PCGamingWiki:Taxonomy

Category structure

Article page in main namespace giving the definition of the genre.

Category page contains a brief definition, with a link to the main article.

Taxonomy

Genres
MobyGames Category	PCGW Category	Definition to be modified	Notes	Examples
Action	Action	Action games main mechanics revolve around one or more of the following: Accuracy Movement Quick Decisions Reflexes Timing This genre is only to be used for games that don't fit in the other action-based basic genres such as Racing/Driving, Role-Playing (RPG) and Sports.		Doom
Adventure	Adventure	Adventure games emphasize experiencing a story through dialogue and puzzle solving. Gameplay mechanics emphasize decision over action. Puzzle solving usually revolves around combining or manipulating items to advance the story. Some sub-genres like visual novels often skip on the puzzle solving and focus fully on interactive narrative. The name Adventure stems from the game Adventure (a.k.a. Colossal Cave), and not to the unrelated film/book genre Adventure.	Notes	The Secret of Monkey Island
Educational	Educational	Educational games try to teach the player through playing. Usually intended for younger children, educational games offer a fun, indirect way to practice "non-fun" subjects like spelling, math, history, etc. Educational games are often called “Edutainment”.	Notes	Jack and Sara: Educational Game
Puzzle	Puzzle	Puzzle games focus purely on solving puzzles usually without much narrative. Puzzles exist in many varieties: strategic, tactical, logical, trivia, word puzzles etc.	Notes	Lyne
Racing / driving	Driving	Racing/Driving games allow the player to race, or drive vehicles in a leisurely manner. Racing can be done in vehicles, on mounts, on foot or in completely abstract graphics. Games with this genre needs to have racing/driving for the majority of the game, not just as a short sequence.	Notes	Lyne
Role-Playing (RPG)	Role-playing game (RPG)	Role-Playing games (RPGs) belong to a wide a varied game genre that focuses on character development. Additional aspects that are often found in RPGs are: Amassing wealth Narrative Tactical combat Character development in RPGs does not necessarily happen as in traditional stories, but means the main character(s) in the game learns new abilities or improves the capabilities of old ones. Character development also includes collecting armament and/or utilities of gradually increasing power.	Notes	Baldur's Gate
Simulation	Simulation	Simulation games can be one of many different types of simulations. What all simulations have in common is that they are more realistically modeled to real life situations and/or variables than most games	Notes	Euro Truck Simulator
Sports	Sports	Sports games are games in which players control either players or managers of a real or fictional sports.	Notes	FIFA 19
Strategy / tactics	Strategy	Strategy/Tactics games revolve around strategic and/or tactical usage of resources often in combat or managerial scenarios.	Notes	XCOM 2

Perspectives
MobyGames Category	PCGW Category	Definition to be modified	Notes	Examples
1st-person	First-person	From the point of view of the first-person.	Notes	Doom
3rd-person (Other)	Third-person	From the point of view of the third-person.	Notes	Gears of War
Bird's-eye view	Bird's-eye view	These games make use of a camera that floats behind a character. The player looks over the shoulder or from behind the back of the main character. The main character does not have to be a human, but can be anything ranging from a racing car to an undefined blob.	Notes
Side view	Side view	These games use a traditional “platforming” viewpoint where the action is seen from the side. This perspective can be used for 2D as well as 3D games, both scrolling and static.	Notes	Katana Zero
Top-down	Top-down view	These games use a top-down view, also called an overhead view or a helicopter view. A top-down view is strict and cannot have any angle at all.	Is this any different to Bird's-eye view?	Ultima VII
Text-based / spreadsheet	Text-based	These games have no graphical viewpoint as they are composed entirely of text or spreadsheets.	Notes	Euro Truck Simulator
Audio game	Audio-based	Audio games have no graphical viewpoint and feature only audio. Audio games can have visuals, but can be played on audio cues alone.		Terraformers

Visual presentation
MobyGames Category	PCGW Category	Definition to be modified	Notes
2D scrolling	2D scrolling	These games' worlds scroll (in any two dimensional direction) either forcedly, or because the camera follows a certain character or cursor (tracking camera).	Notes
Cinematic camera	Cinematic camera	Different, fixed camera positions are set during the game’s creation for a maximum cinematic effect. These positions cannot be controlled by the player.	Notes
Fixed / flip-screen	Fixed / flip-screen	These games use a single, fixed screen to show a specific level or scene. A level can also be larger than a single fixed screen, in this case when the player reaches the end of the screen the whole screen is "flipped" (replaced by a new fixed screen).
Free-roaming camera	Free-roaming camera	The camera is under the player's control and does not follow a specific target. The player is able to freely slide/scroll/rotate through the environment. While zooming is also a part of it, zooming is not sufficient by itself.
Isometric	Isometric	These games use an isometric, trimetric or dimetric two dimensional perspective to create a pseudo 3D effect. Although often used to represent a certain viewpoint incorporating a bird’s-eye view by default, the focus is entirely on using 2D to create a 3D effect. A game that uses 3D, for characters or backgrounds, is not isometric by default.	Notes

Art style
MobyGames Category	PCGW Category	Definition to be modified
Anime / manga	Anime	These games use a traditionally "Japanese" style of Japanese animation ("Japanimation" or "Anime"), Japanese comics ("Manga"), or the adult oriented “Hentai”.
Augmented reality	Augmented reality	Augmented reality (AR) is an art style introducing live direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are "augmented" by computer-generated perceptual information.
Full Motion Video (FMV)	Full motion video (FMV)	Games in which most of the game is presented as full motion video (FMV) or other forms of animations as well as live action. Many of these games are interactive movies where the player can from time to time choose a path to take with minimal or timed input. It also covers games where most of the game content is shown through full motion video. This art style refers to the gameplay content, not the cut-scenes.
Live action	Live action	Games where a large part of the interactive gameplay makes use of live action scenes. This is an art style for videography that uses real actors in footage shot with cameras. It can be complemented with CGI, but the actors themselves are not animated. This art style is not related to the use of motion capture to animate characters. Digitised characters also do not apply. The live action scenes need to be part of the interactive gameplay. Games that use live action scenes exclusively for static cut-scenes use the game group Live action cut-scenes instead. A large amount of games with Live action as an art style for the interactive gameplay carry the art style Full Motion Video in addition. It is also used for Chromakey recordings with actors against a video backdrop or an animated background, as long as the actors are part of interactive gameplay sequences.
Video backdrop	Video backdrop	Games where the interactive gameplay largely or entirely takes place against a backdrop with recorded footage. The footage can be edited or enhanced, but it needs to have been recorded with cameras. These games then have other elements in the foreground, either animated characters, vehicles or other elements, or live action actors brought into the game using chromakey. This genre is not to be used for titles where in interactive parts both the actors and the environment are filmed together. It also does not apply to games where the video backdrop is only used for cut-scenes and not the gameplay itself.

Pacing
MobyGames Category	PCGW Category	Definition to be modified
Meditative / zen	Relaxed	Meditative or Zen games try to calm or relax players. These types of games often have no goals and players can't do anything wrong inside the game.
Persistent	Persistent	Persistent games’ mechanics continue even when the player is not playing the game. Either the game state is simulated on a remote server or the changes over time are calculated when the player returns to playing.
Real-time	Real-time	Real-Time games present the game continuously, as opposed to in turns like a game of Chess. This descriptor is not to be used on action games, which are inherently real-time. In some cases the player can still pause the game at any given time.
Turn-based	Turn-based	Turn-Based games are divided in turns. Players can usually only interact with the game during their turn.

Gameplay
MobyGames Category	PCGW Category	Definition to be modified	Examples
4X	4X	By definition, 4X is the abbreviation of eXploration, eXpansion, eXploitation, and eXtermination, a term originally coined by Alan Emrich. In terms of use and practice, 4X is some what more complex and may have expanded from its original definition. Traditionally 4X was first popularly used to identify strategy games such as Sid Meier's Civilization and Master of Orion, although 4X games by its characteristics may have existed far earlier than the aforementioned games.
Action RPG	Action RPG	Action RPGs are Role Playing games with more focus on real-time action elements (such as combat and exploration) than most Role Playing games.
Arcade	Arcade	Arcade refers not to games that originated as arcade machines, but to action games with very simple gameplay interaction similar to coin-op arcade games. These games usually require little puzzle solving or tactical thinking and rely solely on the “twitch” gameplay. Related sub-genres include Maze games and Paddle/Pong games.
Artillery	Artillery	Artillery games are (usually turn-based) tactical games in which the players try to damage each other by shooting artillery shells or other weaponry influenced by gravity over large distances. Usually players give an angle at which to fire and a velocity. External factors such as terrain obstructions and wind force have to be taken into consideration	Worms, Hogs of War
Beat 'em up / brawler	Brawler	Beat 'em ups - also known as Brawlers - focus on melee combat with a large number of antagonists. Usually players can perform a wide variety of combat moves and combos to hurt the opponents. These games are usually divided into levels similar to platform games or action games. Beat ‘em ups are not to be confused with Versus Fighting games which offer balanced arena fights between equally balanced teams or single characters.
Board game	Board game	Board games are usually strategy/tactics games with a strong focus on multi-player. Often they are direct translations of physical Board games. Related sub-genres are Cards, Chess and Game Show.
Cards / tiles	Cards / tiles	Card games are usually digital translation of traditional card games such as Poker, Solitaire or Bridge, but can also include new games that use the format of a card game or a card game as a mini-game. A related sub-genre is Trading/Collectible Card, which focuses purely on Trading Card games.
Casino / gambling	Casino / gambling	Simulation of a casino game (slots, poker, blackjack, roulette, etc.) or any other form of gambling or betting such as dog races.
Chess	Chess	Chess refers to any game featuring chess or its variations. Combine with Puzzle Elements if it refers to or features chess problems/puzzles.
City building / construction simulation	City building / construction simulation	City Building or Construction Simulation games are games that allow players to build and expand a city, or other construction project (such as a commercial building, theme park or zoo).
Dating simulation	Dating simulation	Dating Simulation games are games in which the player must try to date various AI characters with the goal of developing a romantic relationship. Gameplay consists mostly of conversing with characters and trying to give the right answers to increase that characters disposition towards you.
Falling block puzzle	Falling block puzzle	Falling Block Puzzle games are usually action based puzzle games in which objects enter the screen at the top and have to be arranged by the player to form pairs, lines, or other shapes or combinations of colors and/or shapes.
Fighting	Fighting	Fighting games allow players to engage in melee arena combat. Usually one-on-one, but team fighting games also exist. Fights continue until one of the characters or teams is knocked out. Additional endings may include being forced out of the arena/ring or a time limit. Fighting games should not be confused with Beat ‘em Ups / Brawlers which feature more overwhelming odds in the form of many less powerful antagonists.
Game show / trivia / quiz	Game show / trivia / quiz	Game Show / Trivia / Quiz games test the player on his knowledge on certain subjects or his ability to discover hidden words or pictures. Usually the player is rewarded with points or virtual currency.
Graphic adventure	Graphic adventure	Graphical Adventure is a broad genre encompassing all traditional Adventure games with graphics and animations. This excludes Interactive Fiction, Interactive Movies and Visual Novels.
Hack and slash	Hack and slash	Games with hack and slash gameplay focus on combat with hand-to-hand weapons as opposed to guns, even though the presence of guns as additional weapons does not exclude the use of the genre. It is predominately used in action role-playing games and action games with RPG elements.	Castle Crashers
Hidden object	Hidden object	Games where the player must find objects hidden in a picture.
Hunting	Hunting	These games simulate hunting of wildlife or game as the primary gameplay.
Interactive book	Interactive book	The entire game is represented as a linear (picture) book where the story is read or narrated. Elements allow the player to interact with parts of the book for a short sequence or a reaction. This does not influence the story and interactions do not represent a choice that alters the course of events. These titles are often educational and aimed at children, but an educational angle is not mandatory.
Interactive fiction / text adventure	Interactive fiction / text adventure	Interactive Fiction games (also known as Text Adventures) are Adventure games in which the player navigates through the game which is presented mostly in textual form. Usually the player interacts with the world by typing simple sentences of what he intends to which are interpreted by the game. Interactive Fiction can have a small amount of graphics to illustrate an area, the player must in this case still interact using textual input. Illustrations should not be required to finish the game.
Japanese-style adventure	Japanese-style adventure	Japanese-style RPGs (or JRPGs) usually feature a more linear story line compared to traditional RPGs and focus on character development of a group of fixed characters. Most commonly they feature turn based combat with or without limited character placement. The player selects performed actions from a pop-up action menu.
Japanese-style RPG (JRPG)	Japanese-style RPG (JRPG)	Japanese-style Adventure games, like Western adventures, focus on experiencing a narrative through the eyes of usually a single protagonist. This is achieved by interacting with the environment and receiving textual feedback from the game. In contrast to Western adventures, Japanese-style adventures have no Puzzle Elements, rarely feature an inventory, and are usually viewed from first-person perspective, without physical movement.
Life / social simulation	Life / social simulation	Life and Social Simulation games allow the player to control the life of humans, animals or other things that are alive or resemble living things. These types of simulation games can simulate an eco system or the (social) relation between the different life forms.
Managerial / business simulation	Managerial / business simulation	Managerial and Business Simulation games mold management of people and resources and economic business activities in a game format. Usually the aim of the game is to make money through strategic uses of the available resources and to try to grow as a company. Usually the individual management of employees of the player's company plays a large role.
Massively Multiplayer	Massively Multiplayer	Massively Multiplayer Virtual Worlds are a form of online community that allow a large number of players to play in the same game space, such as a MMO game. A significant amount of player to player interaction and communication is a requirement to belong to this genre. A common type is the Multi-User Dungeon (MUD), which can be represented by text only, or by graphics and are usually controlled with textual input using a text parser.
Mental training	Mental training	Mental Training games serve as means for the player to improve their mental capacity. These games most often offer various puzzles, sums and reflex mini-games that serve to train and exercise the mind.
Metroidvania	Metroidvania	Metroidvania is a subgenre of Action games. The term is a portmanteau of Metroid and Castlevania and refers to games that feature the most distinctive gameplay concepts of the Metroid games and later Castlevania games, starting with Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (although Castlevania II: Simon's Quest is sometimes considered to be in the same category). Games of this genre feature gameplay in an explorable world that is gated in content mainly by specific abilities that need to be acquired by the player, and which gradually opens up more as the player overcomes its obstacles. Generally these games have a central hub from which the player can move to various interconnected areas or levels, some degree of persistency to their game worlds and some degree of non-linear progression while subtly guiding the player towards the next intended path. The vast majority of Metroidvania games use a side scrolling perspective like the games the term derives from and the term was for a long time used to describe only such games, but this is no longer a requirement. Top-down or bird's-eye view (e.g. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening) or 3D games (e.g. Batman: Arkham Asylum) can also share these concepts. Metroidvania games often feature mild RPG elements such as stat-based character development (upgradable health, strength and luck for example), respawning enemies, NPCs that talk to the player and trading for gear and items.	Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Mini-games	Mini-games	Some games have a collection of mini-games. Either this is the entire game, or the mini-games are in addition of a core game. Mini-games are short activities with almost instant gratification. Games should have a significant amount of mini-games to be tagged with this genre.
Music / rhythm	Music / rhythm	Music / Rhythm games are games in which the player makes music or must operate at a certain beat or rhythm. Some music game might require actual music instruments or controller facsimiles (or singing) as input for the game.	Rocksmith
Paddle / Pong	Paddle / Pong	Paddle/Pong games are arcade action games in which the players control one or more paddles which can be used to bounce a ball in various directions. Goals can include scoring goals or destroying bricks inside the playing field.
Party game	Party game	Party games focus on play sessions with a group of players. Party games are focused more on social interaction. Party games usually have simple controls and allow for easy drop-in and out so that everyone can enjoy them.
Pinball	Pinball	Pinball games simulate existing or fictional coin-op Pinball machines.
Platform	Platform	Platform games can be both 2D and 3D games in which jumping or climbing onto platforms on various elevations is a major focus of the game. Early platform games mostly focused on climbing onto platforms using ladders, while later games generally focus more on jumping.
Puzzle elements	Puzzle elements	Puzzle Elements denotes any type of non-puzzle game that features puzzle solving elements.
Quick Time Events (QTEs)	Quick time events (QTEs)	Games with Quick Time Events ask the player to react to prompts on the screen to progress. A small time window is provided for a single, exact key or button to be pressed. Contrary to Timed Input games where such gameplay forms the entire game, Quick Time Events are small events in addition to very different gameplay which forms that majority of the gameplay. Examples include QTEs in God of War or Telltale's The Walking Dead, even when they only form 1% of the entire gameplay.
Rail shooter	Rail shooter	Rail Shooters are shooter games that place the player on rails. Usually the player can only control a targeting reticule or has very limited control over the vehicle, being or thing the player controls.
Real-time strategy	Real-time strategy (RTS)	Real-time strategy (RTS) is a sub-genre of strategy video games in which the game does not progress incrementally in turns. Not all real-time games with strategy elements are usually considered RTS. A conventional RTS includes most or all of these features: multiple unit control base building resource gathering training units as opposed to sticking to pre-defined starting units (although the latter may appear in certain missions) two or more player/AI-controlled forces on the map with equal opportunity to build and attack construction and combat approximately equally in focus
Roguelike	Roguelike	Roguelike games are games that mimic the gameplay of the 1980 Mainframe game Rogue. These games allow players to crawl through a randomized dungeon in which the player encounters randomized monsters and randomized loot. In most of these games if the player dies he cannot reload earlier save games (permadeath) and must start anew. Certain abilities are permanent and unlock through multiple sessions, while other are drawn randomly for each session.	FTL: Faster Than Light
RPG elements	RPG elements	Games of any main genre, except RPG, that incorporate 'light' elements taken from role-playing games, such as customization options for characters or vehicles, leveling and upgrade systems with different perks and effects, abilities and upgrade system that provide room for different gameplay styles and so on.
Sandbox / open world	Sandbox / open world	Sandbox / Open World games present the players with a game world in which they can freely explore and try to interfere with the status quo. Most Sandbox games feature no specific goals, while Open World games usually do feature certain goals. Usually the player is given a broad freedom of how to achieve these goals, although Open World games with linear mission structures also exist. The Sandbox/Open World genre can be combined with other genres such as Simulation or Action-Adventure.
Shooter	Shooter	Shooter games are a broad action genre in which the player shoots enemies or targets as a primary gameplay mechanic. This can be from any perspective.
Survival horror	Survival horror	Stealth games require the player to avoid contact with enemies in the game and instead try to pass them by silently and hidden or using disguises. Goals can range from reaching a certain position, theft, sabotage, etc.
Tactical RPG	Tactical RPG	Tactical RPGs are Role Playing games with a focus on tactical combat. In Japanese-style Tactical RPGs these are usually denoted with the term “Tactics”. These types of games usually feature more combat options than other RPGS, such as party combat with character positioning and more varied attack effects other than just damage.
Tactical shooter	Tactical shooter	Tactical Shooters are a type of Shooter game with a higher degree of realism than most shooters. Many tactical shooters are squad-based where the player either has control over multiple squad members directly or can issue commands to the AI.
Tile matching puzzle	Tile matching puzzle	Tile Matching Puzzle games are puzzle games in which the player must match tiles. Actual mechanics may vary from flipping over the right tiles as in the traditional Memory game or moving them next to one-another in Bejeweled.
Timed input	Timed input	In Timed Input games the entire gameplay consists of matching player input to prompts on the screen in a timely manner. This mainly includes games where reflexes are needed (e.g. Dragon's Lair). Games where there is ample time is provide to make a choice, without time restriction, do not apply. Games where timed input forms a minority of the gameplay have the genre Quick Time Events instead. Games that demand reflexes from the player are not necessarily Timed Input games as there need to be prompts on the screen or a set amount of limited choices that are repeated and there is only a small amount of freedom. Games where a constant rhythm needs to be maintained (e.g. Guitar Hero, Dance Dance Revolution) use the genre Music / Rhythm Description instead. This genre does not include shooting gallery games where the player needs to aim a cross-hair and shoot.	Dragon's Lair
Time management	Time management	Time Management games are games in which the player has to complete a number of tasks, the player must use his insight and reflexes to perform the tasks in the best order and as quickly as possible. Time management games often simulate jobs in which the player must handle a lot of customers of different tasks.
Tower defense	Tower defense	Tower Defense games are a type of strategy game in which the player builds so-called towers to thwart an invading NPC army to reach a certain location on the map. Towers typically shoot at NPC units or otherwise hinder them from reaching their destination. Some of these games allow the player to build mazes out of towers for the NPCs to navigate, while others only allow towers to be build on predefined positions.
Trading / collectible card	Trading / collectible card	Trading Card / Collectible Card games simulate traditional trading card games in which players can buy or earn booster packs of randomly selected cards with which to build a deck for play. Each card has various statistics that are employed when the player puts the card into play. Games with this genre don’t have to be actual conversions of existing card games.	Hearthstone
Tricks / stunts	Tricks / stunts	The game requires the player to perform stunts to score points or advance in the game.
Tricks / stunts	Tricks / stunts	The game requires the player to perform stunts to score points or advance in the game.
Tricks / stunts	Tricks / stunts	The game requires the player to perform stunts to score points or advance in the game.
Tricks / stunts	Tricks / stunts	The game requires the player to perform stunts to score points or advance in the game.
Tricks / stunts	Tricks / stunts	The game requires the player to perform stunts to score points or advance in the game.
Tricks / stunts	Tricks / stunts	The game requires the player to perform stunts to score points or advance in the game.
Tricks / stunts	Tricks / stunts	The game requires the player to perform stunts to score points or advance in the game.
Tricks / stunts	Tricks / stunts	The game requires the player to perform stunts to score points or advance in the game.
Tricks / stunts	Tricks / stunts	The game requires the player to perform stunts to score points or advance in the game.