VR Gaming Genres

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.