Top 10 Greatest Video Game Genres

The Top Ten
1 Role-Playing Games (RPG)

Action adventure is way to vague of a topic to be honest. I mean the only games that aren't action adventure are the simulation virtual creators. Seriously it shouldn't even be a genre. RPGs are the best genre for a number of reasons. 1 Every video game company makes them except for maybe valve.2 they include some of the best games ever for example: Zelda, Final Fantasy, Elder Scrolls, Earthbound series, Mass Effect. 3 it is also incredibly vague when you think about it. Role playing can refer to anything people want it to refer to. I managed to list off all these great games by narrowing the topic to some of the more obvious ones.

A Role-Playing Game is hard to define. They have to be character-driven, but not always. There has to be a fantasy or sci-fi element, but not always. There has to be a deep, immersive story, but not always. There has to be a leveling or empowerment system, but not always. There has to be an element of freedom, but not always. The combat has to prioritize strategy over quick reflexes, but not always.

I think the key to a good RPG is escapism. Either escaping into the role of an established character like Link, Cloud, or Crono, or a character you create, like Fable's "Hero," Dragon Age: Inquisition's "Herald," or Skyrim's "Dragonborn." An RPG engages you, tries to sell you on the fantasy of who you are, or where you are, depending on what the main selling point of the game is.

As much of a sucker as I am for the occasional beat-'em-up, tournament fighter, Metroidvania, or other type of polished combat game, at the end of the day, I will always come back to the good old ...more

RPG is one of the most immersive enjoyable genres, hours and hours of gameplay and so many people in its player base, even if the games not meant for it somehow it makes its way in like Gmod role-play servers or Mods implemented into the game its amazing! but I love games that you're a character you can relate to and connect with and really get into the game like it's a second life but no so much that you forget your own. RPG should not make it to virtual realities with oculus rifts and stuff but it sure is the most enjoyable with a MASSIVE game lines and huge player base it's a genre that everyone can enjoy anytime! just remember to get a mic.

I love a good, long story and getting to control one as it plays out is all the better. While most games have a story behind them, I find myself getting most attached to characters in RPG's. From Lavitz in "Legend of the Dragoon", to Tidus in "FFX" to Liara in "Mass Effect," when I feel connected to characters, games become something much more to me; something personal. Add to that some potentially stellar gameplay and seeing characters grow personally and physically, I now have an experience. I'm not saying I couldn't find this in other game types, but I most consistently find it here.

2 Sandbox

Okay sandbox is the most creative and one of the most fun in my opinion! the opportunities are LIMITLESS! I'm not trying to make people love it but everyone has played Minecraft at some point and seen how its popular unless you're a graphics guy then you can go away its all about how it plays out! Minecraft can simulate ANY game like someone said earlier and you can do ANYTHING from make guns to build castles, do role play and just plain survive! if you can think it Minecraft can support it!

This is the best genre of video games. The top games like Grand Theft Auto series, Assassin's Creed, Minecraft, Fallout and Metal Gear Solid, Skyrim, The Witcher and World of Warcraft are sandbox. Even if Skyrim, The Witcher and World of Warcraft are RPGs, they are still sandbox. World of warcraft is a great success not just because its an RPG, its because its an MMO where people can communicate with each other in an open world provided by the sandbox.

Why is this number 2 instead of 1. RPGs are so limited (with its quest and level up system) compared to full fledged open world game. In open world, you do anything. Fight people. Shoot people. Bomb people. Hunt animals. Drive cars and bikes. Sail boats. Fly planes. Eat. Train. Swim. Change clothes. Do missions. Earn money. Have relationship and mate. It's so much better than RPG.

Who doesn't like going out exploring, doing what the game has, getting more stuff or helping/terrorizing people with guns, blades, magic, rope, explosives or any other stuff the game offers?! Sandbox games rule!

3 First-Person Shooter (FPS)

I get where people are getting at with hating on kids and all the copying but all FPS are the same basically the only difference is its entangled with other genres, the fan base is young and hated or people put to much time into dissing it! FPS has a BIG future and is easily one of the most popular game genres and 100% the #1 most played genre with games like CS:GO and Crossfire coming into play and the Call of Duty line of games and battlefield making their stand! even if its slow of fast paced its enjoyable for everyone! just remember this guys... they have a mute button!

First person shooter is the one genre of games I think is good, but isn't my cup of tea. In fact you could say the same about most games in a first person view, and it's for a very simple reason: I don't like having to do a full 180 just to see what's behind me. Sure the genre has its advantages, especially for immersion which games like Metroid Prime especially excels at, but most of the time it's just not my thing, because for me it's awkward.

The Ability to experience the game as if you were the actual person in it, added on with amazing graphics that 2017 has produced and you has some of the most iconic game franchises in video-game history (such as Halo, Call of Duty, Destiny).

FPS Games put you in the place of a warrior, which makes you feel strong, like in Halo, eliminating the alien invaders. Or in Call of Duty, where you fight for your country, a warrior fighting for what you feel is right.

4 Action-Adventure

Action-Adventure come on. Portal, Metroid, star fox adventures, There the best games ever and are Action-Adventure. I just love Action with Adventure!

Zelda, Assassins Creed,and Portal are some of my favorite games. Zelda is amazing,besides the Phillips cdi games which just make me cringe. I don't get how people get so much joy from an fps when action-adventure games take you on a journey and give you a long lasting experience.

Easily the most entertaining genre. It has a combination of different game elements like puzzles, shooting, platforming and exploring with great stories.

Arkham is not the only game like this, you know.

5 Open World

Open-world games are the best in my opinion. I'll explain to you what an open-world is before I explain why open-world games are great. First, let me show you some examples of open-world games.

Examples of open-world games:

-Grand Theft Auto

-Saints Row

-inFAMOUS

-Minecraft

-Sunset Overdrive

-Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

-Yakuza

-Sleeping Dogs

-Xenoblade Chronicles

Hopefully, this made the answer to "What is an open-world game? " more understandable. Open-world games are very similar to sandboxes. The difference is one thing. Sandboxes allow you to manipulate the environment or even create your environment. There's an obvious reason for why those games are called sandboxes. Of these open-world examples, Minecraft would be an obvious example of a sandbox game. The player can create and manipulate the world he wonders. An example of a sandbox game that is not an open-world is LittleBigPlanet. You can create ...more

Open World is another genre that isn't really my thing, but also that is kind of hard to determine what it is. The one thing we can all agree about open world games is that they have big open areas to explore. The reason why open world aren't really my thing is that a lot of the time the worlds are too big for me, and as someone who likes to explore every little corners, it can be exhausting to do the same with those games. However, what makes those kind of games harder to determine if they are open world or not is the progression. What I feel like is that most open world let you explore the world at your own pace, but some games that people consider as open world, like the Zelda games that aren't Breath of the Wild have a linear progression, where aside from side quests, you can't really choose the order you want to explore things.

The adventure that awaits is amazing and the looks and feel of the games are always smooth enough (fair few bugs/glitches) and enjoyable. so much creativity, immersion, survival and even role-play opportunities are there to be created and explored in the open world genre.
Games like Arma, Dayz have the biggest open world when it comes to role-play, shooter and survival all in one! and there is limitless things to do and explore and always more to add and make with the power of modding/creativity. Grand Theft Auto V is a very enjoyable open world with so many modern things to play out with mates or randoms if you can manage to set a role-play lobby up. Things from care racing, being a cop, pilot. homeless, drunk or work at a store it's so endless and creative all you got to do is get others into it and there you have it! The best game you can possibly enjoy is you live surviving, living and role-playing things!

Choose what you want to do when you want to. What's better than control? Also, you can't forget Watchdogs, and Assassin's Creed, and games like Grow Up, The Witness, and to a certain extent, Fortnite.

6 Platformer

What? A game you can actually pick-up, play, and have a blast with in the first thirty seconds? By far the most accessible and most enjoyable genre.

This should be number 1 for it gave a new experience in gaming and is a fun genre, best to me.

A great, way to relax and, very simple to make. They are by far one of the greatest genres.

Mario, Sonic, Donkey Kong Country, oh the memories, at least in top 3. Come on FPSes should not be higher than this!

7 Fighting

They're great games. People really ignore the great gameplay behind these the only thing people see is beating up your opponent to the right, but it's so much more. Action-Adventure games are almost always credited for story and gameplay. Just think for a second, Mortal Kombat has a phenomenal story, Tekken has a good story, Soul Calibur has a good story. I find fighting games very good and I am unsatisfied with the fact that is is under open world games correct me if I am wrong but Open world is the same as Sand Box/ Free Roam so that could be changed...

This is the best game genre ever! It helps release your anger SO MUCH. And there are so many examples. Soul calibur has sword fighting and a good story. Mortal kombat has an awesome story and violence (does not ruin the genre at all). Street fighter is VERY balanced and has awesome characters (Ryu, Guy, Chun Li, Hakan...). Super smash bros is a perfect example of what a fenomenal crossover is. enough said

There are many great games here and in other categories but this category has produced lots of great games like dragon ball xenoverse 2 or dragon ball fighter Z. Or if you prefer mortal combat. But my point is that this category created lots of great games.

In the 90s it was the most popular genre and I must admit, it's still looks good. Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Soul Calibur, Tekken, Virtua Fighter, DOA etc.

8 Hack 'n Slash

Devil May Cry series, God of War series, both franchises were universal acclaim, and also other great hack & slash video games like Shinobi, Musashi, Metal Gear Rising Revengeance, etc. Bring this genre to top 10 RIGHT NOW!

Mindless fun. An epic quest where everything is solved through bashing everyone in sight.

Devil may cry series and god of war are one of the best games ever made enough said

9 Real-Time Strategy (RTS)

This is among the top 3 genre for anyone who can "think" and execute tasks at the right time. Maybe that's why this genre is underrated, people are too lazy to think. This genre requires higher skill than any other gaming genre. Eg : No normal player would ever beat a starcraft 2 player in their lifetimes unless they decide to go for professional gaming in starcraft 2 themselves.

RTS games are the games that require the most intelligence to play. Starcraft and Starcraft 2 are a great success. Starcraft 2 involves very good strategy that some people even believe it to be replacement for chess. RTS could improve IQ.
RTS games not only require lots of strategy but also require good response time(to counter against opponents). To say the truth, it is the most useful type game genre. Other games are a waste of time and it involves no productivity.

This genre is the genre that hardcore gamers ( hardcore gamers are the real gamers ) play. Therefore this should be higher in this list. Also FPS games should be higher up in the list.

Wow... Seriously? RTS is so low? I am sorry to say, but it should be at least in top 5!

10 Turn-Based Strategy

This is a sub genre for RPGs where whenever you fight enemies you enter a turn based fight where each turn the player and the opponent make their attack. This is usually my preferred way to play RPGs, since most of my favorite RPGs like Undertale, Pokemon, and the Mario RPGs follow this format. Even though I play lots of platformer, I have to admit I am not the best with controlling my big hands, and my strenght mostly comes from my insane knowledge of the games, so these turn based RPGs are usually the games I excel the most at. In fact I could make a case for being the best pokemon player on this site (that is currently active at least). It's just a genre I am comfortable with, and with lots of strategies to develop, and they often have some great stories.

Put your thinking hat on. Shining Force III, Tactics Ogre, Final Fantasy Tactics -- the 32-bit generation was the best era for this genre.

This is a very special genre which captures fascinating sides of different tabletop games. A great genre for rest and relaxing. Who would not want to spend some time behind Civilization, Total war or Heroes campaign? For sure I do!

Frozen front, pacific front, deadly desert and burning bridges.

The Contenders
11 Survival Horror

The more recent games in the genre are atmospheric, but they lost the essence. The early Resident Evil games, Silent Hill and Deep Fear for the Sega Saturn are the genre's greatest games.

If done correctly, survival horror games can instill fear whilst remaining intriguing.
I feel that games where you cannot defend yourself to be the most impressive type of Survival Horror.

Best Genre ever in video game history. Resident evil and silent Hill are the best games ever.

There's nothing like running out of ammo while you're alone fighting hordes of monsters.
Resident Evil.. Silent Hill.. Dino Crisis.. enough Said.

12 Racing

The principle of a racing game is ridiculously simple. It's a game where you do racing. It doesn't even have to be with cars though. For me there are two types of game. The games of this genre ranges in two categories for me. We have the racing game where the focus is on having fun with your family and friends, like Mario Kart, and the games which the focus is to challenge the player and make him want to get better and better at the game, like F Zero. That being said, you can be both like Crash Team Racing, which is why it is the best racing game ever.

Racing should be the best type of game. It is so fun to drive however you like and drive cars that you might never be able to afford.

As a car enthusiast, I like racing games just because I will get to know about cars more and I enjoy them.

What is better than owning a REALLY expensive car that you could never afford in real life?

13 Third-Person Shooter

Basically, shooters without the first person perspective, and therefore worse for some people, but better for people like me. I don't have a lot of experience with this genre, but the little of what I played like Agent 9's sections in Spyro 3 or Kid Icarus Uprising they are very good, so I think I should explore more of this genre.

Not really a genre but Resident Evil, Tom Clancy, Splatoon, Uncharted etc. You just can't play enough of these franchises.

Last of us is awesome

The last of us

14 Stealth

Apparently no one even bother to list this. Stealth is one of the best genres ever. It's a super logical version of FPS, but geared towards not killing anyone you don't need to kill.

I just love stealth games! they often coincide with strategy, fighting, and action adventure. my personal favorite stealth series is the Assassin's Creed series.

Metal Gear Solid, the best stealth video game franchise of all time.

I always like when you get to be sneaky in a game.

15 3-D Platformer

This a sub genre for the platforming genre. Basically, these are platforming games, but with the freedom to move in every direction. This kind of freedom is excellent for collect-a-thons, which are games where you have to explore levels to get collectibles, and is my personal favorite genre, however the kind of impressive stuff you can do with 3D to create big memorable set pieces is great for making more linear games like a Hat in Time, Super Mario Galaxy or Crash Bandicoot.

Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Super Mario, Sonic, Banjo-Kazooie, Jak, Ratchet, Tak. Haven't played Sly or Conker, but watched Pewdiepie play Conker's Bad Fur Day. I'm thinking about playing it mself. This genre is stacked especially the Spyro games.

3-D platformers are just beautiful! Screw all that Call of Duty crap. Whiny Call of Duty kids, come play a real game! Play Super Mario 64 and you will know the true definition of "The Best game ever made".

Will always be my favorite no matter what. Action-Adventure FPS and RPG are all tied next for me.

16 Beat 'em Up

Beat 'em Ups all the way. The 90s for me were the best time for games because of all the awesome beat 'em ups. Then 3d became the norm and killed off the beat 'em up genre. I don't play a lot of newer games these days because it seems like gaming companies are so concerned with graphics and story that the game play just isn't as fun. I mean I played Metal Gear Solid 4 and geez, it was like half the damn game was just cut scenes. None of that with beat 'em ups, you grab a friend pick your characters spend the next hour kicking ass.

Beat em ups like Super Smash Bros are the best there is. You could be button smashing your way to victory, defending your team or even just playing for fun. Beat' em ups are the best.

Nothing can describe the joy of gathering a few friends around an arcade cabinet and punching a few bad guys.

Not like fighting, not like platformer. This is multiplayer, button mashing, awesomeness.

17 Simulation

Simulator is, for me, the best and most realistic game genre made. I've played a lot of simulator games like "Euro Truck Simulator" (both the original and ETS2), "American Truck Simulator", "Microsoft Flight Simulator X", Farming Simulator series by Giants Software, "Spintires", "Construction-Simulator 2015", "Car Mechanic Simulator 2014", "My Summer Car" and "Goat Simulator".

I also love this genre because it has so various game concepts. All simulator games are different. Simulator games stand out from each other in one or another way.

I like things realistic.

Goat simulator is the best simulation game where you play as goat

18 MMORPG

Honestly I think MMORPGs are beautiful games because I simply love how it's like your living in the story yourself. Like reading, but at my computer, in a gorgeous world full of endless wonder. I also adore how you can share the joy of playing MMORPG with your friends! One of my favourite things to do when I have spare time is to blast through a dungeon on Dragon Nest with my level 95 Dark Avenger.

Guild Wars 2 is my favorite game. Also, random fact, the rank 15 on this site, "Legendary Defender of Ascalon", references the first game.

Mmorpg are open world with the exception of the "instances/raids"
one of the best genres in my opinion. you can socialize, they have great story and with the expansions they make they are infinite

19 Puzzle

Come on people. Tetris, Portal, Bejeweled, Candy Crush. So many great games under this genre. This should be at least #10!

20 Survival

Games like DayZ, The forest and even unturned are all in survival and the survival genre can last you so long and never gets old! plus you can feel satisfied when you have a base of operations up and running and good gear then you can go help others if its online or build a community! the opportunities are limitless virtually! all you need is a little imagination.

It's Fun to start from scratch and look back at how you were like at the beginning. The feeling of progression along with the suspense at the beginning of each night makes these games extremely fun.

It is one of the best genres to play with friends as it can be great for team building but it can also be fun alone.

The feeling of the night closing in with no shelter or fire is what makes a survival game a survival game.

21 2-D Sidescroller

Platforming games are the games I play the most, and I generally play more 2D sidescrollers than 3D platformers. When someone create a game like this rather than a 3D platformer it's usually to restrict the player to create a kind of level-design that would be too easy with the freedom of 3D, which therefore can be great for linear experiences with tons of challenge, but you can also restrict your character at the start of the game, and then give them the ability to cheese the level design with new power-up you acquire, which makes the Metroidvania sub genre.

22 Point-and-click Adventure

This is my favorite genre. It requires a fair amount of thinking to get through these games, due to the puzzles, and the storytelling capabilities are limitless.

23 Sports
24 Party
25 JRPG

To be honest JRPG should be in the same spot as RPG since a JRPG is just a RPG from Japan. But oh well.

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