Over the course of the last year, gaming as a hobby has risen in popularity because you can play games with friends while still maintaining social distance. In this four part series aimed to help someone get into gaming as a hobby, which popular consoles are available has already been covered, and now it’s time to get into game genres and recommendations based upon those genres.
While there are many types and subtypes of game genres, we’ll be focusing on some of the more popular overarching game genres and some of the most popular games that represent them.
Platform games
Platform games are one of the most classic and popular types of video games. A platform game is a type of game where the player moves their avatar across different platforms on the screen, usually left to right with jumping mechanics involved. There are some great modern platform games, such as Ori and the Blind Forest (2015) which is available on most gaming platforms, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury (2021) which is available on the Nintendo Switch, and Spiritfarer (2020) which is available on most gaming platforms. Platform games are probably what most people think of when they think of classic video games, and are perhaps the simplest to play if you’re just beginning.
Action games
Action games may represent the most varied type of video game. Action games include fighting games, first-person shooting games and even survival games. Popular first-person shooter games would include Overwatch (2016) which is available on most gaming platforms and Apex Legends (2019) which can also be found on most gaming platforms. If you’re looking for a little bit more of a classic fighting game, you may want to check out Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018) which is available on the Nintendo Switch. However, if you’re looking for something a little more intense, the newest survival game in a longstanding popular franchise called Resident Evil Village (2021) just arrived in the summer. Action games can be as complex as controlling your character’s every move in order to survive, or as simple as pressing ‘A’ and ‘B’ to kick and punch. The choice is yours.
Simulation & role playing games
If you’re looking to get really creative and make your own story within the game, a simulation or role-playing game might be for you. When many people think of simulation games, they immediately think of The Sims 4 (2014) which is available on PC, Xbox and PlayStation consoles or Animal Crossing: New Horizons (2020) which is available on the Nintendo Switch. If you’re looking for less creative freedom but still want to feel involved in the game’s storyline, you may want to look into role-playing games like Fire Emblem: Three Houses (2019) which is available on the Nintendo Switch, or The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) which is available on most gaming platforms.
Sports games
If you’re a big sports fan and want to continue that legacy while gaming, there are plenty of options for you. There is a video game for just about every type of sport. If you’re interested in soccer, FIFA 22 (2021) comes out later this month on most gaming platforms. If you enjoy car racing, Forza Horizon 4 (2018) is available on PC and Xbox consoles. If football is more of your thing, Madden NFL 21 (2020) is available on most gaming platforms, including mobile phones.
