The video games industry has been continuously developing for decades, with millions of games launched over the years. These games are quite popular today and fuel our social interactions, flood our newsfeeds, and give us lots of fun for hours. However, most amateur gamers today do not know that some video games dated back over half a century ago. In this article, we will explore the oldest genres of video games.
Sports Video Games
Sports games allow players to compete against or with other computer-controlled or real-life players. One of the first sports video games in the world was Tennis for Two, released in 1958 on a low-tech device. Even though the gameplay and engine of these old sports games were simple and low-tech, they set a solid foundation for the evolution of the video game industry.
Today, we have a variety of sports game subgenres that emphasize a specific sport or activity. Some sports video games may be considered simulation games due to the activities and realism involved. Examples of popular sports video games include:
- Madden NFL
- FIFA 20
- NBA Jam
- Tony Hawk’s
- Wii Sports
Casino Video Games
In the realm of casino gaming, Poker is one of the first games that successfully transitioned from land-based casinos to the online video gaming world. Traditional Poker is believed to have been developed in the 19th century but became a real hit in online casinos in the late 90s.
Today, many variants of online poker are available to be played on many platforms. You can find the best sites to play and win real money online casino poker here. This site has the finest poker sites for U.S. players as well as tips on the best way to play online poker, the bonuses available, the latest news, and everything you need to know about real money online poker. It is the perfect guide to your thrilling real-money online poker experience.
Action Video Games
Action games are some of the oldest games that mainly focus on physical challenges that need quick reflexes and hand-eye coordination. Spacewar was one of the earliest video games in the game industry, released in 1962. This gaming genre was quite popular and super famous in the programming community in the 1960s and inspired the commercial arcade video games that emerged later. Some of the games in this genre include the following:
- God of War
- Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
- Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
- The Phantom Pain
- Devil May Cry 5
Role Playing Video Games
Role-playing or RPGs are immersive games with extensive world-building and lore to offer a detailed game world where the gamer controls the party or protagonist. Role-playing games are some of the most fun and significant games ever made, with their roots being as old as the imagination itself. One of the oldest role-playing games was the famous Dungeons and Dragons, released in 1974 and was developed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
With role-playing video games, your imagination is the limit because the player can do everything, including creating a character that suits their phobias, needs, wants, and many more. Role-playing is perfect for gamers who love a good storyline and freedom of choice or want a video game that will ignite their imagination.
Puzzle Video Games
Puzzle games incorporate shapes or wordplay and can be logic-based, where the player must incorporate quick matching skills or deductive reasoning. Puzzle video games rely on trial and error, where gamers must first experiment with all available objects to discover how they fit in the game.
Furthermore, most puzzle games offer an excellent way of engaging your problem-solving skills and logic. One of the oldest and most famous puzzle games is Tetris which was released in 1984. Some of the other popular puzzle video games available today include:
- Portal
- Braid
- Bejeweled
- Candy Crush Saga
In Conclusion
The video game landscape is continuously growing and evolving, with many game genres and subgenres. Game developers work on tight schedules, follow consumer trends whenever the opportunity arises, and mix and blend different games in new and unanticipated ways. The proliferation of new styles and games means that the list of video game genres is always growing since developers are constantly pushing the gameplay boundaries.