The wild, wonderful world of video games spans multiple platforms, with a variety of experiences across a plethora of genres. The depth of the gaming industry can be seen through all the unique journeys available to us. From scoring a Stanley Cup winning goal to saving the world from the clutches of evil aliens and more. I’m here to provide you with an overview of each genre, covering the classics, what’s trending and upcoming titles you should keep eye on.
Action genre
When I think “action” it conjures up images of Hollywood blockbuster films with big explosions and pulse pounding sequences. Action games are cut from the same cloth, testing your mettle, reaction times and your trigger finger. Some of the franchises that have become staples of the action genre are titles like Call of Duty, Death Loop and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
If you enjoy fast paced gameplay that will test your skill, you’ve arrived at the right spot! Below you’ll find some top action game recommendations, along with a full action genre spotlight to help deliver an adrenaline rush.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Release Date: Available Now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One and PC
Action Chills: Survival Horror Top Picks
Dead Space
Release Date: Pre-order now on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5
The Dead Space remake offers a more captivating and enthralling experience that original fans of the game will be sure to love. Join Isaac Clarke as he searches the USG Ishimura for his partner, Nicole, and unveil the many secrets hidden aboard the ship. This classic sci-fi survival horror game features stunning visuals, suspenseful audio, and gameplay improvements.
Action-adventure genre
The action-adventure genre is far and away one of my favourites, melding high octane action with great stories and puzzle elements. Classic franchises like Assassin’s Creed, God of War and Uncharted are some best in class examples of action-adventure experiences. Modern blockbusters like The Last of Us Part 2, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury are stellar experiences, that are “must play” games.
The massive survival horror genre is a subcategory of the action-adventure realm, it’s not for the faint of heart! Games that will terrify like Little Nightmares 2, The Medium and Resident Evil Village will provide plenty of thrills and chills. Check out all my top picks in Best Buy’s action adventure spotlight.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Release Date: Available Now!
Unlock new Force and lightsaber abilities in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. As Jedi Knight Cal Kestis, you’ll explore new planets throughout the Galaxy, mastering new skills to help you on your journey. Use these skills to fight a host of challenging enemies that work for the Empire, then discover secrets hiding in the darkness.
Pre-order Star Wars Jedi Survivor
Adventure games
These games are all about puzzles and plot, forgoing heavy action sequences that require hair-trigger reflexes. The name of the game here is the story and exploration experience, they come first and foremost. Games like Myst, The Secret of Monkey Island and Outer Wilds follow the adventure game formula.
Role-playing games
Role-playing games, or RPGs, let you build your own character to varying degrees, some let you pick a class or build your appearance from scratch. Based off the classic board game Dungeons & Dragons, RPGs use similar rules to put you in the shoes of a hero and their party. You can use the unique attributes of characters like melee, magic and ranged attack skills to navigate through enemy encounters. RPGs traditionally have massive maps to explore with side quests and a sprawling main story. Like a great novel, if you are looking for an experience to lose yourself in, RPGs are the gaming equivalent.
Some of my most unforgettable adventures have come within the RPG genre. Games like Final Fantasy VII, Cyberpunk 2077, Skyrim, and The Witcher III are some of the best stories I’ve ever experienced in any medium.
Here are some highly recommended RPGs to adventure through:
Elden Ring
Release Date: Available Now
Full Review
The Golden Order has been broken. Rise, Tarnished, and be guided by grace to brandish the power of the Elden Ring and become an Elden Lord in the Lands Between. The fantasy action-RPG is developer FromSoftware’s largest game to date, set within a world full of mystery and peril, hailed by many is one of the greatest games of all time.
Most Anticipated Role-playing games
Diablo IV
Release Date: Coming June 6th Pre-Order Today!
Explore an expansive world full of nightmarish dungeons and endless evil to slaughter in Diablo IV. Enjoy cross-play and cross-progression on all available platforms and embark on campaigns or join PVP zones to build and test your abilities with your friends.
Simulation games
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to fly a plane, run a city or control an entire country, the sim genre might be for you. Some of the most popular franchises out there like The Sims, Farming Simulator, Tropico and Microsoft Flight Simulator offer something for everyone.
This genre helps fulfill fantasies of being a pilot, farmer, chef and beyond! Feel free to check out all my recommendations in the full Video Gaming Genres Spotlight:Simulation article.
Here are some fun sim experiences to check out:
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Release Date: Available Now
Full Review | Overall Rating: 4.4/5 (88%)
Looking to carve out your own little piece of paradise? The sunny shores of Animal Crossing: New Horizons await! The simulation game takes you to a deserted island where you can personalize your own little utopia. Make it your new island home all your own by customizing your character, home, decorations, and more. Book your getaway today!
Strategy games
The strategy genre is essentially a game of chess, you need to carefully plan your next move to outwit your opponent. This virtual game of wits comes in a variety of shapes and forms from ancient battle fields to those in the distant future. Sci-fi military titles like Starcraft, are all about resource management and massing your forces.
In games like Sid Meier’s Civilization series you can change the course of history. You can do this on the battlefield or by developing a civilization, if you enjoy carefully calculating your next move strategy games could be a great fit. Check out the recommendations below, or the full overview of strategy games at Best Buy.
Pikmin 3 Deluxe
Release Date: Available Now
Full Review | Overall Rating: 4.1/5 (82%)
It’s a race against time as you strategize and command tiny plant-like Pikmin to explore a new world to find food for their home planet. Help the tiny creatures overcome obstacles, defeat hostile enemies and make it back to their ship before time runs out.
Sports titles
Sports games are massively popular, carrying the thrill and excitement of real life teams. If you are a fan of the NHL, NBA or NFL you’ll feel right at home with their virtual counterparts. Each year sports games go through a refresh adding better graphics, new gameplay mechanics and features that continue to get closer to the real thing. If you are hitting the ice, court or gridiron all your favourite players await.
If you are ready for the bright lights, Best Buy has an all-star line up of sports titles.
NFS Unbound
Release Date: Pre-order now!
The world is your canvas in Need for Speed Unbound. Prove you have what it takes to win The Grand, Lakeshore’s ultimate street racing challenge. Across four intense weeks of racing, earn enough cash to enter weekly qualifiers, beat the competition, and make your mark on the street racing scene while outdriving and outsmarting the cops.
Pre-purchase NFS Unbound Today
An experience for everyone!
No matter what type of experience you are looking for, the wide variety of gaming genres has something fun in store for you. From action to deep thinking strategy games there is something out there that will perfectly fit your style of play. I love to dabble in all of the genres experiencing the gems each has to offer. The best part of the video game industry is there is always a unique, new experience on the horizon looking to evolve the gaming landscape. I hope the overview above helps to get you started, or broadens your video game horizons.
Let us know what your favourite games and genres are in the comments below!
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This is a great list of recent and upcoming games. I’m definitely looking forward to Skyward Sword HD. It is one of 2 Zelda games that I never actually finished, the other being Triforce Heroes.
Thanks Matthew!
Thanks for reading Ian, Skyward Sword HD is definitely at the top of my list too! Those limited edition Zelda Joy Cons are looking pretty dapper, hoping I can find some before launch.
My favourite genre is a sub-genre from Action, platformers. I love a good platformer.
Action Adventure is probably my next favourite thanks to the Legend of Zelda series.
I also love JRPGs, but often feel overwhelmed at starting a 60+ hour adventure.
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