Explained: The Main Game Genres and What Makes Each One Unique

Genres still help us describe and compare games, but they’re no longer fixed or easy to box in. What used to be clear differences have now become a mix of mechanics and player expectations. Many games fall into multiple categories, and some even challenge the idea of genre entirely. 

At the same time, new formats have become recognisable enough to stand on their own. Rather than relying on technical definitions, we can look at how players interact with games to understand what makes each type unique.  

iGaming Platforms and the Expansion of Genre

Some genres haven’t formed around playstyle, but around the way games are distributed and accessed. In the UK, the steady growth of dedicated casino platforms has changed how certain games are made and understood. These platforms, built for mobile and browser-based access, made it possible for users to play instantly, without large downloads or complex installs. 

This shift laid the groundwork for casino games to develop into a distinct genre. While the earliest versions were direct copies of table formats, the current space now includes online slots, live-dealer games, bingo sessions, and progressive jackpot models. 

Live formats bring in human hosts, while digital-first slots use themes and sound design to create fast, standalone sessions. The genre now stands on its own, built from how users engage with platforms rather than from traditional game mechanics.

Sandbox

Sandbox games are often shaped more by what the player does than by what the developer sets in place. These titles are designed to offer loose structure, with space to explore, build, or break rules in ways that aren’t possible in more guided formats.  

The term has been stretched a lot in recent years. Many so-called sandbox titles still have missions or progression systems, but they give players freedom over how and when to engage with them. 

Minecraft remains the clearest example, allowing users to either build without limits or survive using crafting tools and hidden systems. Sandbox as a term gets applied too freely sometimes, but at its best, it describes games that trust the player to create their own purpose inside a wide digital space.

Real-Time Strategy (RTS)

RTS games were once a dominant force in PC gaming. The appeal was straightforward: make fast decisions, manage multiple things at once, and outthink your opponent while the game clock never stops.  

The core idea is simple: players manage resources, build units or structures, and control movement across a map in real time. Unlike turn-based strategy, there’s no pause to plan your next step. That pressure is what separates RTS from other formats. StarCraft II remains a gold standard for competitive play. Age of Empires II, on the other hand, offers a more historical spin, with unit progression tied to cultural eras and empires.

RTS games reward players who can multitask well, think ahead, and read their opponent’s habits. While newer games often borrow parts of the formula, few fully commit to the pure RTS structure anymore.

Shooters (FPS and TPS)

Shooters are one of the most commercially successful genres, but they’ve gone through more changes than people often realise. The basic format has stayed consistent, but the delivery has split into multiple styles, most notably first-person (FPS) and third-person (TPS) perspectives.

An FPS like DOOM or Call of Duty puts the camera behind the eyes of the character, giving a direct view that helps with fast reaction times. TPS games like Gears of War take a step back, letting players see the full character and often relying more on cover systems and tactical positioning.

What’s changed in recent years is the way modern games blend these views. Some titles allow players to switch between them, while others use FPS or TPS elements in genres that weren’t originally built for them. Despite this shift, what defines a shooter remains its focus on movement, timing, and precision.

Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA)

MOBA games have carved out a strange but strong place in the industry. They take some parts of RTS design and build them around short, repeatable matches where five players face off against five others.

Each player controls just one character, but each character has specific strengths, limitations, and roles that shape how the match plays out. League of Legends remains the best-known example, with weekly updates and a strong pro scene. Dota 2 offers a slower, more punishing experience with higher skill expression.

MOBA gameplay is hard to get into and even harder to master. Matches are often decided by teamwork and quick judgment rather than raw mechanics. What makes this genre stand apart is the intensity of learning required. Even as other genres rise and fall, MOBA games continue to hold steady. 

Role-Playing Games (RPG, ARPG, and More)

RPGs cover a wide space, but the core idea is consistent: the player takes on the role of a character and builds that character over time through choices. These can be narrative decisions, skill upgrades, or simple exploration.

The genre has also split into subtypes. ARPGs (like Diablo) push combat to the front, while CRPGs (like Pillars of Eternity) focus more on dialogue and structure. MMORPGs add persistent online worlds, where thousands of players interact at once.

Even games that don’t market themselves as RPGs often borrow these elements. Whether it’s skill trees, faction decisions, or branching dialogue, RPG mechanics have become standard in many modern titles. That said, full role-playing still relies on giving the player a sense of ownership over both the path and the result.