We’re reached the point where new game genres are not popping up as frequently as they did in the past. Owing to the amount of cash needed to develop games nowadays, the vast majority of companies are not thinking outside of the box quite as much as they did before.
Newer games are more of a refinement of past genres, rather than entirely new genres. For example, roguelike games have become roguelite games (more on that transition a bit later on). This means that producing a page dedicated to completely new genres is hard, if not impossible.
What we can do, however, is discuss some of the gaming genres that appeared over the last decade or so. You may be familiar with some of these genres, others may be completely new to you. All are driving innovation in the gaming industry.
1. Battle Royale
Prime examples are PUBG and Fortnite. For years, these games have dominated the gaming scene. However, just over a decade ago, the idea of a battle royale didn’t really exist (although, yes, we know some people were tinkering with the idea, but the idea wasn’t fully-fledged and certainly didn’t appear in a standalone game).
We are sure that most of you have played a battle royale before. It is a genre that is popular right now, and all the top games are free to play, so the barrier to entry is low. However, if you’ve yet to dabble in a good old battle royale, now is your time.
Don’t dismiss them as games for children, as some do. Battle royales are intense. You and up to 99 other people compete to be the last one standing on an ever-shrinking map. If you can make it to the end, you’ll have real “on the edge of your seat” action.
Not into shooting at people? Games like Forza Horizon 4 and 5 introduced car battle royales, and we are sure a few Minecraft maps exist too. It was, mostly, Minecraft and its Hunger Games-focused maps that popularized this genre.
2. Roguelite
This is different from roguelike, sort of.
Quite a while ago, a game called Rogue was released. In Rogue, you had one attempt to get to the end of the game. If you failed, you were kicked back to the start. You then had to give the whole game another go. It was hard. Very hard. We doubt there are that many people who completed Rogue. Still, the genre created by Rogue was popular, and this resulted in a genre called roguelike. This has further evolved into roguelite.
Roguelite is similar to roguelike in that you only get one chance to reach the end of the game. However, where roguelite differs is that you often get special powers that you can build up between each run of the game, currencies to collect etc, which should make your next run a whole lot easier. You are expected to fail a lot to build up your toolkit to succeed the next time. Hades is probably one of the better roguelite games right now.
3. Deckbuilding Games
When we talk about deckbuilding games, we’re not talking about games like Magic: The Gathering where you build a deck pre-game. Instead, we are talking about games where you slowly build up the deck you use as you play the game. This is a genre that has existed for a while (Kingdom Hearts gave it a go with one of their sequels). However, video games are starting to create deckbuilding games that have roguelike elements to them – for example, Balatro, Slay the Spire etc.
This type of game isn’t for everybody, since the action isn’t as intense as some of the other games we’ve mentioned on this list. However, if you love games that require a bit more in the way of intelligence and thinking, plus constant trial and error to find something that works, then modern deckbuilding games may be for you.
4. Looter Shooters
Diablo is one of the most popular games in history, as much as people like to deny it. Diablo created an entire genre. You collect new gear, game codes, boost your numbers and collect more gear. This spawned a lot of games, however, most of those remained limited to ARPGs (the same genre as Diablo). Then a game called Hellgate: London came along, followed by Borderlands, and the looter shooter was born.
The looter shooter is all about shooting your way to bigger numbers. Better guns, better equipment, more explosions. If you’re bored with the typical FPS game, this is the next-best alternative. Stick with Borderlands 1-3, though. We don’t think there are better looter shooters.
5. Gacha
Many people steer clear of gacha games, since they do come close to gambling. However, there is no denying that gacha games make a lot of money, which means people enjoy them. Games like Genshin Impact are turning over millions of dollars per month.
Gacha games vary in how they work. Most of them are RPGs with decent stories. They then have a “slot machine” system where you can unlock new characters (often with their powers) to play about with. Most Gacha games are terrible.
If you’re looking for something decent to play, then anything from Hoyoverse (eg Genshin Impact) is a good place to start, since their games are “games first” and “gacha second”. Plus, you can play these games and experience the gacha mechanics without spending anything.
6. Asymmetric multiplayer
Asymmetric multiplayer may be one of the newer genres on this list and is one that doesn’t have a huge number of game options available. Most asymmetric multiplayer games have failed. However, one has managed to stand the test of time – Dead by Daylight.
In an asymmetric multiplayer game, you have two teams. One team is larger than the other. For example, in Dead by Daylight, it is four versus one. Four people play survivors, one person plays the killer. The smaller team often has powers that they can use to hunt down the larger team.
Their job is to prevent the larger team from accomplishing their goals (in Dead by Daylight, this is switching on the power and escaping the area). The larger team needs to work together or they’ll lose.
This game genre is a huge amount of fun if you can get a decent team together and can communicate well.
7. Gambling-related Games
One area where companies have really pushed the boundaries of innovation is in the gambling industry, particularly in the world of online gambling and sweepstakes casinos, as seen on platforms like WSN. In the past, most gambling took place offline, but with the rise of online gaming, the landscape has drastically changed. Developers are now creating games across a wide range of genres, offering a rich variety of experiences for players.
From traditional slot machines and table games to instant win games and even live dealer experiences, the options are virtually endless. Some games stick to classic designs that mimic the offline gambling world, while others introduce entirely new concepts and features you won’t find in traditional casinos.
For those looking to explore new gaming experiences in the gambling world, sweepstakes casinos like those featured on WSN offer innovative ways to play and win. WSN’s in-depth reviews of sweepstakes platforms provide a comprehensive look at the latest games, helping you navigate the newest gambling trends and uncover fresh opportunities to try something different.
If you’re into gambling and looking for something new to try, it might be worth diving into some of these innovative genres and seeing what catches your eye.
Final Thoughts
Yes, most of these genres have existed for a while. Many of you will have tried your hand with some already. However, all these genres have gone through major refinements over the last decade or so that have completely shaken up the way they play. Check out a few of the games we’ve mentioned here – you won’t regret it.
