The gaming market is growing exponentially, with a busy release schedule for 2024 and more people than ever seeking out new games to play. What’s more, there is a wide range of consoles and methods of gaming alongside streaming platforms like Twitch and Discord, which have built up a global community of gamers. But which genres are the most popular this year? There are some gaming genres that have stood the test of time, remaining popular from their inception, and there are others that are still in their early stages but are already being played by many.
Shooter
Defined as any kind of game that involves firearms, shooters have been popular for decades. Whether it is third-person or first-person, shooter games provide the thrill and exhilaration that so many people look for in a video game. Some examples of shooters include Quake, Doom, Halo, Call of Duty, and Counter-Strike. There are countless sub-genres of shooters, ranging from shooting gallery to arena shooters. Each of these will have their own unique gameplay and storylines, but what they have in common is the use of guns.
Casino Games
Of course, casinos have been popular worldwide for a long time, but in recent years, online casino games have become just as commonly played. A big reason for this is the convenience and accessibility of online casinos. Users can play all of their favorite games, from slot machines to table games, without leaving their homes. Because online gambling is still relatively new, it can be tricky to know which gaming providers are the best. Many sites will offer round-ups of the best gambling sites to make the process that bit easier.
Battle Royale
Battle Royale games are complex and exciting, and most importantly, multiplayer. They combine elements of various other genres, including action, survival, and shooter. The premise of a battle royale is to trap numerous players (anywhere from 10s to 100s) in an area with minimal weapons or resources and for these players to fight against one another to become the last one standing. There are many highly-regarded battle royale games, with some of the best in the business being Apex Legends, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Z1 Battle Royale.
Puzzle
Whilst not as fast-paced as a shooter or action game, puzzle games have been around in some form or another for hundreds of years, and for good reason. Games like Tetris and Sudoku are classics and will remain so in 2024, but there are also others like Baba Is You, Candy Crush Saga, and Portal 2, which are more modern but still hold many of the characteristics that players love in puzzles.
Sports
Any sport that you can think of exists in online form, trust us. Soccer, basketball, golf, cricket, tennis, baseball, even skating – you name it, it’s there. Playing all of these sports in real life is not an option for everybody, so the digital version is the next best thing. In 2024, it’s likely that we’ll see an even wider range of athletic activities represented in the gaming world.
Casual
Casual games will always be one of the most popular genres because they appeal to a mass market. There is no particular story or gameplay that they must follow, and they are generally easier for the average person to play, with simple instructions and fewer skills required. Perhaps the most iconic casual games out there are Minecraft, Animal Crossing, and Stardew Valley, but there are many others out there as well.
Strategy
Almost the opposite of casual games, strategy games revolve around the players’ decision-making and analytical thinking. Some believe that they are a subgenre of war games, but any video games that require a large amount of autonomous strategizing fit into the definition. This means that games like Crusader Kings III, Northgard, and Stellaris can all be classed as strategy games. The broad categorization of strategy means that even games like real money online casinos could fit into the genre!
Role-Play
Role-playing games can be single or multiplayer, and players take on the role of one or more fictional characters. This allows users to step into the world of the game, and makes the experience much more immersive, which is exactly what some are hoping to find through gaming. Some of the most well-known role-play games include Dungeons & Dragons, Fallout: New Vegas, and Wasteland 3, although there are many more titles than this out there.
Multiplayer
All different game genres can be multiplayer, but it is right to say that multiplayer games also exist in a genre of their own. For a title to be classed as multiplayer, more than one person must be able to play at the same time in the same environment. An example that became widely played in recent years and continues to be in 2024 is Among Us. In Among Us, a number of users work together as ‘crewmates’ to figure out which of them are ‘imposters’.
Adventure
Adventure games contain elements of multiple genres, notably action, platform, and puzzle. They make for a riveting and challenging experience and have been popular for decades. The first adventure game, Colossal Cave Adventure, was developed by Will Crowther in 1976. Since then, titles like The Walking Dead, Grand Theft Auto, Grim Fandango, and Life is Strange have all been released.
Conclusion
In summary, the most popular gaming genres of 2024 are those that have been around for a long time. Classic video game genres from the 20th century have evolved and been reimagined to suit a more modern audience, and our list doesn’t even cover the full range of them!
