Video Game Genres

Games, like most other forms of media, may be categorized into genres based on gameplay, atmosphere, and various other factors.

The atmosphere or setting of a video game can often be described as historical, urban, near-future, sci-fi, comic book, gothic, mythology, fantasy, or cartoony. These are often referred to as genres of games. Some game developers eschew traditional settings so their games stand out (e.g. Rez, Psychonauts, Katamari Damacy).

Most gamers favor some categories of gameplay over others. These could include sports, racing, third person shooters, first person shooters ("FPS" games), fighting, action, adventure, stealth, role-playing games (RPG), card-based, puzzle, platformers, simulation, strategy, or various combinations. Overhead and side-scrolling 2D games could also be considered of a different gameplay genre than 3D games (e.g. Super Mario Bros. vs. Super Mario 64).