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List of computer and video games by genre

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This article gives a list of computer games and video games by category, i.e. arranged alphabetically by genre. Some categories/genres are briefly defined at the beginning of their respective sections. For an alphabetical list of games sorted by title, see list of computer and video games by name.

Contents

Action-adventure

Action-adventure games are those where action is the predominant aspect of gameplay, but puzzle-solving and the exploration of, and interaction with, the environment are also key to gameplay; as opposed to "pure" adventure games, where action sequences are the exception rather than the rule. With technological limitations on gameplay becoming less of an issue to game designers, more action games are overlapping into this category.

Survival horror

Survival horror games focus on fear and attempt to scare the player via traditional horror elements such as atmospherics, death, the undead, blood and gore. Most of these games include third- or first-person shooter elements.

(see also puzzle games)

Graphical-adventure

Needs to be fixed.

Text-adventure

Arcade games

Platformers, also called side-scrollers, view the game area from a side or "cutaway" perspective. In these games, the background or playing area smoothly scrolls as the player moves about, hence the name. These games are traditionally 2D, but some have employed 3D computer graphics effectively. Traditional elements of these games include running, jumping and some fighting. Side-scrollers were some of the first types of video games and are still popular today, usually with younger players.

Game-controlled environment

This category includes games where the player's point of view does not change, and those where the player's movements are (usually) entirely predetermined by the game design ("rail shooters")

Player-controlled environment

Vehicle-based

Mech

These titles may be FPS depending on your definition:

Third-person shooters/Third-person action

Third-person shooters (TPS) employ a specific perspective for the player. This is normally just behind and above the game character, but it is sometimes an isometric perspective.

Stealth action

Games played over the Internet with other human players in a shared environment. The gameplay is coordinated by a game server. While many games can be played on a computer network, online games are characterized by the game environment being persistent and shared among a significant number of players. The genre's expansion accelerated in 1995 when the internet became popular. Not all game types lend themselves easily to online gaming. (Note that many, if not most, gmaes today are capable of online play, but still are not "online games").

Online

Online

Online

Puzzle

Many games in the adventure and maze genres could arguably fit into this category as well. See list of puzzle-based computer and video games for a listing of puzzle games by type.

(See also List of dance games, List of drumming games)

Role-playing games

Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO's)

see also MMORPG

(See also List of popular roguelikes (and other descendents of rogue).)

Simulation games

Simulation, or simulator, games attempt recreating the experience of controlling a some kind vehicle, like a ship, airplane or car, often as realistically as practically possible, taking into account physics and other real-world limitations.

Space simulations tend to be much like flight simulations but generally have to take many liberties to adapt the "true" physics of spaceflight to be more player-friendly.

Arcade styled

Strategy

General strategy

Many economic simulator games are sub-classified as Tycoon games.

Some do not consider some games of this genre to be games at all, but rather "digital toys" or "software toys". Indeed, this is how Will Wright, the designer of the most popular video game of all time, The Sims, describes his games.

Real-time

Hybrid strategy

Miscellany

Collectible card game

Notable People

See list of computer and video game industry people.

Traditional

Most popular board games, card games, and the like have been computerized to some degree or another. Computer game programs can be worthy opponents and can help you improve your skill at traditional games.

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