Let’s explore the five must-play gaming genres of today.
Each year, the gaming industry continues to grow. One of the main ways this happens is through the introduction of new and exciting genres.
Less than ten years ago, the gaming industry was very limited in its number of genres. Now, there are hundreds of different genres to choose from, all of which offer something different and unique.
As an avid gamer, it can be difficult to know which genres to try next. The choice is simply too much. Thankfully, this article is here to provide you with a list of the top 5 gaming genres of the year that you need to try. Not only will this be a lot of fun, but it will also help you discover new games that you might have never heard of.
Contents
Real-Money Games
Real-money games have quickly become one of the most popular types of games on the internet.
Typically, you can’t play real-money games on consoles like the PlayStation 5. Instead, you have to play them via a web browser or the app store.
Here are some examples of real-money games that have millions of players around the world:
- Online blackjack
- Online roulette
- Video poker
If you’re a beginner, a good place to start is to play blackjack online. Blackjack is one of the simplest real-money games that you can play. You’re dealt a hand by the dealer and must then try to get a hand total as close to 21 as possible by requesting new cards. In the end, you and the dealer then reveal your hands to see who has the closest total to 21. Anyone that goes above 21 is automatic ‘bust’ and therefore loses.
As this genre title suggests, real money is involved in real-money games. Naturally, this means you need to be above the legal gambling age in your state to play. Most US states have a legal gambling age of either 18 or 21, so make sure to double-check what yours is before playing.
Battle Royale
If you haven’t heard of battle royales by now, you must have been living on Mars since 2018!
Around five years ago, the battle royale genre suddenly exploded in popularity, which was largely thanks to Fortnite. Nobody saw this coming. The fact that battle royale games are still top of the gaming charts all these years later is a testament to how fun and exciting they truly are. From PUBG to Apex Legends, countless battle royale games exist to choose from. Best of all, most battle royale games are free-to-play or free to download. In other words, you don’t have to spend a penny to get them. You will generally find that battle royale games come with optional DLC and in-app purchases. You can still play the game without purchasing any of these things, but it’s usually a good idea to buy a ‘battle pass’ if there’s one on offer.
Puzzle
Who doesn’t love a good-old puzzle game?
Right now, the iOS and Android app stores are jam-packed with puzzle games to download. Candy Crush Saga is the most popular of the bunch, but there are plenty of others to try, too. The positive of playing puzzle games is that you get to keep your brain and mental awareness nice and sharp, especially when there are numbers involved. A study conducted by the University of Michigan even discovered that people who do puzzles for 25 minutes a day experienced an improvement in their IQ scores by an average of 4 points. Not bad, right? Puzzle games are fun and help to improve your brain – it’s the ultimate combination.
Open World
Open-world games are more popular than ever. GTA V is one of the most successful open-world games of all time. It was released back in 2013 (almost ten years ago), yet it still has hundreds of thousands of active daily players. This highlights just how fun and imaginative the genre is, as one game alone can keep players hooked for years. Some more recent open-world games include Spider-Man (2018), Red Dead Redemption 2 (2019), and Elden Ring (2022).
Usually, open-world games revolve around controlling and building one single character. You get to complete objectives and missions whenever you feel like it. In-between times, you can roam around, complete side quests, and develop your character’s skills.
Sport
Lastly, there are sports games. From the NBA 2K franchise to the FIFA franchise, there are many different options for gamers who enjoy sports. Make sure to try the different sports games that you enjoy in real life.
