cultural and political implications of your choice - what happens if your government doesn't like you declaring war on a neighboring region? A classic example of the 4X title is the Civilization series. If you are looking for something more affordable then try these 4X strategy games for Android.
3. Adventure simulator
Although "walking simulator" is sometimes used as a derogatory term, it is commonly used as a name for a specific genre of adventure title. This refers to a narrative game in which there are few gameplay elements other than walking around and interacting with objects. Typically, walking simulators immerse you in the world and let you know more about it through audio recordings, documents, and similar items that you find. Since there is no combat or minimal puzzle-solving, the story is in the spotlight. You will love walking simulators if you like the puzzle of opening the story through game data instead of cut scenes. Are walking simulators considered video games? It depends on how interactive you think the games should be, but many people enjoy them independently. If you want to try walking simulator, The Stanley Parable is a fun example of this genre as it is quite meta. Firewatch is another popular walking simulator in which you play behind a fire in a forest.
4. Metroidvania
The term "Metroidvania" is a combination of two game series: Metroid and Castlevania. Since 1997, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, both series have shown similar gameplay styles, giving birth to the genre. Metroidvania has a large, complex map that you don't have access to from the start. Instead, you should research and find updates that provide access to new areas. While the new abilities allow you to access most of the map, they also serve as buffs for combat. Many Metroidvania games feature epic boss battles that are often defended by upgrades. You can also find secret rooms that provide additional options. Thanks to non-linear world design, it is common to go back to earlier fields to find new paths that you could not reach before. Most Metroidvania games are 2D, although not all. While both series are certainly great places to explore the genre, Metroidvania is also a popular genre for modern indie games. Hollow Knight is a great example because he doesn't hold your hand while exploring. For something less intense, Ori and Blind Forest serve as a great introduction to the genre.
5. MOBA
MOBA stands for Multiplayer Online Battle Arena. This is a combination of strategy and real-time action, where two teams compete in a small arena, each trying to destroy the other's base. Most MOBA cards have three "lanes" that allow teams to move between bases. In MOBA, each player usually picks one hero for the entire match. These heroes are divided into classes depending on their purpose, while each of them has different unique skills. During a MOBA match, players defeat weak computer-controlled characters known as "creeps" to gain experience and make their characters stronger. Two well-known MOBAs are League of Legends and Dota 2 (Defense of the Ancients). Both are free to play and have loads of characters to try out. Read our introduction to League of Legends to get you started.
6. Clickers
Clicker game (also known as idle game or turn-based game) refers to the title, in which the gameplay is limited to extremely simple interactions such as tapping the screen. Typically, you earn points every time you click. If you keep tapping, there will be updates in the game that will allow you to earn more points faster. After a while, these updates will begin to accumulate points for you, even if you do not actively "play" them. Hence the term "idle". Many of them have no end, although they include milestones that you can reach. Cookie Clicker is one of the most famous free click games to win. Each click brings you a cookie, and you can end up buying factories and grannies to bake even more cookies. AdVenture Capitalist is another clicker game in which you start with a lemonade rack and try to make as much money as possible.
7. Bagel
This RPG subgenre gets its name from the classic 1980 computer game Rogue. One of its hallmarks is the passage of procedurally generated dungeons, which means the game changes every time you play. They also have permadeath, a mechanic that completely resets your progress after you die. True roguelikes also use tile-based movement and prioritize resource management. Classic roguelikes turn-based, but not all modern copies of the genre follow this rule. One close example is Darkest Dungeon, a procedurally generated turn-based RPG where character control is essential. The division of this genre is roguelite. These terms refer to games that have some aspects of cheating but lack others. One well-known and readily available rogelite is Isaac's Bind. It has a permadeath, but you can earn some improvements that persist through playthroughs.The game is also not turn-based.
8. Tower defense
Another subdivision of the strategy genre, tower defense games are focused on getting you to defend a base or territory. Typically, in this type of game, you strategically place defenses and obstacles, and must survive the waves of incoming enemies. As you might expect from the name, what sets them apart from other real-time strategy games is that you are always on the defensive. If the enemy destroys your base, you will lose. Plants vs. Zombies is an example of a fairly common tower defense game. Kingdom Rush is another popular title in the genre.
What genre of video games will you play next?
We've covered many genres of video games that you may not know much about. You may have heard the names before but didn't know what each genre meant. Now that you have done that, you must play each one to broaden your gaming horizons. If you're a gamer looking to learn new things about your hobby, here are a few genres of music that gamers should love.
