Games, like movies, can be pretty easily broken up into categories based on their format and content. Although some games successfully blend two or more genres, and that occasional visionary game manages to create its own new type of genre, the list we've compiled is a gaming mainstay.

action

Contra: Legacy of War on the PlayStation

Action games are generally centered on just that - action. The player's character is equipped with a staggering number of weapons and ammunition and is faced with endless hordes of enemies whose bullets never seem to move quite as fast as they should. Of course, many variations on this theme exist, but the gist of the gameplay is running, jumping, and some method of attacking enemies. Occasional puzzle-solving elements exist in action games, but the focus always remains on expansive levels and action. See platformer for a partial overlap.

adventure

Metal Gear Solid on the PlayStation

A relative of the action game, the adventure game contains action and puzzle solving in more balanced proportions. Where an action game centers on destroying everything in sight, an adventure game rewards exploration and interaction with nonplayer characters (often referred to in gaming vernacular as NPCs). Adventure games usually give the player an inventory system of some kind and may include money for purchasing additional items or, in contrast to an action game where ammo is unlimited, a system of loading and managing ammunition. Adventure games include the Legend of Zelda series and Metal Gear Solid.

fighting

Soul Calibur on the Dreamcast

A fighting game is a title in which two characters square off, each commanding an arsenal of physical attacks and special moves. Fighting games involve a time limit, an energy bar for each character, and a sometimes overwhelming number of fighting moves, usually accomplished by some secret joystick gyration. Well-designed fighting games allow attacks to not only be blocked, but also parried or countered, and skillful players will learn how to string multiple attacks together in an unstoppable combination. Popular examples of fighting games are the Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat series, and Soul Calibur on the Dreamcast.

first-person shooter

Maken X on the Dreamcast

The genre was originated by id Software's PC game Wolfenstein 3D in the early '90s. A first-person shooter (FPS) is, as the name implies, viewed from your character's perspective. The character's hands and weapon of choice are always displayed in the foreground" Some first-person shooters have successfully integrated complex storylines and adventure like elements. Many let multiple individuals compete in frag fests that have come to be known as "deathmatches." First-person shooters are a traditionally PC-centric genre, and the majority that exist on consoles are PC ports. In the last few years, many original first-person shooters have begun to appear on consoles, such as Medal of Honor on the PlayStation and the upcoming Maken X for the Dreamcast. See frag and deathmatch in the Gameplay section.

 

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