VR Gaming Genres

Knowing a game’s genre is important to help players choose games that they will enjoy. We have a wide selection of games that can satisfy everyone’s taste in games. Be adventurous when you look into the games. Just because you don’t usually like a certain genre don’t let that keep you from exploring all the games we have to offer. You may find that you like something out of your comfort zone!

**NOTE** Some games can and do occupy several genres (for example: shooting zombies counts as a “shooter” AND “horror” game).  So, if you see the same game in a different gaming genre, don’t be surprised.

Action/Adventure

Emphasizes physical challenges, including hand–eye coordination and reaction-time. Enemy attacks and obstacles deplete the player character’s health and lives, and the player receives a “GAME OVER” when they run out of lives.

ARCADE

Typified by simplicity: in presentation, game-play environments, controls and rules.   Games generally evolve through difficulty rather than the introduction of complexity through new characters, new controls, or new mechanics.  

Art/Creativity

Art games produce graphic results intended to be viewed as an artistic display, as opposed to  game-play scenarios or for storytelling.  Art games are for those who are more interested in soothing creations rather than “play”.

casual

Simple rules/play techniques and/or low degree of strategy.  Require no long-term time commitment or special skills to play, easy to learn and play. Casual games are to entertain, with much lower commitment than other video games.

educational

Attempt to teach the user using the game as a vehicle. Most games target young users.  Educational games come in many different formats from geography, to teaching forms of thought but, all have the interaction with the game as the medium.

Exploration

Exploration games are played most often from the first-person perspective to explore an environment and to discover a narrative about the game.  Depending on the game, they can vary on ability to interact with the environment itself. 

fighting

Centers around close-ranged combat, one on one fights or against small numbers of equally powerful opponents.  Emphasizes hand-to-hand or melee weapons combat Usually allows players to assume different character arch-types. 

horror

Focuses on triggering player’s  primal survival instinct of fear.  This is done through either horror graphics or scary ambiance. Combat may or may not be part of game-play.  Players may be made to feel less in control than in typical games. 

Music/Rhythm Games

Challenges a player’s sense of rhythm. Includes dance games and music-based games. Games challenge player to perform an action at precise times,  game awards points both for accuracy and for synchronization with the beat.

narrative

Narrative games are games that have a predetermined story or a story that unfolds dependent upon a player’s choices in game play.  Narrative stories are great for individual and in some cases groups of players.

Productivity

Also known as “Team Building” games, maintain a fun and supportive environment.  Help with communication skills, problem solving, cooperative strategy with problems and helps create a collaborative environment

Puzzle/Logic

Require the player to solve logic puzzles or navigate complex locations such as mazes. Tile-matching puzzle games are among the most popular. This genre frequently crosses over with adventure and educational games.

shooters

In shooter games, players use ranged weapons to participate in the action which takes place at a distance.  Usually violent with lethal weaponry used to damage opponents. However, some shooters, have non-violent objectives.

Simulation

Designed to closely simulate real world activities by copying various activities from real life.  Usually no strictly defined goals in the game, with the player instead allowed to control a character or environment freely.

social

Games that allow or require social interaction between players, as opposed to playing games in solitude.  Multi-player or role-play video games where players assume roles in a fictional setting; often working towards a common goal.

sports

A sub-genre of simulation games, they are commonly classified separate due to their popularity.  Simply put, they simulate sports. The opposing team(s) can be controlled by other real life people or artificial intelligence.

strategy

Focuses on skillful thinking and planning to achieve victory.  It emphasizes strategic, tactical, and sometimes logistical challenges. Many games also offer economic challenges and exploration. Game may be turn-based or real-time.

Have Questions? Contact Us Now!

If you have any questions or would like to contact Austin County VR, give us a call at (979) 253-0169 and we’ll do our best to answer them for you.  Or, you can shoot us an email at:  info@austincountyvr.com

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