MAIN GENRE | |
Isometric | Looking down from an diagonal angle above |
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Key | Controlled with keyboard (not point & click) |
3PS+ | Third-person shooter with RPG elements |
Mech | Big ass robots (often vehicular) |
AR | Augmented reality (e.g. Pokémon GO) |
Metroidvania | Games with a complex, interconnected realm |
ARG | Alternate reality (utilizes real-life technology) |
Minimalistic | A game with a simple design or graphics |
CCG | Collectible card game (identical to TCG) |
Naval | Takes place in the open sea (often on ships) |
FPS+ | First-person shooter with RPG elements |
Noir | Stylized and cynical, typically as Film noir |
MMOG (MMO) | Unspecified massively multi-player online game |
Otome | A visual novel targeted towards women |
MMORPG | Massively multi-player online role-playing game |
Parkour | Fast and acrobatic jumping (e.g. Mirror's Edge) |
MOBA | Multi-player online battle arena |
Physics | Involves real-time gravitational physics |
MUD | Multi-user dungeon (usually text-based) |
Rail | Follows a specific route you can't deviate from |
Multiple | A mix of genres (perhaps several mini-games) |
Retro | Uses an old style (e.g. pixelated graphics) |
PDL | Procedural death labyrinth (Roguelike) |
Runner | Constantly running (typically unavoidable) |
Party | Intuitive multi-player (often many mini-games) |
Sandbox | Lots of options often including crafting/building |
RPG | Role-playing game |
Snake | The snake that gets longer as it eats dots |
RTS | Real-time strategy |
Static | No scrolling or flipping screens (e.g. Pac-Man) |
RTT | Real-time tactics (usually simpler than RTS) |
Stealth | Hiding in the shadows, not getting detected |
TCG | Trading card game (identical to CCG) |
Survival | Stay alive, collect resources, craft stuff, etc. |
Visual Novel | Interactive novels with minimal gameplay |
Twitch | Very difficult / Requires fast reflexes |
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Tycoon | Another word for a business simulation game |
SUB GENRE | |
Vehicular | Driving or flying on the ground, water, air, etc. |
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Versus | Defeat your opponent (e.g. Street Fighter) |
ASCII | Uses text characters to show simple graphics |
Vertical | Scrolls up/down, not sideways (e.g. Xevious) |
Apocalyptic | Takes place in a post-apocalyptic world |
Watercraft | A water-borne vehicle (boat, hovercraft, etc.) |
Arena | Competitive multi-player in a confined area |
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Artillery | Aim and shoot, often in an arc (e.g. Worms) |
MAIN + SUB GENRE | |
Board | Based on a real board game or uses similar rules |
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Breakout | Use a ball and a paddle to knock out blocks |
3PS, Adventure | 3PS with some exploration (e.g. Tomb Raider) |
Bullet Hell | Dodge overwhelming amounts of projectiles |
Action, Beat 'em up | Fighting games, usually side-scrolling |
Clicker | Idle games where you perform simple actions |
Adventure, Facile | Walking simulator / Exploration game |
Combat | Unusual fighting, e.g. shoot in a racing game |
Adventure, Node | Uses panoramic or spherical views (e.g. Myst) |
Cover | You move from cover to cover (typically 3PS) |
FPS, Classic | Old style FPS (e.g. Doom or Heretic) |
Defense | Part or fully Tower defense |
Puzzle, Matching | Tile-matching games (including Match-3) |
Eroge | A Japanese pornographic visual novel |
Strategy, 4X | Means "eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate" |
FMV | Full motion video (typically for cutscenes) |
Strategy, Grand | Employs long term strategy or military tactics |
Facile | Very easy/simple gameplay (almost non-game) |
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Frantic | Has waves of fast enemies (e.g. Serious Sam) |
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God | Artificial life game controlling a powerful entity |
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