The Most Popular Game Genres: What Gamers and Developers Are Choosing in 2025

Every video game starts with the choice of genre. Everything depends on it: the mechanics, the atmosphere, and whether players will even be interested in your project. We’ve compiled the most popular video game genres of 2024–2025, the ones that succeeded in creating an engaging player experience to hook millions of gamers across the world. We’re also offering key advice for each of the genres to help developers plan out a strategy that will create the best possible experience for their users.

Shooters: action and competition

Shooters are games where speed, reaction time, and skill decide everything. Here, the game experience centers around excitement, competitive spirit, and the opportunity for players to showcase their skills in battle. 

According to data from Statista, 63.2% of gamers aged 16–24 play shooters. Young players are drawn to this genre for its speed, competition, and the thrill of victory in suspenseful matches.

First-person shooters (FPSs)

FPS (First-Person Shooter) is a genre that literally places the player in the center of the action. The camera shows the game from the character‘s perspective, creating a feeling of total immersion. In these video games, everything matters: from reacting quickly to threats and shooting accurately to effectively collaborating with your team.

Titles:

• Counter-Strike 2—the epitome of team play and tactical shooting.
• Valorant—a game offering a combination of dynamic shootouts and smart tactical decision-making.
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III—a classic FPS with enhanced graphics, epic missions, and a well-developed multiplayer component.

Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® III. Source

Genre features:

• A first-person camera creating total immersion.
• Dynamic shootouts and fast-paced gameplay.
• A wide variety of weapons and the ability to customize.
• Focus on network modes that encourage strategic competition against other players.

Tips for developers:

In FPS games, focus on creating engaging animations, firing physics, and level design to shape the player experience. For example, guns should “feel” real, and maps should encourage tactical decision-making.

Third-person shooters (TPSs)

TPS (Third-Person Shooter) games give gamers more freedom in their control and perception of the world. The camera is placed behind the character, allowing them to see their surroundings better and make strategic and tactical decisions. 

Titles:

• Fortnite—a game offering elements of a shooter and construction and bright visual style.
• Gears of War—a game that emphasizes using cover and team collaboration.
• The Division—a TPS offering RPG elements and tactical cooperation.

The Division. Source

Genre features:

• The camera gives a wide field of view, helping players stay oriented on the battlefield.
• Cover mechanics enhance the tactical component, creating a more suspenseful atmosphere.
• Characters can be customized, adding individuality to each match.
• Platformer and RPG elements are often used in these video games.

Tips for developers:

Think through the cover mechanics and ways to interact with the environment to enhance the experience. The camera should be convenient and help the player, not get in their way. Add special features that make your game memorable: unusual character abilities, unique maps, or an unconventional setting.

Adventure games: story-driven worlds and exploration

Adventure games are the genre for players seeking more than just action—they want to be immersed in a story. These video games provide the freedom to explore, atmosphere, a gripping plot, and puzzles. According to statistics, this genre is popular with 58.5% of players aged 16–24 and 54.1% of players aged 25–34. 

Titles:

• Life is Strange—a story about difficult choices and their consequences.
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild—an enormous open world with every detail creating a feeling of adventure.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Source

Genre features:

• Emotionally powerful plot lines are key.
• Center the game experience around creating new impressions in a world with the freedom to make endless discoveries.
• Logic tasks and puzzles that add interactivity to the game process.

Tips for developers:

Details are your friends. Locations should be full of small details that you want to explore. Think through the connection between the plot and the world, so the player feels like a part of the story. Make your puzzles solvable and not too hard so they don’t interrupt the pace of play.

Point-and-click games

Point-and-click games are for people who love solving puzzles and exploring worlds. These games may not require fast reaction time, but they do test your logic and attentiveness. In this type of game, the key elements are interactive dialogue, object discovery, and problem solving.

Titles:

• The Secret of Monkey Island—one of the genre’s most famous games, full of humor and unusual tasks.
• Broken Sword—an adventure offering an intriguing plot that centers around mysterious puzzles.
• The Wolf Among Us—a game with a noir atmosphere and a dark plot. The plot keeps you in suspense, and the player‘s choices affect the outcome.

The Wolf Among Us. Source

Genre features:

• Simple controls. All the player has to do is choose actions, select objects, and talk to characters.
• The emphasis is on the plot. The story unfolds through dialogue, events, and interaction with the environment.
• Logic puzzles. Tasks are naturally woven into the plot, making progress more fun and seamless.

Tips for developers:

Players don’t like when puzzles seem forced into a game. Think your world through, down to the details, to make it feel alive. Add some humor or unexpected twists to make it memorable.

Visual novels: interactive stories

These video games are interactive books with a focus on plot and characters. The player reads the text, selects from possible actions, and sees how their decisions change the story.

Titles:

• Doki Doki Literature Club!—a seemingly simple story that unexpectedly turns into a suspenseful psychological thriller.
• Steins;Gate—a story of time travel and its consequences. Popular with fans of science fiction.
• Ace Attorney—a game where you assume the role of a lawyer and solve crimes through dialogue and logic. 

Steins;Gate. Source

Genre features:

• Focus on the plot and characters: every event should tug at your emotions.
• Simple mechanics. Players only need to read, make decisions, and sometimes complete simple actions to make progress in these games.
• The ability to replay. Different endings and choices encourage you to come back to find out all the plot variations.

Tips for developers:

Invest in talented screenwriters. Add several different endings to make players want to replay the game.

Role-playing games (RPGs) 

Role-playing games captivate players with freedom of choice, engaging characters, and deep storylines. Players love RPGs for the ability to shape the narrative and characters, explore new worlds, and find their own path.

Action RPGs: combat and character development

Action RPG games combine dynamic combat with elements of role-playing games. Players immerse themselves in open worlds, complete quests, fight enemies, and develop characters. Action RPGs suit anyone who loves intensive gameplay combined with a good story.

Titles:

• Diablo IV—a dark fantasy world with an oppressive atmosphere. Unique for its in-depth character customization and engaging multiplayer system.
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt—an example of how to combine an open world, full of events, with a detailed fighting system.
• Dark Souls—a cult classic famous for difficult combat and a complex but intriguing plot.

Dark Souls III. Source

Genre features:

• Dynamic combat. Every battle requires tactics and reflexes.
• Flexible character advancement. The player decides what abilities and weapons to develop.
• Exploring the world. Players have the freedom of choice—they can follow the main story line or look for hidden secrets.
• Loot and gear. Searching for and creating items impacts the style of the game.

Tips for developers: 

Balance the difficulty of the combat system to make it fun for both newbies and hard-core gamers. Quests should be interesting, with well-thought-out rewards. Design the open world so that every location looks unique.

Japanese RPGs (JRPGs): epic stories in bright worlds

Japanese role-playing games, or JRPGs, are valued for their attention to plot, complex characters, and bright visual style. Players are drawn to these games for the chance to immerse themselves in well-designed worlds where every choice and dialogue has meaning. JRPGs often blend epic stories with engaging combat systems, appealing both to newbies and experienced gamers.

Titles:

• Final Fantasy XVI—a game with an absorbing plot, showy battles, and high-quality graphics.
• Persona 5—a game about school children leading a double life. By day, the usual routine. By night, battles in parallel worlds.
• Dragon Quest XI—a traditional JRPG offering beautiful graphics, interesting dialogue, and a classic combat system.

Dragon Quest XI. Source

Genre features:

• The story is built around the main characters and their personal drama and relationships.
• The visual style is distinguished by well-designed characters and locations.
• These games may contain additional activities like relationship building, mini-games, or secret quests.

Tips for developers:

Add colorful scenes that players want to rewatch and characters that they can connect with.

Roguelike RPGs: complexity and unique playthroughs

Roguelike RPGs are good for people seeking a tough challenge. Every playthrough is unique, as the levels, enemies, and items all change. Fans of roguelike RPGs enjoy the risk and the fact that every action counts.

Titles:

• Hades—the god of the underworld trying to escape. The bright style and excellent combat mechanics made this game a hit.
• Dead Cells—in this game, levels are randomly generated, and battles require attention and skill. 
• Slay the Spite—an RPG card game where tactical decisions determine your success in each session.

Slay the Spire. Source

Genre features:

• Each new playthrough is unique, thanks to the randomization of enemies, resources, and levels.
• The high difficulty makes each win more meaningful.
• Gradual character improvement motivates players to keep coming back.
• Flexible mechanics let you adapt the game style to suit your preferences.

Tips for developers:

Make the gameplay difficulty motivating, not frustrating. Add a wide variety of playthrough options and different opportunities for experimentation. The visual style and music also play a key role in the reception of these games.

Battle Royale

Battle Royale is a fight to the death where dozens (or even hundreds) of players fight until only one remains. These games are popular for their dynamic gameplay, high competitiveness, and element of surprise.

Hero shooters: abilities and team-based gameplay

Hero shooters are a subgenre of Battle Royale, where a special focus is placed on unique character abilities. Every character has unique abilities, meaning players can choose their role based on their style of gameplay. 

Titles:

• Overwatch 2—in this game, every character has a key role on the team. Defense, attack, healing—players choose their style of gameplay.
• Apex Legends—fast gameplay, a wide variety of characters, and dynamic combat.

Overwatch 2. Source

Genre features:

• Every character has abilities that add to the diverse gameplay.
• Victory depends on successful cooperation and coordination within the team.
• Characters with different gameplay styles make it possible to find new tactical combinations.

Tips for developers:

Create characters that suit different gameplay styles. Maintain a balance of characters so that all players feel like they have an equal chance at success. Maps should help players use character abilities and encourage team interaction.

Military shooters: a battle atmosphere and realism

Military shooter games are unique for their realism and the atmosphere of large-scale conflict. The player controls soldiers during military operations, where tactics and accuracy are key.

Titles:

• Call of Duty: Warzone—a multiplayer shooter offering realistic combat and large-scale maps.
• Escape from Tarkov—a hardcore project with deep immersion where players must survive, collect resources, and avoid enemies.

Call of Duty: Warzone. Source

Genre features:

• Accurate firing physics that creates a sense of reality.
• Maps with a high level of detail that transport players to real or fictional war zones.
• Emphasis on tactical gameplay, where every decision can lead to success or defeat.

Tips for developers:

Create maps that encourage diverse tactical approaches. Ensure that physics and weapon animations look natural so the player feels immersed in the game. Striking the right balance between realism and accessibility will make the game interesting to a broader audience.

Strategies

Strategy video games attract players who love to plan out their actions and analyze complicated situations. These games provide the opportunity to step into the role of leaders, where players can make plans, manage resources, and make important decisions.

Real-time strategies (RTSs): instant decisions

In real-time strategy games, the player must manage resources, build bases, and defeat enemies in real time.

Titles:

• StarCraft II—a classic of real-time strategy: dynamic battles that focus on managing armies and resources.
• Age of Empires IV—historical battles with in-depth mechanics and the ability to control entire civilizations.
• Company of Heroes 3—war in real time, where each move requires strategic consideration.

StarCraft II. Source

Genre features:

• Continuous resource and army management.
• The ability to create troops, research technology, and build infrastructure.
• Maps with interactive surroundings that impact the battle tactics.

Tips for developers:

Optimize the interface and controls so players don’t waste time on unnecessary actions. Make single-player modes interesting and multiplayer modes engaging.

Turn-based strategies (TBSs): time to think through each move

Turn-based strategy games differ in their slow speed, where players can think through their moves and develop long-term plans.

Titles:

• Civilization VI—a game about building civilizations with a focus on diplomacy and management.
• XCOM 2—a battle against extraterrestrials where each move might determine the fate of your team.
• Total War: Warhammer III—a combination of global planning and turn-based combat.

Total War: Warhammer III. Source

Genre features:

• No time pressure, allowing the player to focus on tactics.
• Opportunities for diplomacy, economic development, and military expansion.
• Development of strategies that work towards long-term results.

Tips for developers:

Create mechanics that are understandable from the start but which increase in depth as you master the game. Scenarios must be interesting, and the freedom of action should encourage experimentation. Plot development through interaction with other players or AI makes the game more fun.

Sports simulators

Sports games transfer real sports experiences to the screen, allowing players to feel like professional athletes or managers of sports teams. 

Titles:

• EA SPORTS FC™ 24—a flagship soccer sports simulator offering updated teams and realistic physics.
• NBA 2K24—a basketball sports simulator with in-depth career and multiplayer modes.
• Madden NFL 24—a popular sports game about American football where you can control teams and develop strategies.

EA SPORTS FC™ 24. Source

Genre features:

• Realistic models of athletes, movement, and ball physics.
• Modes for solo play or competing with other players.
• The ability to create your own sports teams and develop the careers of athletes.

Tips for developers:

Focus on high-quality graphics and animation. Realism is one of the keys to success for sports games.

Puzzle games: brain teasers and logic

Puzzle games are for people who want to challenge their minds. They’re centered around tasks and puzzles that test your logic, attention, and creativity. 

Titles:

• Portal 2—a combination of puzzles with elements of physics and humor.
• The Witness—exploration of an island where every decision unlocks a new mystery.
• Tetris Effect—classic Tetris with an added hypnotic soundtrack and visual effects.

Portal 2. Source

Genre features:

• Simple gameplay mechanics that are intuitive but require effort to master.
• A combination of logic and a creative approach.
• The ability to play at your own speed without time pressure.

Tips for developers:

Focus on intuitively understandable mechanics and emotional rewards for completing tasks. 

Idle games: progress without pressure

Idle games (also known as incremental games) are tailored towards passive progress. Players have a minimal role in the game process but still enjoy observing the automatic development and achievements.

Titles:

• Cookie Clicker—starts with simple clicks then turns into a large-scale simulator.
• Adventure Capitalist—a capitalism simulator centered around money and business.
• Idle Heroes—an RPG with idle elements, where characters fight on their own.

Cookie Clicker. Source

Genre features:

• Process automation. Minimal player interaction.
• Simple mechanics that don’t take long to learn.
• A system of rewards and improvements that encourages you to come back.

Tips for developers:

Focus on creating fun chains of upgrades and progression. Add events and activities that break up the monotony. A visually understandable interface also plays a role.

Racing games: speed and adrenaline

Racing games let you experience the speed and adrenaline from behind the wheel of a wide variety of vehicles. This genre is popular for its action, drama, and the chance to compete with friends or AIs.

Titles:

• Forza Horizon 5—an open world and well-developed driving physics.
• Gran Turismo 7—a simulator for fans of realism and collecting cars.
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe—fun, competitive arcade racing.

Forza Horizon 5. Source

Genre features:

• Different game styles: arcades, simulators, or something in between.
• Multiplayer mode where you can compete with other players.
• The ability to configure the cars, tracks, and other gameplay elements.

Tips for developers:

Think through the control physics and make every track interesting. Add modes that vary the game process. Visual effects and unconventional tracks will help your project stand out.

Simulators

Simulator video games give you the ability to put yourself in the role of a driver, builder, or a simple city resident. These types of games let you relax and play as someone else.

Flight simulators

Flight simulators let you take on the role of a pilot. These games create realistic controls and detailed scenery.

Titles:

• Microsoft Flight Simulator—a game with detailed landscapes and a wide variety of aircraft to choose from.
• X-Plane—an alternative that emphasizes the physics and accuracy of controls.

Microsoft Flight Simulator. Source

Genre features:

• Accurate models of aircraft.
• Realistic flight physics.
• The ability to control weather conditions.
• Open worlds or routes to explore.

Tips for developers:

Create intuitive controls. Even realistic games need to be understandable for beginners. Add tutorial modes to simplify the start for all players.

Transport simulators

The choice for anyone who wants to take on the role of driver, captain, or train engineer.

Titles:

• Euro Truck Simulator 2—a trucking simulator that captivates with its meditative atmosphere and large-scale European cities.
• Bus Simulator 21—driving buses in cities.
• Train Sim World 3—a simulator for train lovers. You can choose your routes.

Euro Truck Simulator 2. Source

Genre features:

• Well-designed transport controls.
• An atmosphere that helps you relax while still holding your attention.
• Freedom to choose tasks and routes.

Tips for developers:

Devote attention to creating authentic sounds and views from cabs. This will help create the atmosphere. Add the ability to configure transport for greater immersion.

Life simulators 

These video games allow you to control the lives of characters or entire communities. You have the freedom to choose your activities: construction, relationships, career-building, and much more.

Titles:

• The Sims 4—a legendary video game where you can build and develop the lives of characters.
• Stardew Valley—a farm simulator with elements of social interaction.

The Sims 4. Source

Genre features:

• Character creation and customization.
• Interactive surroundings that respond to player actions.
• Continuous development: career, social ties, construction.
• Time dynamics where each action influences subsequent events.

Tips for developers:

Create mechanics that will maintain long-term interest. Add new events, expansions, and plot lines to vary gameplay.

Military combat

Games of this type focus on combat, strategic planning, and tactical actions. These games let you take on the role of a soldier, commander, or hero who decides the fate of the battle. 

Titles:

• Mortal Kombat 11—a classic fighting game offering cult characters and showy fights.
• For Honor—tactical battles in historical settings where skill with weapons is key.
• Battlefield 2042—large-scale battles on enormous maps with varied technology and weapons.

Mortal Kombat 11. Source

Genre features:

• Realistic weapon and technology models.
• Intense battle scenes that emphasize strategy and reaction time.
• A variety of game modes: solo missions and multiplayer battles.
• Many different settings: city fights, open fields, and historical battles.

Tips for developers:

Balance the combat mechanics so newbies can easily pick up the game and professionals still feel challenged. Create varied characters. Add a tutorial mode that shows the basics and lets you develop skills.

Horror games

Unlike other genres, horror video games tend to invoke fear and tension to keep your nerves wracked. These games are for fans of gloomy worlds, mysterious stories, and unexpected twists. 

Titles:

• Resident Evil 4 (remake)—an updated horror game with improved graphics and smooth action.
• Silent Hill 2—a classic horror experience with an in-depth plot and a bleak atmosphere.
• Outlast 2—a frightening experience with no weapons, where the main character must hide and survive.

Outlast 2. Source

Genre features:

• A foreboding atmosphere created by sound, light, and design.
• Limited resources that make you think about what to use first.
• A plot that keeps the player in suspense.
• Unexpected twists and enemy encounters.

Tips for developers:

Create the atmosphere through details. Light, sound, and encounters with danger should be carefully thought out. Maintain a balance between fear and interest, so users don’t give up the game too soon.

Survival games

Survival games challenge you to survive in a world where every day requires a new strategy to keep you alive as you search for resources and safety. Offering a combination of exploration and building, these games are for players who love the experience of overcoming difficulties in the fight for survival.

Titles:

• The Forest—a survival game where players build shelters in the deep forest and defend themselves from enemies.
• Rust—a multiplayer battle for resources where anyone might be an enemy, making survival even harder.
• ARK: Survival Evolved—survival amid dinosaurs with elements of construction and exploration.

The Forest. Source

Genre features:

• Collecting resources for crafting, construction, and survival.
• Constructing objects to defend against threats.
• Constant management of the character‘s state (food, health, stamina).
• Enemies or threats that require strategy and tactics.

Tips for developers:

Don’t make a survival game too tough at the beginning. Create a smooth entry to the game process so users can get their bearings, then add in challenges that up the strategic component.

MOBA (Multiplayer online battle arena)

MOBA games combine strategy, tactics, and action. In these games, both cooperation and individual skill are key. Players must develop a winning strategy while competing on symmetrical maps. Unlike other genres, e-MOBA games gained popularity through e-sports competitions, offering millions of viewers the chance to watch professional matches.

Titles:

• League of Legends—a video game with a huge variety of characters and tactics.
• Dota 2—a legendary MOBA experience that set the standards thanks to in-depth mechanics.
• Smite—a third-person MOBA with characters from myths and legends.

Smite. Source

Genre features:

• Teamwork.
• A variety of characters with unique abilities.
• Maps with diverse goals and strategic locations.
• Quick character development during a match.

Tips for developers:

Create a simple tutorial system and clear explanation of mechanics for newbies. Regularly update the balance of characters to maintain audience interest.

Card games

Card games allow players to assemble collections of cards and use them to develop strategies in duels with other players or against AI. These games are interesting for their combination of chance and detailed planning.

Titles:

• Hearthstone—a simple and engaging game with an enormous selection of cards.

Hearthstone. Source

• Magic: The Gathering Arena—a digital version of the cult-classic tabletop card game.
• GWENT—a game from The Witcher universe, where tactics and collecting are key.

Genre features:

• Collecting cards with different features.
• Well-thought-out use of resources in battle.
• Creating decks for specific strategies.
• The ability to fight other players or complete solo challenges.

Tips for developers:

Think through the balance of cards so everyone has a fair chance. Add a collection mechanic that will encourage players to assemble and improve their decks. Provide regular updates to maintain audience interest.

Resume

Games have long become something more than just entertainment. They are stories, competitions, and ways to feel like a hero. Developers who understand that players are looking for emotion and depth will always have a strategic advantage. What matters is attention to detail and the desire to create a memorable game.

Takeaways:

• Players choose genres that provide strong emotions or an interesting experience. Each project should offer something special to stand out.

• Balance and detail help maintain interest in all genres. In military games, what matters most are physics and combat mechanics. In survival games, it’s a well-designed world. In MOBAs, it’s character balance and strategy.

• Regular updates help retain the audience. New characters, maps, modes, and improvements encourage you to come back to the game.

• A user-friendly interface and smooth mechanics play a key role. In all genres, players appreciate games that they can understand right off the bat but that remain interesting after dozens of hours.