A Guide to Popular Video Game Genres, Terms, and Slang

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A Guide to Popular Video Game Genres, Terms, and Slang

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As a millennial... some of these terms have been around, but my Gen Z niece says words that I have to Google... yes, we all do it after age 30! Video gameplay comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but most fall into specific genres that define how they play. You may love COD Black Ops, but hate COD Modern Warfare, I do. But, I have yet to find a Rockstar game I do not thoroughly enjoy! Whether you’re into fast-paced shooters, immersive RPGs, brain-teasing strategy games, or bullet-dodging shoot 'em ups, there’s something for everyone. Here’s a rundown of some major game genres, along with common slang terms and a few examples from both retro and modern generations.

First-Person Shooter (FPS)

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Fast-paced action, where you view the game through the character’s eyes and typically wield guns or other ranged weapons. 🔹 Slang Terms: "Shooter," "Run-and-gun," "Boomer shooter" (for old-school FPS games like DOOM) 🔹 Examples: DOOM (1993), Halo: Combat Evolved, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009), Overwatch 2

Shoot 'Em Up (Shmup)

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Fast-paced games where you blast through waves of enemies, dodge bullets, and cause total chaos. Think classic arcade action with nonstop shooting, either side-scrolling or vertical. 🔹 Slang Terms: "Shmup" (short for shoot 'em up), "Bullet hell" (when the screen is full of enemy fire), "Power-up spam" (grabbing all the upgrades!) 🔹 Examples: Metal Slug series, R-Type, Ikaruga, Gradius III

Role-Playing Game (RPG)

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Games that emphasize character progression, story-driven gameplay, and often include turn-based or action combat. 🔹 Slang Terms: "RPG," "Grindfest" (for games with lots of leveling up), "Stat-heavy" 🔹 Examples: Final Fantasy VII, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Persona 5, Baldur’s Gate 3

Action & Adventure

A mix of combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving, often in an open or semi-open world. 🔹 Slang Terms: "Metroidvania" (if it features interconnected maps like Metroid or Castlevania) 🔹 Examples: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Tomb Raider (2013), God of War (2018), Hollow Knight

Hack 'n Slash

Combat-focused games where you fight hordes of enemies using melee weapons, combos, and fast action. It’s all about stylish moves and clearing the battlefield. 🔹 Slang Terms: "Button masher" (for fast, simple attacks), "Combo-heavy," "Crowd control" (taking down lots of enemies at once) 🔹 Examples: Devil May Cry, God of War (2005), Dynasty Warriors, Bayonetta

Platformer

Games focused on jumping and precise movement, often with obstacles and enemies to avoid or defeat. 🔹 Slang Terms: "2D/3D platformer," "Precision platformer" (for tough games like Celeste) 🔹 Examples: Super Mario 64, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Celeste, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Fighting Games

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One-on-one or team-based combat games where players use combos, special moves, and strategy to defeat opponents. 🔹 Slang Terms: "FGC" (Fighting Game Community), "Footsies" (spacing and positioning strategy), "Mix-up" (tricking opponents with unpredictable attacks) 🔹 Examples: Street Fighter II, Tekken 3, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Mortal Kombat 11

Survival Horror

Games designed to create tension, often featuring limited resources, eerie environments, and terrifying enemies. 🔹 Slang Terms: "Jump scare central" (for games with lots of sudden scares), "Inventory management sim" (for games with strict item limits) 🔹 Examples: Resident Evil 2 (1998), Silent Hill, Alien: Isolation, Dead Space (2023)

Strategy (RTS & Turn-Based)

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Games that require planning and tactical decision-making, either in real-time (RTS) or turn-based play. 🔹 Slang Terms: "4X" (explore, expand, exploit, exterminate in strategy games like Civilization), "Micro" (managing units with precision in RTS games) 🔹 Examples: StarCraft, Age of Empires II, XCOM 2, Sid Meier’s Civilization VI

Turn-Based Tactics

Strategy games that play out in turns, letting you plan your moves and react to your enemy’s actions. It’s more like chess with explosions! 🔹 Slang Terms: "TBT" (short for Turn-Based Tactics), "Grid combat," "Min-maxing" (perfectly optimizing your moves) 🔹 Examples: Final Fantasy Tactics, Fire Emblem series, XCOM 2, Advance Wars

Racing Games

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Speed-focused games that simulate racing cars, bikes, or futuristic vehicles. 🔹 Slang Terms: "Arcade racer" (easy-to-pick-up gameplay), "Sim racer" (realistic racing physics) 🔹 Examples: Mario Kart 64, Gran Turismo 4, Forza Horizon 5, Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2005)

MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online RPG)

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Online role-playing games where thousands of players interact in persistent worlds. 🔹 Slang Terms: "MMO," "Grinding" (repeating tasks for XP or items), "Endgame" (high-level content after finishing the main story) 🔹 Examples: World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV, RuneScape, Guild Wars 2

Sandbox/Open-World Games - Still Don't Quite Grasp "Sandbox" This isn't recess girl

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Games that provide freedom to explore, build, and interact with the world at your own pace. 🔹 Slang Terms: "Open-world," "Emergent gameplay" (when players create their own experiences within the game world) 🔹 Examples: Minecraft, Grand Theft Auto V, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Red Dead Redemption 2

Every gamer has their favorite genre (or a mix of them), and these categories help define what kind of experience to expect. What’s your go-to genre, and what are your favorite games? Mine.... definitely survival-horror or anything by Rockstar! Did we just happen to forget a major genre or a niche one that you think belongs on the list? Well, feel free to contact us or leave us a comment! We'd love to hear from ya!

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