Taxonomy
From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
Project aim
- Taxonomy is a project on PCGamingWiki to categorise every game on the wiki.
Contact
- Andytizer is leading this project. To discuss further please visit our Discord on the #projects channel.
- Please feel free to add your input or discuss how you think each taxonomy category should be developed. Each individual {{Glossary}} page is freely editable.
Notes
- Category names should be short and simple.
- Definitions should explained within two or three sentences. Provide 4-5 examples to be as clear as possible.
References
- Forum thread
- MobyGames Genre Definitions page
- IGDB Categorization
- Video game monetization.
- Categories are originally based on MicroTransaction Zone and their useful tags.
Templates
- {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/monetization}}
- {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/microtransactions}}
- {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/modes}}
- {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/pacing}}
- {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/perspectives}}
- {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/controls}}
- {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/genres}}
- {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/sports}}
- {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/vehicles}}
- {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/art styles}}
- {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/themes}}
- {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/series}}
Contents
Instructions[edit]
- These below rows should sit within the {{Infobox game}} and below the reception rows.
Syntax
|taxonomy = {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/monetization | DLC }} {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/microtransactions | Cosmetic }} {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/modes | Singleplayer, Multiplayer }} {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/pacing | Real-time }} {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/perspectives | First-person }} {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/controls | Direct control }} {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/genres | Action, Shooter }} {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/sports | }} {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/vehicles | }} {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/art styles | Stylized }} {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/themes | Sci-fi }} {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/series | Doom }}
Notes
- Limit of 5 categories per row (except for monetization/microtransactions) - pick the items which most apply to the game.
- {{Glossary}} and new use of Glossary namespace to hold definitions which will be transcluded to every Taxonomy term.
- For example, FPS adds the categories First-person and Shooter.
- Place FPS into the standard {{Infobox game/row/taxonomy/genres}} row and remove the Shooter category (don't remove the perspectives, only remove from genres).
Monetization and Microtransactions tables
When completing the monetization/microtransactions taxonomy, please also add the relevant tables under Availability:
- {{Monetization}} - see the Editing guide - Monetization
- {{Microtransactions}} - see the Editing guide - Microtransactions
Definitions[edit]
Monetization[edit]
Category | Definition | Notes | Examples |
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Ad-supported | Monetized through advertisements which do not form natural part of the game, e.g. watching a video before playing, on-screen launcher ads, ads in the in-game menu system, etc. |
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DLC | For the purposes of PCGamingWiki's taxonomy, 'DLC' specifically refers to medium size chunks of additional game content such as maps, levels, quests, new gameplay mechanics etc. that is normally created in addition to the game, paid for and downloaded, but less substantial than an 'expansion pack'. |
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Expansion pack | Game content which can extend the percentage of playtime substantially. Including and not limited to: large story campaigns, a large number of new maps or levels, expanded gameplay, etc. |
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Free-to-play | Free-to-play or F2P games give players access to a significant portion of their content without paying. They might include an optional subscription, or are supported by expansion packs, DLCs, microtransactions, or advertisements. |
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Freeware | Games that are completely free to own in their entirety. | ||
Sponsored | Sponsored content is a type of in-game advertising that forms part of the natural game experience. |
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Subscription | Game may require continuous subscription payment from a player, or a subscription offers premium features. This is distinct from subscription services which allow access to multiple games, for example EA Play. |
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Microtransactions[edit]
Category | Definition | Notes | Examples |
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Boost | Allows player to pay to accelerate progress in a game, whether it is faster speed, levelling, level skipping, boosting % chance to find rare items, etc. or to instantly unlock rewards. |
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Cosmetic | Cosmetic microtransactions are any paid additional content that are designed to be cosmetic in nature and are not intended to affect gameplay substantially nor alter game mechanics. |
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Currency | A virtual currency that must be purchased using a real-world currency. The virtual currency can then in turn be used to buy other microtransaction items, or be traded for account credit. Typically the virtual currency is locked to a single game or publisher. |
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Finite spend | Finite spend games have a limit to the number of microtransactions that can be purchased. For example, a game could have x5 unlock microtransactions, and after those have been purchased no more can be purchased by the player. |
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Free-to-grind | The main gameplay unlocks/goals of the game can be achieved through grinding or naturally in gameplay without real money payments. |
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Infinite spend | Infinite cap games have microtransactions that can be purchased over and over again without any limit. |
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Loot box | A variation of microtransaction where the player purchases a loot box where there is a chance to receive varying qualities of in-game item, similar to gambling. |
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No microtransactions | Game does not contain any microtransactions. |
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Player trading | In-game items and digital currencies can be traded between players on the game marketplace that allows the developer to receive a cut on transactions that players make. | ||
Time-limited | Game sells microtransactions that are exclusive to a specific time-period, promotion or preorder bonus. Once this exclusivity period is over, the microtransaction cannot normally be purchased again, or if there is a longer duration of time between periods of availability. |
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Unlock | 'Unlocks' are normally chunks of a game that have been already developed and have been 'locked', and can be 'unlocked' with a purchase. This commonly includes individual characters, maps, levels, weapons, armors, etc. |
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Category | Definition | Examples | Notes |
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Limited use items | Purchaseable items that have a limited number of uses or may expire. |
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Physical DLC | Only a handful of PC games use 'physical DLC' and are defunct e.g. Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure. | Batteries Not Included | |
Singleplayer only | Table for One (Standalone Single Player) |
Modes[edit]
- The following modes are not mutually exclusive. If a game includes e.g. a singleplayer campaign as well as a multiplayer mode, add both modes to the article (comma-delimited).
Category | Definition | Notes | Examples |
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Multiplayer | The game supports some form of multiplayer either locally (e.g. hot seat play/pass-and-play) or remotely across the network or internet. | ||
Singleplayer | The game supports solo play through a singleplayer mode. |
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PCGW | MobyGames | Definition to be modified | Notes | Examples |
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Local multiplayer | Defined by Property:Local play modes. | |||
Online only | Only playable online. | Defined by {{DRM}} by Property:Always online. | Diablo III | |
Online multiplayer | Defined by Property:Online play and Property:Online play modes. | |||
LAN | Defined by Property:LAN play modes. | |||
Co-op | Value within Property:Online play modes Property:LAN play modes Property:Local play modes. | |||
Versus | Value within Property:Online play modes Property:LAN play modes Property:Local play modes. | |||
Asynchronous | Defined by Property:Asynchronous multiplayer. | |||
Hotseat | Defined by Property:Local play modes. | |||
Splitscreen |
Pacing[edit]
Category | Definition | Notes | Examples |
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Continuous turn-based | Plays in real-time but based on turns. Includes real-time with pause, active time battle and timed turns. |
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Persistent | Gameplay continues even when player is not playing the game, and the game state is either simulated on a remote server or changes over time are calculated when the player returns to the game. | MobyGames | |
Real-time | Real-time games present the game continuously, as opposed to in turns. | MobyGames | |
Relaxed | Meditative may aim to relax the player and often have no goals and no fail states. | MobyGames | |
Turn-based | Turn-based games are divided in turns and rounds. Players can usually only interact with the game during their turn. | MobyGames |
Perspectives[edit]
- A game can have multiple perspectives.
Category | Definition | Notes | Examples |
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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. | MobyGames |
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Bird's-eye view | Any view that is above a player character or is an overview of a larger world, often at a small angle. | MobyGames | |
Cinematic camera | Fixed camera positions that the player cannot exert control, or exert limited control over. | MobyGames | |
First-person | View from the first-person. | MobyGames | |
Flip screen | Flip screen divides the game world into fixed screens, displayed one at a time. Commonly found in 2D platform games. | MobyGames | |
Free-roaming camera | Player can freely control the camera to scroll, rotate or zoom through a larger environment. | MobyGames | |
Isometric | View using isometric 2D assets to create the impression of 3D space. Often incorporates a bird’s-eye view. | MobyGames | |
Scrolling | Game world scrolls according to movement of the character. | MobyGames | |
Side view | Any view from the side for both scrolling and static environments. | MobyGames | |
Text-based | These games have no graphical viewpoint as they are composed entirely of text or spreadsheets. | MobyGames | |
Third-person | View from the third-person of a player character, normally behind or over the shoulder. | MobyGames | |
Top-down view | A view from directly above facing down, is relatively fixed and does not have much of an angle. Also called an overhead view. | MobyGames |
Controls[edit]
Category | Definition | Notes | Examples |
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Direct control | Directly control a single character at a time, usually using directional buttons and other action buttons to interact with the environment directly. | MobyGames | |
Gestures | Controls captured through motion controllers, gyroscopes or cameras. | MobyGames | |
Menu-based | Controls primarily through menus or an abstracted interface. | MobyGames | |
Multiple select | Control or selects multiple characters or units at the same time. | MobyGames | |
Point and select | Controls actions or movements of characters or objects through pointing and selecting. This can be done by mouse, controller or motion controls or other gestures. | MobyGames | |
Text input | Control through text input from the player, typically in the form of typed sentences or keystrokes. | MobyGames | |
Voice control | Controlled by the voice of the player or other sounds the player (or their environment) makes. | MobyGames |
Genres[edit]
- Renamed MobyGames 'Gameplay' into 'Genres'.
- Some categories, most notably FPS, sets two or more other genres when used (e.g. First-person and Shooter).
Category | Definition | Notes | Examples |
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4X | 4X is the abbreviation for "eXploration, eXpansion, eXploitation, and eXtermination" and are often a type of grand strategy game. | MobyGames | |
ARPG | Role-playing games with more focus on real-time action elements, such as combat and exploration, than most role-playing games. | MobyGames | |
Action | Primary gameplay tests some of the following: accuracy, movement, reflexes, timing. |
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Adventure | Primary emphasises on narrative, dialogue and puzzle solving, with less emphasis on action. | MobyGames | |
Arcade | Simple games with origins in coin-op arcades. | MobyGames | |
Artillery | Tactical games in which players try to damage each other by shooting artillery shells or other weaponry influenced by gravity over large distances. | MobyGames | |
Battle royale | Battle royale (BR) is an online multiplayer genre that blends the survival, exploration, and scavenging elements of a survival game with last-man-standing gameplay. Battle royale games involve dozens to hundreds of players, who start with minimal equipment and then must eliminate all other opponents while avoiding being trapped outside of a shrinking "safe area", with the winner being the last player or team alive. | ||
Board | Board games are usually strategy games which often represent or are recreations of real-life tabletop board games. | MobyGames | |
Brawler | Focus on melee combat with a large number of enemies. Usually divided into levels similar to platform games or action games. Not to be confused with fighting games. | MobyGames | |
Building | Players manage a city or other construction project, including but not limited to theme parks, hospitals, towers, zoos, etc. | MobyGames, Wikipedia | |
Business | Business games normally have the player manage resources in order to make money or grow a company. | ||
CCG | Collective card games (CCG) or trading card games (TCG) simulate trading card games in which players can buy or earn booster packs of randomly selected cards with which to build a deck for play. | MobyGames | |
Card/tile | Card games such as Poker, Solitaire or Bridge, as well as modern games that use the format of a card game or a card game as a mini-game. | ||
Chess | Chess refers to any game featuring chess or its variations. | MobyGames | |
Clicker | Gameplay revolving around clicking and menus with often very shallow gameplay. | ||
Dating | Player dates characters with the goal of developing a romantic relationship with gameplay consisting mostly of conversations with multiple branching paths that change the character's disposition towards you. |
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Driving | Driving gameplay, which could be in a vehicle or mount and not just as a short sequence within the greater game. Distinct from racing category. | MobyGames | |
Educational | Teaching educational topics through gameplay. | MobyGames | |
FPS | First-person shooter (FPS) are action shooting games from the first person perspective. | Combination of First-person and Shooter categories. | |
Falling block | Action based puzzle game in which objects enter the screen and have to be arranged by the player to form pairs, lines, or other shapes or combinations of colors and/or shapes. | MobyGames | |
Fighting | Players fight one-on-one in a constricted melee arena, or in teams or 2 or 3. Fights continue until one of the characters or teams is knocked out. | MobyGames If the game makes the player face multiple enemies in levels, it is more likely to be a Brawler. |
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Gambling/casino | Simulation of a casino game (slots, poker, blackjack, roulette, etc.) or any other form of gambling or betting. | MobyGames | |
Hack and slash | Hack and slash refers to third-person weapon-based action games that emphasize combat, usually against multiple opponents at the same time. | ||
Hidden object | Games where the player must find objects hidden in a picture. | MobyGames | |
Hunting | These games simulate hunting of wildlife or game as the primary gameplay. | MobyGames | |
Idle | Minimal gameplay that rewards players who do not interact with the game. | Wikipedia calls this an Incremental game. | |
Immersive sim | Immersive sims are made up of simulated systems that respond to a variety of player actions which, combined with a comparatively broad array of player abilities, allow the game to support varied and creative solutions to problems, as well as emergent gameplay beyond what has been explicitly designed by the developer. | Wikipedia | |
Interactive book | Game is represented as a picture book where the story is read or narrated and are often educational and aimed at children. Players can 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. | MobyGames | |
JRPG | Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) usually feature a linear story with a focus on character development of a group of fixed characters. Actions are often selected from a pop-up menu, and the art-style is often anime or stylized. | MobyGames | |
Life sim | Life simulation and social simulation games allow the player to control the life of humans, animals or other things that are alive or resemble living things. | MobyGames | |
MMO | Massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) are online games where a 'massive' number of players can play within the same space. While the majority of games often features RPG style progression systems (so-called MMORPGs), MMOs can technically be combined with most other genres. |
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MMORPG | Massively multiplayer online games that features a RPG style progression systems. | Combination of MMO and RPG categories. | |
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. | MobyGames | |
Metroidvania | Metroidvania refers to games set 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 there is 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. | MobyGames | |
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 category. | MobyGames | |
Music/rhythm | Music and 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. | MobyGames | |
Open world | Players have a game world in which they can freely explore and try to interfere with the status quo. Open world games usually do feature certain goals, side quests and main quests. Usually the player is given a broad freedom of how to achieve these goals. | MobyGames | |
Paddle | 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. | MobyGames | |
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. | MobyGames | |
Pinball | Pinball games simulate existing or fictional coin-op Pinball machines. | MobyGames | |
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. | MobyGames | |
Puzzle | Puzzle solving gameplay, which could include physical, logical, trivia, word puzzles and others etc. | MobyGames | |
Quick time events | 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. | MobyGames | |
RPG | Player controls character or party members in a world, and often include quests, items, dialogue and often offer character progression in the form of experience, levels and skill points. | MobyGames | |
RTS | Real-time strategy (RTS) games focus control of a real-time battlefield with multiple units, and often (but not always) features resource gathering and base building. | ||
Racing | Racing gameplay to win a race, which could be in a vehicle or mount and not just as a short sequence within the greater game. Distinct from driving category. | MobyGames | |
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. | MobyGames | |
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. | MobyGames | |
Sandbox | Sandbox games present the players with a game world in which they can freely explore and try to interfere with the status quo, and do not necessarily have fixed goals. | MobyGames | |
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. | MobyGames | |
Simulation | Gameplay closely models real world activities in a more realistic manner than most other games. | MobyGames | |
Sports | Players control either players or managers of a real or fictional sports. | MobyGames | |
Stealth | 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. | MobyGames | |
Strategy | Games that use strategy. | ||
Survival | Survival gameplay including gathering food, materials, crafting etc. | MobyGames | |
Survival horror | Survival Horror games drop the player in a horror setting where survival against usually supernatural enemies is made difficult by sparse distribution of weaponry and ammunition and often a more realistic approach of the protagonists physical capabilities. The goal of these games is usually to escape the hazardous situation and trying to survive. | MobyGames | |
TBS | Turn-based strategy (TBS) is a sub-genre of strategy video games in which the game progresses incrementally in turns. | Combination of Turn-based and Strategy categories. MobyGames |
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TPS | Third-person shooter (TPS) is any game where the player controls the character shooting from a third-person perspective, normally over the shoulder (not from the side). | ||
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. | Combination of Strategy and RPG. MobyGames |
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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. | MobyGames | |
Text adventure | Text adventures are adventure games where the player navigates through a game primarily through text or typing sentences or commands. | MobyGames | |
Tile matching | 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. | MobyGames | |
Time management | The player must use their insight and reflexes to perform the tasks in the best order and as quickly as possible. Time management games often simulate jobs. | MobyGames | |
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. | MobyGames | |
Tricks | The game requires the player to perform stunts to score points or advance in the game. | MobyGames | |
Trivia/quiz | Trivia/quiz or game show games test the player on their knowledge on certain subjects or their ability to discover hidden words or pictures. Usually the player is rewarded with points or virtual currency. | MobyGames | |
Vehicle combat | Vehicle simulators in which the player engages in combat. The vehicles may be fictional such as "mechs" or space ships. | MobyGames | |
Vehicle simulator | Vehicle Simulator games are games in which the player takes control of any type of vehicle in a peaceful manner. A game is required to have a certain level of realism to be considered a simulator. Vehicles may be fictional such as space ships. This genre is not to be used for games that allow the player to perform combat in said vehicles; use Vehicular Combat Simulator instead. | MobyGames | |
Visual novel | Games in which the story is told through text overlaid on a background representing the scene being described. The player input is confined to periodically making choices which might affect the direction and outcome of the story. Mostly regarded as a branch of Japanese adventure, but Western examples exist as well. Also known as "VL" or "NVL" games, "digital novels", and "choose-your-own-adventure" (CYOA) games. | MobyGames | |
Wargame | Wargames are military simulation games. Most wargames revolve around a single war, campaign or battle in which the player can play out various what-if scenarios by trying out different tactics and/or strategies. | MobyGames | |
Word | Word Construction games are Puzzle or Educational games in which the player must form words. Usually the player is given a series of letters or letter combinations that have to be rearranged. | MobyGames |
Sports[edit]
Category | Definition | Notes | Examples |
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American football | Codes of gridiron football, including American football and Canadian football. | MobyGames | |
Australian football | Also known as Australian rules football or "Aussie Rules". | ||
Baseball | Incorporates the bat-and-ball sports of baseball and softball. | MobyGames | |
Basketball | MobyGames | ||
Bowling | Usually referring to ten-pin bowling; other forms of bowling (e.g. candlepin, duckpin) are rare. Does not need to use traditional balls, lanes and/or pins (e.g. Elf Bowling). | MobyGames | |
Boxing | MobyGames | ||
Cricket | MobyGames | ||
Darts/target shooting | These games simulate target shooting with either darts, guns, bows or other projectiles for sport. | MobyGames | |
Dodgeball | MobyGames | ||
Extreme sports | |||
Fictional sport | A fictional depicted sport. | ||
Fishing | MobyGames | ||
Football (Soccer) | Association football. | MobyGames | |
Golf | Golf or miniature golf. | MobyGames | |
Handball | |||
Hockey | Ice hockey and field hockey. | MobyGames | |
Horse | Managing horses or horse competitions. | MobyGames | |
Kick boxing | |||
Lacrosse | |||
Martial arts | Including mixed martial arts. | ||
Mixed sports | Multiple sports, similar to the Olympics. | MobyGames | |
Paintball | MobyGames | ||
Parachuting | |||
Pool or snooker | Referring to such cue sports (billiards). | MobyGames | |
Racquetball/squash | MobyGames | ||
Sailing/boating | These games simulate piloting or racing sailboats, wind sails, rowing boats, powerboats, etc. | MobyGames | |
Skateboarding | MobyGames | ||
Skating | Including roller skating and ice skating. | ||
Snowboarding or skiing | MobyGames | ||
Surfing | MobyGames | ||
Table tennis | MobyGames | ||
Tennis | MobyGames | ||
Volleyball | MobyGames | ||
Water sports | Jet skis, wakeboarding, etc. | MobyGames | |
Wrestling | Including competitive forms of wrestling (e.g. freestyle wrestling, Greco-Roman/Graeco-Roman/classical wrestling) or theatrical forms of wrestling made "real" thanks to video games (i.e. professional wrestling). | MobyGames |
Vehicles[edit]
Category | Definition | Notes | Examples |
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Automobile | These games allow the player to take control of an automobile (both driving and racing it) or otherwise focus on automobiles even if they are not driven. | MobyGames | |
Bicycle | These games allow the player to take control of a non-motorized bike to explore or race, or allow the player to manage a bike racing team. | Overlap with cycling category? MobyGames |
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Bus | These games allow the player to take control of or otherwise focus on buses. This includes both racing, simulation driving or any managerial game focusing on buses. | MobyGames | |
Flight | These games allow the player to take control of an aircraft (both flight and combat) or otherwise focus on aircrafts or aviation. Helicopters have their own genre where Flight/Aviation is implied. This genre also covers hot air balloons, blimps, zeppelins, gliders, hang-gliders and similar ones. | MobyGames | |
Helicopter | These games allow the player to take control of a helicopter (both flight and battle) or otherwise focus on helicopters. | MobyGames | |
Hovercraft | These games allow the player to take control of a hovercraft, a hybrid craft capable of travelling over land, water, mud or ice and other surfaces. This also includes futuristic crafts that hover above the ground (e.g. Wipeout or F-Zero). Hovercraft games do not have the genres Flight/Aviation or Naval/Watercraft. | MobyGames | |
Industrial | Games that prominently feature agricultural / industrial vehicles controlled directly in a simulation. | MobyGames | |
Motorcycle | These games allow the player to take control of a motorcycle, dirtbike or similar vehicle or otherwise focus on motorcycles. | MobyGames | |
Naval/watercraft | These games allow the player to take control of a boat, ship or other type of watercraft, or otherwise focus on watercraft or naval combat or navigation. Hovercrafts are considered a separate genre. | MobyGames | |
Off-roading | These games allow the player to participate in or otherwise focus on off-road racing/driving. | MobyGames | |
Robot | These games allow the player to take control of or otherwise focus on robots or machines controlled by people. These machines vary great in size and shape, but are distinguished from other vehicles by their humanoid or biomorphic appearance. | MobyGames | |
Self-propelled artillery | These games allow the player to take control of a self-propelled artillery or otherwise focus on self-propelled or mobile artillery. | MobyGames | |
Space flight | These games allow the player to take control of spacecraft or otherwise focus on spacecrafts. | MobyGames | |
Street racing | Games which revolve around the practice of street racing, i.e. racing of motor vehicles on a public road. This practice is mostly illegal in real life, and many games depict it as an underground, illicit affair (and may feature themes such as dodging regular traffic or avoiding police), but this is not necessary for inclusion in the group. | MobyGames | |
Tank | Gameplay featuring tanks whether they are fictional or based on reality. | MobyGames | |
Track racing | These games allow the player to participate in or otherwise focus on racing/driving on racing tracks. This does not need to be a real race track, but it needs to be clear the environment has been fenced off or designed in such a way that a track is created, regardless of the surface or the setting. Racing games that take place in open environments where all obstacles or routes are natural, without human intervention to create a track (e.g. Outrun), do not receive this genre. Invisible barriers also do not count as a way to create a track. In order to receive this genre, the majority of the racing needs to take place on a track. | MobyGames | |
Train | These games allow the player to take control of a train or otherwise focus on trains. | MobyGames | |
Transport | These games allow the player to take control of or otherwise focus transporting people or cargo using vehicles. | MobyGames | |
Truck | These games allow the player to take control of or otherwise focus on trucks. This includes racing, but also transport. | MobyGames |
Art styles[edit]
Category | Definition | Notes | Examples |
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Abstract | Abstract and not representing reality. | ||
Anime | Using an anime, or anime-esque art style, including manga and hentai. Not necessarily Japanese-only, but also not to be confused with cartoon art styles. | MobyGames | |
Cartoon | Exaggerated art styles based primarily on Western animated films and TV shows, with non-realistic character body shapes and proportions, colorful, larger-than-life environments, and sometimes a disregard of the laws of physics. Often runs on the rule of fun. Not to be confused with anime art styles. | ||
Cel-shaded | Wikipedia list | ||
Comic book | Art style that implements graphical elements typically seen in comic books. | ||
Digitized | [1] | ||
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. | MobyGames | |
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. A large amount of games with Live action as an art style for the interactive gameplay carry the art style FMV 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. | MobyGames | |
Pixel art | Graphics with old-school "blocky" by-pixel sprites and/or backgrounds. This was one of two default graphical styles of the early days of computer and video games, vector art being the other. |
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Pre-rendered graphics | Computer-generated graphics rendered beforehand by the development staff and thus handled by the software, not the client's hardware. Used as static background images, animated cutscenes and game sprites. This technique was used most often during the earliest days of three-dimensional gaming, back when most home computers could only render simplistic 3D graphics, if at all. | TV Tropes | |
Realistic | Aims for realistic depictions of characters and environments with no exaggerations. | ||
Stylized | Rather hard to define on its own, "stylized" refers to something with its own distinct visual style. However, it is more often than not also used for exaggerated realism or hyperrealism, such where the game's world or environment is rendered realistically but contains some exaggerations, ranging from the subtle (e.g. a highly idealized version of an otherwise realistic environment; think "Disneyfied" versions of the real world) to the obvious (e.g. buildings with architecture that's very difficult or otherwise impossible to pull off in real life). | [2] | |
Vector art | |||
Video backdrop | Games where the interactive gameplay largely or entirely takes place against a backdrop with recorded footage. |
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Voxel art | Graphics are constructed entirely out of 3D cubes called voxels. |
Themes[edit]
Category | Definition | Notes | Examples |
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Adult | Adult games feature explicit sexual situations. | MobyGames | |
Africa | Setting is in the African continent, excepting Egypt but including the island of Madagascar and various archipelagos such as the Seychelles, or in an African-inspired setting. | MobyGames | |
Amusement park | Games that primarily take place at an amusement park (including theme parks and water parks) or involve the construction and/or management of one. May or may not involve the ability to ride the attractions themselves. | MobyGames | |
Antarctica | Setting is on Antarctica, Earth's southernmost and coldest continent and the only one without permanent inhabitants. May also incorporate the surrounding Southern Ocean and various uninhabited islands within the Antarctic Circle. | ||
Arctic | Setting is within the cold northern tundra of the Arctic Circle, including the Arctic Ocean. | ||
Asia | MobyGames | ||
China | MobyGames | ||
Classical | Ancient Greek and Roman, or use significant visual styles or themes from this period. | MobyGames | |
Cold War | Setting focuses on the geopolitical tension between the Soviet Union and the United States and their respective allies, the Eastern Bloc and the Western Bloc, after World War II. The period is generally considered to be from the beginning of the Truman Doctrine in 1947 to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. If the game is only set during the period of the Cold War but not primarily focused or themed on the Cold War itself, it gets the Contemporary theme instead. | MobyGames | |
Comedy | Comedy games present events in the game in comedic fashion. They feature jokes in conversations or one-liners, or rely on satire or absurdity. | ||
Contemporary | Taking place in a modern day setting, primarily any time period after World War II up to the present day. However, this does not include games that are focused on or themed after the Cold War from 1947 to 1991. | MobyGames | |
Cyberpunk | MobyGames | ||
Detective/mystery | Detective/mystery games feature a traditional detective story or mystery that needs to be solved. | ||
Eastern Europe | Setting is on the eastern part of the European continent. | Wikipedia | |
Egypt | MobyGames | ||
Europe | MobyGames | ||
Fantasy | MobyGames | ||
Healthcare | Games that have as a theme the maintenance or improvement of health via the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in human beings. | MobyGames | |
Historical | MobyGames | ||
Horror | Where there are elements that are attempt to frighten, shock or instill dread in substantial parts of the game. | ||
Industrial Age | MobyGames | ||
Interwar | Setting in the periods between 1918-1939, excluding games mainly set in World War I or World War II. | MobyGames | |
Japan | MobyGames | ||
LGBTQ | Games that prominently feature lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer characters, or plots with these themes. | MobyGames Wikipedia |
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Medieval | MobyGames | ||
Middle East | MobyGames | ||
North America | Setting is on the North American continent. This includes the United States (except Hawaii, which is in Oceania), Canada, Mexico, and Central America. Does not include games set in the Pre-Columbian Americas. | MobyGames | |
Oceania | Setting is in the geographical region of Oceania. This includes the subregions of Australasia (including the Australian continent), Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia (including the U.S. state of Hawaii). | MobyGames | |
Piracy | Sea pirates or air pirates. | MobyGames | |
Post-apocalyptic | Taking place in a world set after the fall of modern human civilization or generally after a major world-destroying disaster. | MobyGames | |
Pre-Columbian Americas | MobyGames | ||
Prehistoric | MobyGames | ||
Renaissance | Setting focuses on the European Renaissance of the 15th and 16th centuries. | Wikipedia | |
Romance | Games that are about (not just feature) romance. | MobyGames | |
Sci-fi | Typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology. | MobyGames | |
South America | MobyGames | ||
Space | Setting is in outer space, either within our universe outside of Earth or in a constructed universe. | ||
Steampunk | MobyGames | ||
Supernatural | Supernatural games have elements that are based on the real-world but violate natural laws, e.g. superheroes, vampires, werewolves. However, the elements are not so far away from our natural world that they constitute fantasy or sci-fi. | Wikipedia | |
Victorian | Setting focuses on the Victorian England, years 1837-1901. | Wikipedia | |
Western | MobyGames | ||
World War I | MobyGames | ||
World War II | MobyGames | ||
Zombies | Features zombies in the game. Although arguably similar one way or the other, mummies, vampires, etc. should be excluded, as these belong in the Supernatural category. | MobyGames |
Series[edit]
Type in the name of the game series if one exists. This then populates a floating seriesbox below the infobox, see e.g. Halo: Combat Evolved or Tomb Raider (1996) for examples.
This template replaces the previous {{Series}} template that used to reside below the {{Infobox game}}.
References
- ↑ Final Fantasy XV - All Cup Noodles Quest choices - last accessed on 2020-04-19
- ↑ Assassin’s Creed®IV Black Flag™ Time saver: Technology Pack (DLC) - last accessed on 2020-04-19
- "This pack will save you time by revealing all of the collectibles locations on your map. Note that you will still need to travel to these locations and beat the game play in order to get the rewards."
- ↑ League of Legends - MICROTRANSACTION.ZONE - last accessed on 2020-04-15
- ↑ Earbuds - Official TF2 Wiki - last accessed on 2020-04-26