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Genres (Video Games): fun facts and quiz
The essentials in 7 ideas, with fun facts, an illustrated story and a quiz to see how much you know.
The essentials
Platformers
Platformers are all about running and jumping between platforms. Series like Super Mario and Sonic made the genre famous.
Key fact
Mario was first called “Jumpman”, in Donkey Kong (1981).
Role-Playing Games
In role-playing games, you guide characters who grow stronger through quests. Final Fantasy, Pokémon and The Witcher are famous examples.
Key fact
RPGs grew from tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons, from 1974.
Strategy & Simulation
Strategy games reward planning, like building an empire in Civilization. Simulation games model real activities, from running a city in SimCity to farming.
Key fact
SimCity (1989) has no way to “win”.
Shooters
Shooters test aim and reflexes. First-person shooters show the action through the player’s own eyes; Doom (1993) made the style hugely popular.
Key fact
Doom spread widely as free shareware.
Open Worlds
Open-world games let players roam huge maps freely. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Grand Theft Auto are famous examples.
Key fact
The first Legend of Zelda (1986) already let players explore freely.
Indie Games
Indie games are made by small teams or even single developers. Hits like Minecraft, Stardew Valley and Hollow Knight started out this way.
Key fact
Stardew Valley was made almost entirely by one person, Eric Barone.
Puzzle & Cosy Games
Puzzle games like Tetris and Portal challenge your brain, while “cosy” games like Animal Crossing focus on relaxing routines.
Key fact
Animal Crossing: New Horizons has sold over 40 million copies.
Fun facts
Mario got his moustache because, in so few pixels, it was easier to draw than a mouth.
“Hit points” and “experience points” spread from Dungeons & Dragons into video games.
Farming Simulator is popular enough to have its own esports league.
Doom has been made to run on calculators, fridges and even the tiny screen of a pregnancy test.
Breath of the Wild was first tried out as a flat 2D game, in the style of the original Zelda.
Hollow Knight was made by a team of about three people in Australia.
Games can count as exercise too: Wii Fit and Ring Fit Adventure turned workouts into play.
Story: Mario the Landlord
Mario the Landlord
1981. Nintendo’s small American team is stuck with thousands of unsold arcade machines, in a warehouse near Seattle.
A new game, Donkey Kong, saves them. Its hero is called Jumpman. Then, so the story goes, the landlord, Mario Segale, bursts in demanding late rent.
The team renamed the hero after him. Mario became the most famous character in video games.
True or false?
Tap your answer to see if you got it, and why.
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Question 1 of 10
Mario was originally called Jumpman.
Show the answer
True. In Donkey Kong, in 1981.
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Question 2 of 10
Pokémon is a role-playing game series.
Show the answer
True. Your team grows stronger as you play.
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Question 3 of 10
Civilization is a strategy game.
Show the answer
True. You guide a civilisation through history.
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Question 4 of 10
First-person shooters show the view through the player’s eyes.
Show the answer
True. Hence “first person”.
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Question 5 of 10
Open-world games let players explore freely.
Show the answer
True. Go almost anywhere, in any order.
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Question 6 of 10
Stardew Valley was made mostly by one developer.
Show the answer
True. Over about four years.
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Question 7 of 10
Animal Crossing is known as a relaxing game.
Show the answer
True. Fishing, decorating and chatting with neighbours.
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Question 8 of 10
Platformers are mainly about building cities.
Show the answer
False. They’re about running and jumping.
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Question 9 of 10
RPGs never let characters grow stronger.
Show the answer
False. Levelling up is at their heart.
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Question 10 of 10
SimCity is a racing game.
Show the answer
False. It’s a city-building simulation.
Keep going in the app
KnowSoda learns what you know and brings back what you’re about to forget. Genres has 6 more ideas at the Advanced and Expert levels.
Sources
- The Strong National Museum of Play — Video game genres and history
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — role-playing game, Dungeons & Dragons, SimCity, Doom
- Nintendo — Sales data for Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- ConcernedApe — Stardew Valley
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — electronic games genres
- Guinness World Records — best-selling racing video game
