Sights & Sounds
I decided to base my list on games that best represent the massive range that video games always have had. While talked about fairly often on Backloggd, it’s often forgotten in mainstream media just how large and varied the entire medium of gaming is and always has been. Here are 10 games I feel are good at showing that variety and influence.
I’m still a bit confused on how to do this, so lemme know if I did this completely wrong, no issue.
Origin: https://www.backloggd.com/u/letshugbro/list/sights--sounds
I’m still a bit confused on how to do this, so lemme know if I did this completely wrong, no issue.
Origin: https://www.backloggd.com/u/letshugbro/list/sights--sounds
10 Games
Role-Playing Games
This section is going to be especially wordy as the RPG genre is very full of various subgenres that are different enough from each other that I feel are important to mention.
Role-playing video games draw their inspiration from tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. Most of these games put the player in the role of a character that grows in experience over the course of the game. Since the start of affordable home computers coincided with the popularity of paper and pencil role-playing games, this genre was one of the first in video games and continues to be popular today.
Action RPGs: Battles occur in real time, often with the player controlling a single character rather than a party.
Ex: Legend of Zelda
Tactical RPGs: Battles take place on a map and character units are deployed against opponents.
Ex: Fire Emblem
MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game): Online multiplayer games where large amounts of real-life players interact over a shared world in essentially an endless RPG.
Ex: World of Warcraft
Turn Based RPGs: A bit more vague in comparison to the others, but I didn’t know how else to list it lol. Role-Playing Games where each player and opponent is given equal time to pause and plan out their attack. Many other subgenres, including tactical for example, include turn based mechanics.
This section is going to be especially wordy as the RPG genre is very full of various subgenres that are different enough from each other that I feel are important to mention.
Role-playing video games draw their inspiration from tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. Most of these games put the player in the role of a character that grows in experience over the course of the game. Since the start of affordable home computers coincided with the popularity of paper and pencil role-playing games, this genre was one of the first in video games and continues to be popular today.
Action RPGs: Battles occur in real time, often with the player controlling a single character rather than a party.
Ex: Legend of Zelda
Tactical RPGs: Battles take place on a map and character units are deployed against opponents.
Ex: Fire Emblem
MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game): Online multiplayer games where large amounts of real-life players interact over a shared world in essentially an endless RPG.
Ex: World of Warcraft
Turn Based RPGs: A bit more vague in comparison to the others, but I didn’t know how else to list it lol. Role-Playing Games where each player and opponent is given equal time to pause and plan out their attack. Many other subgenres, including tactical for example, include turn based mechanics.
Action Games
Yet another wordy one that has so many subgenres I’m probably forgetting 15.
Action games emphasize physical challenges that require hand-eye coordination and motor skills. It is a vast genre that covers all games that involve physical challenges.
Platform Games: Gameplay that primarily centers around jumping and climbing to navigate the player's environment.
Ex: Super Mario Bros.
Shooter Games: Players use ranged weapons to participate in the distanced action.
Ex: Doom
Fighting Games: Games that center around close-ranged combat, typically one-on-one fights.
Ex: Mortal Kombat
Stealth Games: Games that tend to emphasize sneaking around and avoiding enemy notice.
Ex: Metal Gear
Survival Games: Player is put in a hostile environment with minimal resources. You are required to try and survive as long as possible/until escape.
Ex: Minecraft
Yet another wordy one that has so many subgenres I’m probably forgetting 15.
Action games emphasize physical challenges that require hand-eye coordination and motor skills. It is a vast genre that covers all games that involve physical challenges.
Platform Games: Gameplay that primarily centers around jumping and climbing to navigate the player's environment.
Ex: Super Mario Bros.
Shooter Games: Players use ranged weapons to participate in the distanced action.
Ex: Doom
Fighting Games: Games that center around close-ranged combat, typically one-on-one fights.
Ex: Mortal Kombat
Stealth Games: Games that tend to emphasize sneaking around and avoiding enemy notice.
Ex: Metal Gear
Survival Games: Player is put in a hostile environment with minimal resources. You are required to try and survive as long as possible/until escape.
Ex: Minecraft
Western Arcade Culture
Now this is what even mom and dad will recognize. It’s what the average person thought of when the general idea of video games was brought up until more recently.
While the idea of video games was played around with in computer labs since the 1950s, the general population was first introduced to the world of gaming through experiences like this. Either lucky enough to live near a fully stocked arcade, or maybe the local bar had a cabinet in the corner. Either way, any quarters you had would quickly be put to use.
Games found under this subgenre are usually not the most complicated, though still offer enjoyably addicting platforming, shoot ‘em ups, fighting, or hell, maybe just something to get as many quarters as it can from you (Dragon’s Lair).
Now this is what even mom and dad will recognize. It’s what the average person thought of when the general idea of video games was brought up until more recently.
While the idea of video games was played around with in computer labs since the 1950s, the general population was first introduced to the world of gaming through experiences like this. Either lucky enough to live near a fully stocked arcade, or maybe the local bar had a cabinet in the corner. Either way, any quarters you had would quickly be put to use.
Games found under this subgenre are usually not the most complicated, though still offer enjoyably addicting platforming, shoot ‘em ups, fighting, or hell, maybe just something to get as many quarters as it can from you (Dragon’s Lair).
Japanese Arcade Culture
It’s difficult to limit this to 10 games, so it was very difficult to use two of those spots for the same genre, but I felt the difference of Western and Japanese arcades was important + distinct enough to allow it.
Bluntly put, Japanese arcades continue to thrive (though not as much as even five years ago gulp…) while arcades in America continue to get deader and deader. While American arcades often still focus on game mechanics popular from the 80s/90s, and maybe a couple immersive driving/shooting games, Japanese arcades found an entirely new love and direction towards the end of the 1990s.
Rhythm games.
Starting with Beat Mania, leading into Dance Dance Revolution and so on, so forth, did arcade rhythm games completely take over the market. But why did these games become so big in Japan, but not so much in the West? Well, to simply put it, these cabinets were very expensive to ship over seas and the already dying arcade scene made it difficult for it to be worth the cost.
Hey, maybe if you were lucky, your local bowling alley arcade had a DDR machine in the corner.
It’s difficult to limit this to 10 games, so it was very difficult to use two of those spots for the same genre, but I felt the difference of Western and Japanese arcades was important + distinct enough to allow it.
Bluntly put, Japanese arcades continue to thrive (though not as much as even five years ago gulp…) while arcades in America continue to get deader and deader. While American arcades often still focus on game mechanics popular from the 80s/90s, and maybe a couple immersive driving/shooting games, Japanese arcades found an entirely new love and direction towards the end of the 1990s.
Rhythm games.
Starting with Beat Mania, leading into Dance Dance Revolution and so on, so forth, did arcade rhythm games completely take over the market. But why did these games become so big in Japan, but not so much in the West? Well, to simply put it, these cabinets were very expensive to ship over seas and the already dying arcade scene made it difficult for it to be worth the cost.
Hey, maybe if you were lucky, your local bowling alley arcade had a DDR machine in the corner.
Visual Novel
Sometimes also referred to as a “Novel Game” or 「ノベルゲーム」。
Combines textual narrative with still or animated illustrations and a varying degree of interactivity. Is pretty much what it sounds like, a story that’s mostly reading with small amounts of gameplay, practically a book with small interactions from the player. Most prevalent in Japan, and most often made for PC.
Sometimes also referred to as a “Novel Game” or 「ノベルゲーム」。
Combines textual narrative with still or animated illustrations and a varying degree of interactivity. Is pretty much what it sounds like, a story that’s mostly reading with small amounts of gameplay, practically a book with small interactions from the player. Most prevalent in Japan, and most often made for PC.
Sports Games
You make a new friend at school that invites you to play video games, only to find out that all they have are games like NFL Madden 2005 and NBA 2K. Oh well, at least it’s still video games, right?
Sport video games simulate sports or arcade-style sports. The opposing team can be controlled by other real life people or computers. Often times these are based on real physical sports, either actually playing the game or strategizing the stuff behind the sport.
This includes racing and fighting sports (boxing, wrestling, etc).
You make a new friend at school that invites you to play video games, only to find out that all they have are games like NFL Madden 2005 and NBA 2K. Oh well, at least it’s still video games, right?
Sport video games simulate sports or arcade-style sports. The opposing team can be controlled by other real life people or computers. Often times these are based on real physical sports, either actually playing the game or strategizing the stuff behind the sport.
This includes racing and fighting sports (boxing, wrestling, etc).
Sandbox Games
A game usually without any predetermined goal, or possibly a goal that the player themselves set for themselves. Games like these work off a player’s own personal interpretation, with the enjoyment of the game coming from creative liberty.
Called “Sandbox” based off the open creativity kids are allowed to create in just that: a sand box.
A game usually without any predetermined goal, or possibly a goal that the player themselves set for themselves. Games like these work off a player’s own personal interpretation, with the enjoyment of the game coming from creative liberty.
Called “Sandbox” based off the open creativity kids are allowed to create in just that: a sand box.
Educational Games
Similar to any other form of media, video games have been used to help children in educational settings since the beginning. Not unlike books, music, or educational films/television programs, video games are able to encompass many different genres and messages, including teachable subjects such as math, history, or even what to do in social situations.
Unique to educational video games though are its additional interaction, immediate feedback, and more student control, all in which make them very popular with both teachers and students.
Similar to any other form of media, video games have been used to help children in educational settings since the beginning. Not unlike books, music, or educational films/television programs, video games are able to encompass many different genres and messages, including teachable subjects such as math, history, or even what to do in social situations.
Unique to educational video games though are its additional interaction, immediate feedback, and more student control, all in which make them very popular with both teachers and students.
Casual (Free) Gaming
What do Farmville, Candy Crush , and The Impossible quiz all have in common? They’re easy-access, easy to stumble upon, and most importantly, free to play.
Online Flash games/smart phone apps (though many switched to something else once Flash was retired a couple years back) are often not considered on the same par as console, PC, and arcade gaming, many times not even considered video games at all because of their easy accessibility and often simple gameplay. But a game you play through video is going to be a video game, no matter how annoying your aunt gets with the Farmville requests, and it’s impossible to ignore the influence that games like this had on gaming as a whole.
What do Farmville, Candy Crush , and The Impossible quiz all have in common? They’re easy-access, easy to stumble upon, and most importantly, free to play.
Online Flash games/smart phone apps (though many switched to something else once Flash was retired a couple years back) are often not considered on the same par as console, PC, and arcade gaming, many times not even considered video games at all because of their easy accessibility and often simple gameplay. But a game you play through video is going to be a video game, no matter how annoying your aunt gets with the Farmville requests, and it’s impossible to ignore the influence that games like this had on gaming as a whole.
Pornographic Games
As soon as the camera was invented, erotic photos didn’t come long after, quickly finding their use of capturing the more intimate. In less than a year of film/moving pictures being invented, it was almost immediately used to produce pornographic films.
So, as similar to other forms of visual art, once the medium of video games was able to graphically show what it intended and be enjoyed more privately, did it inevitably lean towards more explicit content.
Pornographic video games, existing from the near beginning, continue to be very popular. In the West, purely pornographic games are uncommon, where sexual acts are more so used as marketing tools or rewards. In Japan however, the eroge subgenre is very popular.
As soon as the camera was invented, erotic photos didn’t come long after, quickly finding their use of capturing the more intimate. In less than a year of film/moving pictures being invented, it was almost immediately used to produce pornographic films.
So, as similar to other forms of visual art, once the medium of video games was able to graphically show what it intended and be enjoyed more privately, did it inevitably lean towards more explicit content.
Pornographic video games, existing from the near beginning, continue to be very popular. In the West, purely pornographic games are uncommon, where sexual acts are more so used as marketing tools or rewards. In Japan however, the eroge subgenre is very popular.