New Gaming Genres That Didn't Exist 20 Years Ago

Highlights

Gaming evolves with new genres like battle royale, roguelites, and looter shooters pushing boundaries in innovation and creativity.
Old forgotten genres like deckbuilding roguelikes and gacha games are making a comeback with unique mechanics and addictive gameplay loops.
Soulslike games, known for extreme difficulty and deep lore, have gained immense popularity, inspiring developers to create similar challenging experiences.

As a seasoned gamer with decades of gaming under my belt, I can confidently say that the evolution of video games has been nothing short of extraordinary. Each new genre brings its unique charm and challenges, and I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing them all.

In the realm where fun is abundant – gaming – creativity consistently thrives. Time and again, fresh games emerge, challenging the limits of what was once considered imaginable. This innovation could stem from technical aspects, unique gameplay mechanics, or something so groundbreaking that it spawns an entirely new genre.

Periodically, gamers seek fresh experiences, and some brave creators are always experimenting with innovative elements in games. Therefore, it’s logical to expect that the current popular game genres may not remain dominant indefinitely, given that something novel is likely to displace them from their leading positions.

6 Battle Royale

Hundred Players, One Winner

First battle royale game: Mod on Minecraft server plugin called “Survivor Games”
Genre started in2012

In a Minecraft server plugin, the concept of “Battle Royale” was initially introduced through a mod known as “Survival Games”.

Initially, H1Z1 Battle Royale (released in 2015) marked the debut of the genuine battle royale game. Subsequently, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds arrived in 2017, followed by Fortnite not long after. These two games have since become leaders in this gaming genre.

In the not-too-distant future, inspired by the remarkable triumph of these games, numerous other developers began crafting battle royale games based on established franchises such as Call of Duty Warzone or original creations like Respawn Entertainment’s Apex Legends.

As someone who has been a gamer for most of my life, I can confidently say that mobile gaming has revolutionized the industry and made it more accessible to people like myself who may not have access to expensive gaming machines. In the past, I would often miss out on popular games because I didn’t own a console or high-end PC. But now, with the rise of mobile gaming, I can play many of the same games that my friends are playing on their dedicated gaming devices, right from my phone. This has made gaming more social and enjoyable for me, and it’s also allowed me to discover new games that I may never have tried otherwise. Overall, I am grateful for the impact mobile gaming has had on my gaming experience and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for this exciting and growing industry.

5 Roguelites

Upgrade, Death, Repeat

First roguelite game:Spelunky
Genre started in 2008

Roguelite, a more recent genre, draws inspiration from the classic game “Rogue” released in 1980. This pioneering game brought dungeon-crawling RPGs with procedurally generated levels and permanent death into the gaming world, and games that follow this style are classified as Roguelikes.

In contrast to traditional rogue-like games, which feature permadeath, roguelites offer the option of saving progress during gameplay. This could mean retaining experience, money, or other helpful items, making subsequent playthroughs less challenging and more gradual in terms of advancement. Furthermore, many roguelites blend elements from different genres like strategy, action, or platforming, adding diversity to the gaming experience.

It’s likely that the first authentic Roguelike game is Spelunky, which was launched towards the end of 2008. The genre began to gain traction following the release of subsequent, more influential Roguelikes such as The Binding of Isaac in 2011 and later ones around 2017.

In 2020, the launch of Hades significantly boosted the genre’s popularity, as many gamers became captivated by its engaging combat system and the compelling gameplay cycle that kept them hooked.

4 Looter Shooters

So Many Guns

First looter shooter:Hellgate: London
Genre started in 2007

In a looter shooter, as the term indicates, the focus is heavily on the process of gathering loot while also engaging in shooting. Each vanquished foe yields a variety of items, making this feature particularly captivating for players within this gaming category.

In the year 2007, the game “Hellgate: London” hit the market, focusing significantly on looting items and weapon randomization. However, it was the initial Borderlands, launched in 2009, that truly paved the way for the looter shooter genre. At its debut, the game offered over 17 million potential lootable weapons, a number that subsequent versions of the game further increased.

Later on, there were additional games in this genre that became available, including “Warframe”, “Destiny 2” from Bungie, and the newly launched but somewhat underappreciated “Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League”.

3 Deckbuilding Roguelikes

Slow But Addicting

First deckbuilding roguelike: Dominion
Genre started in 2008

In the realm of Roguelike games, the fusion of this genre with deckbuilding is so exceptional and widely enjoyed that it warrants a distinct category all its own. It’s fascinating to note that back in 2004, deckbuilders themselves were captivating, boasting incredible titles like “Metal Gear Acid” and “Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories.”

Following the integration of roguelike features into the deckbuilding genre, it experienced a significant surge in popularity. Previously skeptical players who preferred faster-paced, strategic gameplay found themselves attracted to it due to an increased level of addictiveness offered by the roguelike elements. Consequently, “deckbuilding roguelike” has now established itself as a distinct genre.

In this emerging category of games, standouts that have garnered praise include “Inscription”, “Slay the Spire” (which is also categorized as a roguelite), “Balatro”, and “Backpack Hero”. However, it was the game “Dominion”, released in 2008, that can be accurately labeled as the first true roguelike deckbuilder.

2 Gacha Games

Ka-Ching

First gacha game: Dragon Collection
Genre started in 2010

Gacha games mimic the concept of Japanese gachapon machines, where players spend real money to receive unpredictable prizes. In these video games, players can buy loot boxes or spins using actual cash, which could potentially award them with any assortment of in-game items such as gear, outfits, character skins, or virtual currency.

It wasn’t until the launch of Genshin Impact in 2020 that the addictive mechanics of gacha games, which are similar to gambling and were first introduced by Konami’s Dragon Collection in 2010, truly captured global attention. The novelty of unlocking new characters and weapons within this open-world action JRPG came with a catch – these rewards were obtained through a gacha mechanism that doled out randomized prizes to players.

Indeed, gacha games such as “Raid: Shadow Legends,” “Honkai Impact 3rd,” and many others were already in existence prior to “Genshin Impact.” Today, players from various regions continue to appreciate these games. A significant factor contributing to their popularity was their availability on multiple platforms including smartphones, PCs, and consoles.

1 Soulslike

Death Is Imminent

First soulslike game: Demon’s Souls
Genre started in2009

In more recent gaming history, the term “Soulslike” refers to any game that emulates the gameplay mechanics seen in Demon’s Souls from 2009, a game credited with launching this genre. Characteristics unique to this type of game include challenging difficulty levels, action-RPG style gameplay, intricate lore, and storytelling through the environment.

To start with, FromSoftware – known for their work on Demon’s Souls – were among the trailblazers in this field, being virtually the sole developers producing games of this type for quite some time. The groundbreaking first installment of Dark Souls, released in 2011, helped bring this genre to public attention due to its multiplatform launch.

The popularity of this genre got many new developers onboard, and players eventually saw critically acclaimed soulslikes such as Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Hollow Knight, Nioh, and the recently released Lies of P.

2024-08-14 05:34

New Gaming Genres That Didn’t Exist 20 Years Ago