The gaming landscape has seen immense growth over the past decade, with various new genres, platforms, and technologies emerging. Today’s gamers have access to more options than ever before, making it hard for newcomers to understand what’s available. To help you understand it all, we’ve created this guide to the different types of games and platforms on the market today. From console games to mobile gaming hacks, here’s your guide to the ever-growing gaming world.
1. Console games
Console games are one of the oldest and most popular forms of video gameplay. It’s been around since 1972 when Atari released the first home video game console. Over time, consoles have evolved in terms of technology, graphics, and gameplay. The two main players are Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox, while Nintendo is known for its family-friendly approach to gaming with its Wii U and Switch consoles.
2. Online games
Online games have become incredibly popular in recent years as internet speeds have improved, allowing players from all over the world to play together in real-time game rooms called ‘servers’ or ‘matchmaking lobbies’. These servers can host anywhere from two to thousands of people, depending on how powerful they are. Popular online genres include battle royales shooter games such as Fortnite & PUBG, massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) such as World Of Warcraft & Final Fantasy XIV, and real-time strategy games (RTS) such as Starcraft II & Age Of Empires III.
3. Mobile Games
Mobile gaming has exploded in popularity in recent years as smartphones have become more widely available across all demographics, including children at younger ages than ever before. This form of gaming is mostly dominated by free-to-play casual titles that offer short bursts of entertainment such as Candy Crush Saga & Clash Royale, but there are also some more core experiences coming to mobile today such as Shadowgun Legends. Mobile gamers often rely on microtransactions for revenue, which means that many apps come with in-app advertising – although this isn’t always a bad thing if done tastefully!
4. PC/Steam games
PC/Steam gaming is another form that has been around for almost as long as console gaming, yet it remains one of the most popular ways for people to play computer games today, thanks in large part to Valve’s Steam platform, which allows users to purchase titles directly from developers without the need for additional hardware such as an expensive console setup, specialized controllers, etc. Steam offers a huge selection of games ranging from indie titles like Hollow Knight & Rocket League to AAA blockbusters like Grand Theft Auto V & Call Of Duty Modern Warfare Remastered. It also gives users access to community features such as friend lists, chat rooms, and forums so they can stay connected even when they are not playing their favorite title!
5. VR/AR experiences
VR stands for Virtual Reality, while AR stands for Augmented Reality – both are relatively new forms of interactive media technology that allow users to experience fantastic, immersive worlds like never before! There are already several headsets available on the market today, such as the Oculus Rift S, HTC Vive Pro Eye, and Samsung Gear VR; each offering its own unique set of features to suit different types of gamers, including those who prefer seated/room-scale experiences or standalone portability… Many experts believe that these technologies could revolutionize not only how we consume entertainment, but also how we interact in our everyday lives!
6. Cloud gaming services
Cloud streaming services offer gamers another way to get into their favorite titles without the need for additional hardware beyond a controller/headset combo (if applicable). Companies such as Google Stadia, GeForce Now (from Nvidia) & Amazon Luna promise ultra-low latency connections between the player’s device and the cloud server that hosts the game itself, meaning gamers no longer need to buy physical copies or download digital versions to start playing immediately on launch day – instead they pay a monthly subscription fee, after which they can jump straight into whatever title catches their fancy!
7. Esports events
Esports events have grown massively over the past few years to become one of the biggest spectator sports in the world, with huge tournaments taking place in venues around the world, pitting professional teams against each other for cash prizes and glory in front of millions of fans watching live streams via Twitch YouTube channels every day. Commonly featured esports titles include FPS shooters Rainbow Six Siege, CS GO, DOTA II, League Legends, and others; however, a growing trend is seeing fighting games Super Smash Bros. Melee, Tekken Ultimate, Marvel Vs. Capcom III enter the competitive scene recently!
8. Indie titles
Indie titles refer to smaller-budget handcrafted video games often made by individual developer teams rather than large established corporate publishers typically associated with mainstream releases; many of these projects gain great attention and success despite limited resources and budgets behind them, including hit sensation Stardew Valley Rust Rimworld… Although sometimes overlooked due to a lack of marketing power from larger studios, indies provide a unique vibrancy of expression and creativity that the industry desperately needs – plus they’re usually a cheaper alternative for the budget-conscious gamer.
Conclusion
As you can see from this guide, there are plenty of options available to modern gamers, whether they’re into action-packed FPS shooters, MMORPGs, couch co-op classics, indie darlings, virtual reality adventures, or more. With competition between companies pushing the boundaries further each year, customers are sure to find something to suit their tastes, no matter what type of audience member they might be!