= UGAS Video Game Genre Taxonomy Mickael Bonfill :revnumber: 1.0.0-draft.7 :ugas-version: v1.0.0-draft.7 :doctype: book :toc: left :toc-title: Table of Contents :toclevels: 4 :stem: latexmath :source-highlighter: highlight.js :icons: font :sectanchors: :sectlinks: :docinfo: shared [[overview]] == Overview This document is a *reference taxonomy* of video game genres and subgenres. It exists to **scope and categorize** the genre-pack work tracked in https://github.com/jbltx/ugas/issues/28[issue #28], and to position the ten prioritized genres within the broader space of games. [IMPORTANT] ==== This taxonomy is *non-normative*. Unlike a genre `spec.adoc`, it neither extends nor constrains the link:../SPEC.adoc[core UGAS specification]. It is a map, not a contract: it informs which genre packs we build and how they relate, but it defines no Attributes, Tags, Abilities, or Effects. For the genre-pack conventions and authoring rules, see the link:README.md[genre packs guide]. ==== [[classification]] == How genres are classified Genres here are organized primarily by **gameplay mechanics** — what the player *does* — rather than by setting, theme, art style, or narrative. A medieval-fantasy game and a sci-fi game can share the same genre if they share the same core loop. Two consequences worth keeping in mind: * *Genres overlap.* Real games routinely blend families (e.g. an action-RPG, a survival-crafting shooter). A title can legitimately sit under more than one family. * *Some labels are modifiers, not families.* Properties like _open-world_, _massively multiplayer_, _roguelike_, and _horror_ compose *across* families rather than being families of their own. They are listed separately under <>. [[families]] == Genre families [[family-action]] === Action Reflex- and timing-driven gameplay; the core challenge is execution in real time. * Platformer (2D, 3D, puzzle-platformer) * Shooter (emphasized as its own UGAS pack — see <>) ** First-person shooter (FPS) ** Third-person shooter (TPS) ** Hero shooter ** Light-gun shooter ** Shoot 'em up (shmup) ** Battle royale * Fighting / Combat (see <>) * Beat 'em up * Hack-and-slash * Stealth * Rhythm / music * Survival-action [[family-action-adventure]] === Action-Adventure Combines action mechanics with exploration, puzzle-solving, and progression. * Survival horror * Metroidvania * Open-world action-adventure [[family-combat]] === Combat Direct, skill-based confrontation between characters — the dueling/fighting core that the *Combat* pack targets. Closely related to the fighting and beat-'em-up subgenres under <>, but treated as its own pack because its mechanics (movesets, blocking, combos, hit trades) differ markedly from projectile-centric shooters. * Fighting (1v1, arena) * Beat 'em up / brawler * Hack-and-slash * Sports-based fighting [[family-adventure]] === Adventure Narrative, exploration, and puzzle-solving with little or no reflex-based action. * Text adventure / interactive fiction * Graphic / point-and-click adventure * Visual novel * Interactive movie * Walking simulator / real-time 3D adventure [[family-rpg]] === Role-Playing (RPG) Character progression, stats, inventory, and player-driven builds at the core. * Action RPG (ARPG) * Computer / Western RPG (CRPG) * Japanese RPG (JRPG) * Massively multiplayer online RPG (MMORPG) * Roguelike / Roguelite * Tactical RPG (TRPG / SRPG) * Sandbox / open-world RPG * First-person party-based RPG * Monster-taming [[family-simulation]] === Simulation Models a system or activity with relative fidelity; the goal is to manage or operate it. * Construction & management (city builder, tycoon, god game) * Life simulation * Vehicle / flight / space simulation * Farming simulation [[family-strategy]] === Strategy Planning, resource management, and tactical or operational decision-making. * 4X (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate) * Real-time strategy (RTS) * Real-time tactics (RTT) * Turn-based strategy (TBS) * Turn-based tactics (TBT) * Wargame / grand strategy * Tower defense * Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) * Auto battler * Artillery [[family-sports]] === Sports Simulates or abstracts real or fictional sports. * Traditional sports simulation * Arcade sports * Sports management * Sports-based fighting [[family-racing]] === Racing Vehicle competition against time or opponents. * Simulation (sim) racing * Arcade racing * Kart racing * Combat racing [[family-puzzle]] === Puzzle Logic, pattern, and problem-solving challenges. * Tile-matching * Physics * Hidden object * Programming * Puzzle-platformer * Logic / traditional puzzle * Word / trivia [[family-survival-crafting]] === Survival & Crafting Resource gathering, crafting, and base-building under persistent threat or scarcity. (Overlaps heavily with <> and <>.) * Survival * Crafting / base-building * Sandbox survival [[family-casual-party]] === Casual & Party Low-barrier, short-session, or multiplayer-social play. * Casual * Hypercasual * Idle / incremental (clicker) * Party [[family-other]] === Other notable genres * Horror (as a standalone, beyond survival horror) * Board / card / casino * Gacha * Digital collectible card game (CCG) * Educational / serious / exergame [[modifiers]] == Cross-cutting modifiers These labels describe *how* a game is played or framed and combine with the families above rather than replacing them. * *Sandbox / open-world* — non-linear, player-directed exploration of a large space. * *Massively multiplayer online (MMO)* — large shared persistent worlds. * *Roguelike elements* — procedural generation and permadeath layered onto another genre. * *Horror* — a thematic framing that can modify action, adventure, or survival games. [[prioritization]] == UGAS pack prioritization For the initial genre packs, https://github.com/jbltx/ugas/issues/28[issue #28] prioritizes the ten genres below. Selection blends **player reach** (casual ~63%, action & shooter ~39%, racing ~37%) with **revenue / market share** (Newzoo, Statista, GAMIVO, 2025–2026). The core spec already ships four case studies — platformer, racing, ARPG, and puzzle — which seed the first packs. [cols="1,3,4", options="header"] |=== | # | Genre | Maps to / rationale | 1 | Action / Action-Adventure | <>, <> — the broadest reach and the engine for most real-time gameplay. | 2 | Shooter (FPS / TPS) | <> (shooter subgenres) — top PC/console revenue category. | 3 | Role-Playing (RPG) | <> — deep progression systems; seeded by the ARPG case study. | 4 | Survival / Crafting | <> — high-engagement, fast-growing category. | 5 | Casual | <> — largest player base by reach (~63%). | 6 | Racing | <> — broad reach (~37%); seeded by the racing case study. | 7 | Combat | <> — fighting/dueling mechanics distinct from shooters. | 8 | Strategy (RTS / 4X / Tower Defense) | <> — planning- and resource-driven play. | 9 | Sports | <> — consistently strong commercial performers. | 10 | Puzzle | <> — wide casual reach; seeded by the puzzle case study. |=== [NOTE] ==== *Combat* replaced *Simulation* in the top ten relative to an earlier draft, reflecting the combined player-reach and revenue ranking. Simulation remains a first-class family (see <>) and a candidate for a later pack. ====