Written by Vivek Philendra

@vivekphilwrites_

Thumbnail and Header Photo by Good Housekeeping

We’re creating a guide to make gaming feel like the most approachable thing on Earth, even to the most technophobic folks out there. This is the third instalment of a simple, yet comprehensive, guide that will explain everything you need to know about video games before you get your feet wet. Don’t worry, we’re going to look at everything from camera perspectives to payment models. In case you missed out on our previous instalment that gave a complete breakdown on all available gaming platforms, we highly suggest that you check that out first.

If you grew up during the 90s or later, chances are someone has strongly suggested you check out their favourite game at some point in time. Or you may have thought of getting into gaming in the past, but felt overwhelmed at the number of titles coming out every month. How do you know what’s worth your time? You could just check reviews, but what’s the guarantee that you will find a title as fun as that critic did? Plus, we save you all the trouble of figuring out the complex jargon commonly used in the gaming world.

To make things easier, we’ll help you navigate the vast array of gaming genres to narrow down choices you could consider. Remember that the gaming industry is so huge that we’ll only be touching the surface of what it has to offer today. The basic genres of gaming we’ll be looking at today are linear, open-world, action, survival/horror, adventure, simulation/sports, and casual/platformer.

Linear Games

Linear games are usually pretty straightforward with a short, but meaningful story lasting about the duration of one season of your favourite Netflix show. You won’t find yourself looking for what to do, as it typically follows a scripted sequence with a fairly identical experience for all players. Examples of popular linear games include Tomb Raider and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy.

Though you might not find anything new on repeat playthroughs, these games are perfect for those who just play for the plot and do not have hours to devote to grinding with complex game mechanics. Since these games are meant for the masses, they usually have a number of difficulty options, with the lowest ones being quite accessible.

Open-World Games

If you’ve ever wanted to have complete freedom to explore every inch of a living and breathing environment, open-world games are exactly what you are looking for. In these types of games, the player has the choice to take on missions in any order they like, at their own pace. There are plenty of collectibles, tons of side missions, and characters to interact with. Exploration is often encouraged, with worthwhile easter eggs and perks usually hidden away for those who are willing to go the extra mile.

These games can be quite a long affair, with the latest Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla taking more than fifty hours just to complete the main story! While the market is a bit over-saturated at the moment, with developers trying to cash in on the immense popularity of open-world games in recent years, but that doesn’t mean that there is a lack of quality titles to choose from.

Examples of popular open-world games include Marvel’s Spider-Man, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Grand Theft Auto: 5.

Action Games

Action games are often fast-paced, and may follow a linear or open-world structure. It often features a lot of close-range gameplay, and it is not a rare sight to see the player taking on hordes of enemies headfirst. There is often a lot of power in your character’s hands, and you leave every gaming session feeling like an absolute badass! These kinds of games were all the rage back in the 2000s, so there are plenty of worthwhile options if you’re considering picking up an older system.

Examples of popular action games include the Yakuza series, Devil May Cry V, and Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order.

Survival/Horror Games

Survival and horror games share many similar traits: the resources are sparse and there is danger lurking in every corner. The atmospheric lighting and background score play a big role here as these games often toy with your psyche. A lot of the storytelling can be environmental in these types of games, so you miss a lot of context if you’re not the collecting type. A strategic playstyle is necessary to beat these games; they are definitely a memorable experience, especially if played in VR, but we do not recommend them for the faint of heart.

Examples of popular survival/horror games include Dead Space, No Man’s Sky and Resident Evil 7: Biohazard VR.

Adventure Games

Adventure games are spiritual successors to choose-your-own adventure books. There is very little actual gameplay involved, which makes it perfect for newcomers. The story is the main focus, and sometimes you feel like a passive observer just watching a movie. Your actions and decisions change details of the story, and it is always exciting to revisit these games and choose different paths.

Examples of popular adventure games include Life is Strange, Telltale’s The Walking Dead and Detroit: Become Human.

Simulation/Sports Games

Simulation/sports games are for the hardcore fans who seek the most authentic recreation of their favourite sport. They can be just as difficult as the real game, and some professional athletes actually do practice strategies and techniques at home this way before getting on the pitch. There are simulators of almost every sport imaginable, and many that you didn’t know existed, which is quite impressive! To fully experience these games, and achieve a true simulation you might need to invest in additional peripherals that are quite pricey, but these games are also perfectly serviceable with the regular controllers. Most games end up being annual re-releases featuring merely roster updates, but every once in a while, a new installment brings significant changes that is one step closer to achieving a perfect recreation.

Examples of popular simulation/sports games include Microsoft Flight Simulator, NBA 2K, FIFA, Farming Simulator and F1.

Casual Games

Casual games can be enjoyed by players of all ages and skill levels. They usually avoid complex game mechanics and provide experiences that can be enjoyed in short chunks on-the-go. While hard platformers do exist, the majority of them tend to be the same. Casual platformers feature stimulating environmental puzzles that are physics-based. These games are usually available on phones as well, making them accessible to everyone.

Examples of popular casual/platformer games include Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Overcooked, and Super Mario: Odyssey.

That was a dive into the basic and most prominent genres of gaming. Still haven’t found what you’re looking for? Remember that each of the genres discussed here have plenty of subgenres to choose from that will fit your individual taste. We encourage you to keep exploring until you find the one!

A Beginner’s Guide to Video Games: Genres

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