I consider myself a huge enthusiast when it comes to playing digital content. I regularly enjoy playing a wide range of hit titles from my Playstation, smartphone, and desktop computer, and I would say that most of the stuff I play can be categorised into one of ten main genres.
When I first started playing, I only really enjoyed playing content that fell into the sports or fighting genre when passing the time on my PlayStation. Alternatively, I would stick to the classics, such as blackjack or roulette, when playing from my smartphone on licensed and regulated sites.
I quickly learned that by broadening my horizons and trying new genres, which I might never have previously tried, I massively expanded my library, giving me so much more content to explore.
If you’re the same as I was at one point and feel you are starting to get bored playing your current favorites or running out of things to play, then you may also want to try experimenting with a different genre than you may have grown accustomed to.
With that in mind, here are several effective strategies that have worked for me in the past, and I feel that anyone who is looking to experiment with new gaming genres should also consider using them.
What are the Main Genres of Digital Entertainment Activities?
The following main genres cover a range of digital entertainment activities you can enjoy playing on a wide range of consoles, desktop computers, and mobile devices.
Most of the titles you play today will fall specifically into one or more of these categories, which some of you will already be familiar with:
- Action-adventure
- Role-playing (RPG)
- Massively Multiplayer Online RPG (MMORPG)
- Sports
- Horror
- Simulation
- Fighting
- First-Person Shooter (FPS)
- Sandbox
- Racing
- Real-Time Strategy (RTS)
- Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA)
I’ve also discovered many other popular genres. For example, the many different types of bingo games can be classed as lottery/lotto-style content or retro.
In a similar way, blackjack, roulette, craps, poker, and baccarat can also be sub-categorised as classics or traditional favourites. You also have exercise, rhythm, party, strategy, and battle royale genres.
That’s not forgetting the text, stealth, trivia, puzzle, mobile, tower defense, survival, board, crypto/blockchain, and F2P (free-to-play) genres, to name a few.
Five Tips for Experimenting with New Genres
Experimenting with a new genre can sometimes prove overwhelming, whether you are new to playing digital content or consider yourself a seasoned pro like me who is simply looking to try something new for a change.
The golden rule I have learned is that if you aren’t willing to try something new, you won’t ever truly know what you like or dislike. Therefore, here are five tips to remember when you are next considering trying out a new genre:
- Don’t give up after trying just one title from a new genre you have decided to explore. Perhaps sample at least five to ten hit titles from that genre to get a much better insight into what it’s all about. Also, conduct your own basic research into exactly what each genre offers. It will help you choose a more suitable genre to begin with that you are more likely to enjoy
- Think carefully about exactly what it is that you are looking for. For example, do you want to try something that will guarantee you and your friend’s frequent jump scares, or would you prefer one-on-one battles against your friend or AI-controlled opponent? What I’m trying to say is that you should explore your personal preferences and interests before settling upon which genres might be worth a try
- Visit the famous review sites to see what the experts with years of experience recommend. I also frequently visit major platforms like Twitch or YouTube because they tend to have countless walkthrough videos showing the content creators playing certain titles that you might like to try.
- Choose a platform/console/device you would prefer to play from because it will make it easier to decide which genres might be worth checking out. For example, some titles you are trying to play in certain genres may only be available on PlayStation or Nintendo Switch.
- Remember to experiment with genres that you perhaps wouldn’t normally try because you may surprise yourself, as I have, and actually enjoy genres you never thought you would
The important thing to remember is to have fun. Experimenting with new genres should be an exciting adventure for you. The worst thing that could come of exploring new genres is that you don’t find any new ones that you like.
However, the upside is that you may find one or two new genres that will resonate with you, which will open up hundreds more new titles for you to play.
Trying new genres and interacting with other like-minded people who also enjoy that genre may even lead you to forge new lifelong friendships. You won’t find out if you don’t at least give it a try.