Top 30 Computer and Video Game Genres + Examples

You know that feeling when you boot up a game and immediately know whether it’s going to be your jam or not? That instant recognition comes from video game genres, they’re basically the personality types of the gaming world. Just like how you might gravitate toward horror movies or romantic comedies, we all have our gaming preferences that stem from these genre classifications.

Gaming has come such a long way since my childhood days of frantically mashing buttons on Pac-Man. These days, the sheer types of games available is mind-blowing. Whether you’re someone who squeezes in quick mobile games during lunch breaks or you’re the type who builds elaborate gaming rigs for marathon sessions, knowing your way around different video and computer game genres can be a game-changer for finding your next obsession.

I’ve put together this breakdown of 30 major gaming genres that pretty much cover the modern gaming landscape. Each one offers something completely different, and honestly, exploring new genres has led me to some of my favorite gaming discoveries.

What Are Video Game Genres?

Think of video game genres like musical genres – they’re categories that help us understand what we’re getting into before we dive in. These classifications are based on how you actually play the game, what your main objectives are, and how you interact with the game world. Developers and animators use these categories to know who they’re making games for, and we use them to avoid buying games that’ll just collect digital dust in our libraries.

Popular Video & Computer Game Genres by Platform

Here’s something interesting I’ve noticed – certain types of games just work better on different platforms:

Computer Games: PC games really shines with complex real-time strategy games, detailed simulations, casual games, and deep RPGs. There’s something about having a keyboard and mouse that makes managing complicated systems feel natural.

Console Games: Controllers are perfect for action-packed games, sports titles, and fighting games. Plus, there’s something special about playing these on a big TV from your couch.

Mobile Games: Touch screens have created their own little ecosystem of puzzle games, idle games, and bite-sized strategy experiences that work perfectly for gaming on the go.

What Are The Top Video Game Genres?

Alright, here’s where we dive into the good stuff, the list of video game genres that define modern gaming.

1. Action Games
2. Adventure Games
3. Role-Playing Games (RPG)
4. Simulation Games
5. Strategy Games
6. Sports Games
7. Fighting Games
8. Shooter Games
9. Puzzle Games
10. Platform Games
11. Racing Games
12. Stealth Games
13. Survival Games
14. Horror Games
15. MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) Games
16. Sandbox/Open World Games
17. Rhythm/Music Games
18. Party/Minigame Collections
19. Idle/Incremental Games
20. Trivia/Quiz Games
21. Educational/Serious Games
22. Metroidvania Games
23. Roguelike/Roguelite Games
24. Soulslike Games
25. Battle Royale Games
26. Visual Novel Games
27. Dating Simulation Games
28. Tycoon/Management Simulation Games
29. Walking Simulator Games
30. Extraction Shooter Games

1. Action Games

Action games are all about testing your reflexes and hand-eye coordination. These are the games that get your heart pumping with fast-paced combat, tricky platforming sequences, or other skill-based challenges. I’ve always found action games to be the perfect stress reliever after a long day – there’s something satisfying about the immediate feedback and constant engagement.

Popular Examples include:

• Devil May Cry 5 – Stylish demon-slaying with combat that feels like a dance
• Grand Theft Auto V – The ultimate sandbox for chaos and exploration
• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – Historical mayhem with a stealth twist
• God of War (2018) – Norse mythology meets emotional storytelling

2. Adventure Games

Adventure games are for those times when you want to lose yourself in a good story. These games prioritize exploration, clever puzzle-solving, and character development over quick reflexes. What I love about adventure games is how they make you feel like a detective or explorer, piecing together clues and uncovering secrets at your own pace.

Popular Examples include:

• The Last of Us Part II – Emotional journey through a post-apocalyptic world
• Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End – Like playing through a blockbuster movie
• Life is Strange: True Colors – Your choices genuinely matter in this supernatural tale
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Pure exploration magic

3. Role-Playing Games (RPG)

RPGs let you step into someone else’s shoes and live out epic fantasies. These games are all about character growth, making meaningful choices, and watching your decisions ripple through the game world. The time investment can be huge, but that’s part of the appeal – you genuinely become attached to your character and their journey.

Popular Examples:

• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Every side quest feels like it matters
• Cyberpunk 2077 – Despite its rocky launch, the world-building is incredible
• Baldur’s Gate 3 – Old-school RPG mechanics with modern storytelling

4. Simulation Games

Simulation games scratch that “what if” itch we all have. Want to run a city? Build a theme park? Fly a plane? Simulations let you experiment with scenarios that would be impossible or impractical in real life. I’ve lost countless hours to these games – they’re surprisingly addictive once you get into the optimization mindset.

Popular Examples:

• The Sims 4 – Digital dollhouse meets social experiment
• Microsoft Flight Simulator – So realistic it’s almost zen-like
• Cities: Skylines – Urban planning without the real-world consequences

5. Strategy Games

Strategy games are for people who like to think several moves ahead. Whether it’s real-time chaos or turn-based chess matches, these games reward careful planning and tactical thinking. The satisfaction of executing a perfect strategy is unmatched, though the frustration of watching your plans fall apart can be equally intense.

Popular Examples:

• Age of Empires IV – History lessons wrapped in addictive gameplay
• Civilization VI – “Just one more turn” becomes “where did the weekend go?”
• StarCraft II – The chess of the video game world

6. Sports Games

Sports games bridge the gap between gaming and athletics. Whether you’re a sports fanatic or someone who can barely tell a touchdown from a home run, these games have a way of drawing you in. The career modes especially can be incredibly engaging – building your player from rookie to legend never gets old.

Popular Examples:

• FIFA 26 – Global football at your fingertips
• NBA 2K24 – Basketball simulation that’s almost too realistic
• Madden NFL 24 – American football with all the complexity of the real thing

7. Fighting Games

Fighting games are deceptively simple on the surface but incredibly deep once you start learning the intricacies. Anyone can button-mash their way to the occasional victory, but mastering frame data and combo timing separates the casual players from the dedicated ones. The competitive scene around these games is absolutely fascinating to watch.

Popular Examples:

• Street Fighter 6 – The gold standard of 3D animation fighting
• Tekken 8 – 3D animation combat with incredible depth
• Mortal Kombat 1 – Brutal combat with signature finishing moves

8. Shooter Games

Shooter games have evolved way beyond simple “point and shoot” mechanics. Modern shooters blend genres, incorporating character progression, story campaigns, and team-based strategies. The immediate satisfaction of well-executed shots combined with the social aspects of multiplayer gaming keeps millions of players engaged daily.

Popular Examples:

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III – The annual tradition continues
• Apex Legends – Hero abilities meet battle royale chaos
• Overwatch 2 – Teamwork makes the dream work

9. Puzzle Games

Puzzle games are the great equalizer of gaming. Age, experience level, and gaming setup don’t matter when you’re faced with a clever brain teaser. These games offer that perfect blend of challenge and satisfaction when you finally crack a particularly tricky puzzle.

Popular Examples:

• Portal 2 – Physics puzzles with the best writing in gaming
• Tetris Effect – The classic gets a modern, almost meditative makeover
• The Witness – Puzzle-solving in a gorgeous, mysterious world

10. Platform Games

Platformers are pure gameplay distilled to its essence. Success depends entirely on mastering movement mechanics and developing the muscle memory for precise jumps and complex sequences. There’s something timelessly appealing about the simple goal of getting from point A to point B while avoiding obstacles.

Popular Examples:

• Super Mario Odyssey – Nintendo magic in 3D animation form
• Celeste – Challenging platforming with surprising emotional depth
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart – Dimension-hopping action-platforming

11. Racing Games

Racing games span the spectrum from hardcore simulation to arcade-style fun. Whether you want to fine-tune suspension settings or just grab power-ups and drift around corners, there’s a racing game for your speed preferences.

Popular Examples:

• Gran Turismo 7 – Car enthusiast’s dream simulator
• Forza Horizon 5 – Open-world racing paradise in Mexico
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Family-friendly chaos on wheels

12. Stealth Games

Stealth games create a unique type of tension that other genres can’t match. Every footstep could be your last, every corner might hide an enemy. The payoff for successfully sneaking through a complex area undetected is incredibly satisfying – it feels earned through patience and careful observation.

Popular Examples:

• Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain – Open-world stealth perfection
• Hitman 3 – Social stealth where creativity is rewarded
• Dishonored 2 – Supernatural abilities meet multiple approaches

13. Survival Games

Survival games tap into our most basic instincts. Finding food becomes a genuine victory, building shelter feels like a real accomplishment. These games excel at making mundane activities feel meaningful through the constant threat of danger.

Popular Examples:

• Subnautica – Underwater survival with genuine terror and wonder
• The Forest – Cooperative survival horror that’ll test friendships
• Valheim – Viking survival that’s surprisingly relaxing

14. Horror Games

Horror games offer controlled fear – all the adrenaline rush of being scared without any real danger. The best horror games understand that what you don’t see is often scarier than what you do. They’re perfect for anyone who enjoys being terrified from the safety of their gaming chair.

Popular Examples:

• Resident Evil 4 (2023) – The remake that shows how to update a classic
• Phasmophobia – Ghost hunting with friends (who will abandon you)
• Dead Space (2023) – Space horror done right

15. MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) Games

MMOs create persistent worlds where your actions become part of the server’s ongoing history. The relationships you build with other players often outlast the games themselves. There’s something special about tackling challenging content that requires coordination with dozens of other real people.

Popular Examples:

• Final Fantasy XIV – Story-driven MMO with incredible community
• World of Warcraft – The granddaddy of MMORPGs, still going strong
• Guild Wars 2 – Dynamic events that actually feel dynamic

16. Sandbox/Open World Games

Sandbox games hand you the tools and step back, letting your creativity run wild. Players become the architects of their own entertainment, building everything from simple structures to complex mechanical marvels. The freedom can be overwhelming at first, but that’s also what makes these games so endlessly replayable.

Popular Examples:

• Minecraft – Digital LEGO with infinite possibilities
• Red Dead Redemption 2 – The most detailed open world ever created
• Garry’s Mod – Physics playground for creative minds

17. Rhythm/Music Games

Rhythm games turn you into part of the musical performance. Instead of just listening to songs, you’re actively participating in creating the rhythm. The physical connection between your actions and the music creates a unique type of engagement that passive listening simply can’t match.

Popular Examples:

• Beat Saber – VR lightsaber rhythm perfection
• Guitar Hero Live – Rock star fantasies realized
• Osu! – Community-driven rhythm gaming

18. Party/Minigame Collections

Party games excel at bringing people together and creating memorable moments. They level the playing field between gaming veterans and newcomers, focusing on shared laughter and social interaction rather than individual skill mastery.

Popular Examples:

• Super Mario Party – Classic party gaming with modern twists
• Jackbox Party Pack series – Smartphone-enabled party gaming
• Fall Guys – Multiplayer mayhem that’s impossible not to smile at

19. Idle/Incremental Games

Idle games might seem counterintuitive – games that play themselves – but they tap into our love of progression and optimization. There’s something oddly satisfying about watching numbers grow and systems expand even when you’re not actively playing.

Popular Examples:

• Cookie Clicker – The simple game that started a revolution
• AdVenture Capitalist – Capitalism simulator in miniature
• Clicker Heroes – RPG progression meets idle mechanics

20. Trivia/Quiz Games

Trivia games satisfy our competitive side while sneaking in education. You’ll learn random facts while having fun, making these games popular for everything from casual entertainment to educational tools.

Popular Examples:

• Trivia Crack – Social trivia gaming on mobile
• You Don’t Know Jack – Trivia with attitude and humor
• Kahoot! – Educational quizzing that’s actually engaging

21. Educational/Serious Games

Educational games prove that learning doesn’t have to be boring. By making abstract concepts interactive and tangible, these games help complex subjects become accessible and engaging. The best educational games don’t feel educational at all – they just feel like great games that happen to teach you something.

Popular Examples:

• Kerbal Space Program – Rocket science made fun and intuitive
• DragonBox – Math education disguised as puzzle-solving
• Duolingo – Language learning with gamification elements

22. Metroidvania Games

Metroidvania games create interconnected worlds where exploration is its own reward. The “aha!” moments when you realize how new abilities unlock previously blocked paths are gaming gold. These games excel at making you feel like a genuine explorer discovering secrets.

Popular Examples:

• Hollow Knight – Dark atmosphere meets precise platforming
• Ori and the Will of the Wisps – Breathtakingly beautiful exploration
• Axiom Verge – Retro sci-fi Metroidvania perfection

23. Roguelike/Roguelite Games

Roguelike games embrace failure as part of the experience. Each death teaches you something new, and the procedurally generated levels ensure no two runs are exactly alike. The randomness keeps things fresh while the core mechanics provide the foundation for mastery.

Popular Examples:

• Hades – Story progression that makes dying feel worthwhile
• The Binding of Isaac: Repentance – Disturbing themes wrapped in addictive gameplay
• Risk of Rain 2 – Cooperative chaos with escalating difficulty

24. Soulslike Games

Soulslike games are built around the philosophy that overcoming difficulty creates genuine satisfaction. Every victory feels earned through learning enemy patterns, mastering timing, and developing patience. These games aren’t for everyone, but their dedicated fanbases are incredibly passionate.

Popular Examples:

• Elden Ring – FromSoftware’s masterpiece in an open world
• Nioh 2 – Japanese folklore meets punishing combat
• Lies of P – Steampunk Pinocchio with Souls mechanics

25. Battle Royale Games

Battle royale games captured the gaming world by combining survival, strategy, and social elements into addictive packages. Each match tells a unique story of close calls, betrayals, and clutch victories. The genre’s popularity shows no signs of slowing down.

Popular Examples:

• Fortnite – Building mechanics meet battle royale chaos
• PUBG: Battlegrounds – The realistic military approach to survival
• Apex Legends – Hero abilities add tactical depth

26. Visual Novel Games

Visual novels prioritize storytelling and character development over traditional gameplay mechanics. These games create intimate, character-driven experiences where your choices genuinely impact the narrative. The connections you form with virtual characters can be surprisingly meaningful.

Popular Examples:

• Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Legal drama with investigation elements
• Doki Doki Literature Club – Horror disguised as romance (seriously, mind the warnings)
• Steins;Gate – Time travel science fiction at its finest

27. Dating Simulation Games

Dating sims provide safe spaces to explore social dynamics and romantic scenarios. While they might seem niche, these games can help players develop empathy and understanding of different personality types through low-stakes social interaction.

Popular Examples:

• Dream Daddy – Inclusive dating sim with heart and humor
• Hatoful Boyfriend – Pigeon dating that’s weirder and better than it sounds
• Persona 5 – JRPG with meaningful relationship mechanics

28. Tycoon/Management Simulation Games

Tycoon games appeal to the optimizer in all of us. Building successful businesses and managing complex systems provides satisfaction without real-world financial risks. These games reward systematic thinking and long-term planning.

Popular Examples:

• Planet Coaster – Theme park management with incredible creative tools
• Two Point Hospital – Hospital management with British humor
• Prison Architect – Surprisingly thoughtful prison construction and management

29. Walking Simulator Games

Walking simulators focus on environmental storytelling and atmospheric immersion over traditional gameplay mechanics. These games prove that sometimes the journey really is more important than the destination.

Popular Examples:

• What Remains of Edith Finch – Family tragedy told through environmental exploration
• Firewatch – Mystery and isolation in the Wyoming wilderness
• Gone Home – Finding stories in empty spaces

30. Extraction Shooter Games

Extraction shooters add high-stakes decision-making to traditional shooter mechanics. The risk-reward calculations of when to extract versus when to push for better loot create incredibly tense gameplay moments.

Popular Examples:

• Escape from Tarkov – Hardcore tactical shooting with steep learning curves
• Hunt: Showdown – PvPvE action with supernatural horror elements
• The Cycle: Frontier – Sci-fi extraction with alien threats

The Evolution of Video Game Genres

Gaming types keep evolving as developers experiment with new ideas and technologies. Most modern games blur the lines between traditional categories, creating hybrid experiences that combine the best elements from multiple genres. This cross-pollination has produced some genuinely innovative gameplay experiences.

Mobile gaming has also pushed genre evolution forward, adapting traditional PC and console game types for touch interfaces and shorter play sessions. Meanwhile, emerging tech like VR and cloud gaming continues opening up new possibilities we haven’t even fully explored yet.

Future Trends in Video Game Genres

Several trends are reshaping how we think about game genres:

1. Cross-platform play is making competitive genres more accessible
2. Live service models are changing how games are developed and maintained
3. Virtual and augmented reality are creating entirely new genre possibilities
4. Artificial intelligence is enabling more sophisticated NPCs and procedural content generation

Conclusion

There are so many types of games that everyone can find something they like. Quick puzzle games for breaks, huge RPGs that take months to finish – it’s all out there. Knowing about different types helps you pick games you’ll actually enjoy.

What I find most exciting is how genres continue evolving and blending together. Some of my favorite gaming experiences have come from titles that defy easy categorization, combining elements from multiple genres to create something fresh and unexpected.

The best advice I can give is to stay curious and try other computer game genres outside your comfort zone. You might discover that you love strategy video games even though you thought you were only into action games, or find that a walking simulator provides exactly the kind of meditative experience you didn’t know you needed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Types of Video Games

1. What is the most popular video game genre?

Right now, games like action games, battle royales, card games, RTS games, moba games, and RPGs tend to dominate the charts, but popularity varies significantly by platform and region. Mobile puzzle games have massive audiences, while PC strategy games maintain dedicated followings.

2. How do game developers choose which computer game genre to develop?

It usually comes down to team expertise, target audience, market opportunities, and budget constraints. Many successful indie developers start with genres they’re passionate about, while larger studios often follow market trends.

3. What’s the difference between RPG and action-adventure games?

RPGs emphasize character progression, statistical growth, and choice-driven narratives. Action-adventure games focus more on exploration and story progression with less emphasis on number-crunching and character customization.

4. Are mobile games considered “real” video games?

Absolutely. Mobile gaming represents a huge portion of the industry and includes examples from virtually every genre. The platform doesn’t determine legitimacy – good game design does.

5. What makes a game “indie” versus “AAA”?

It’s mainly about budget and team size rather than genre. Indie games come from smaller teams with limited resources, while AAA games have major studio backing and massive budgets. Quality exists at both levels.

6. How do I find games in my preferred genre?

Digital storefronts like Steam, PlayStation Store, and Xbox Store have genre filters. Gaming websites, YouTube channels, and community forums are also great for discovering hidden gems within specific genres.

7. Can games belong to multiple genres?

Definitely. Most modern games blend elements from several genres. Action-RPGs, survival-horror, and strategy-simulation hybrids are common examples of successful genre mixing.

8. What genre should beginners start with?

Puzzle games, platformers, and casual action-adventure games usually have gentler learning curves. The key is finding something that matches your interests rather than forcing yourself through games that don’t click.

9. How have video game genres changed over time?

Early games fit more neatly into specific categories, while modern games increasingly blend genres. We’ve also seen entirely new genres emerge from technological advances and changing player expectations.

10. Are there any completely new video game genres being developed?

Most “new” genres are combinations or evolutions of existing ones, but VR, AR, and AI technologies are creating possibilities for genuinely novel gaming experiences that might establish entirely new categories.