Video Games: Alternative Genres

Understanding Different Video Game Genres

The world of video games is not limited to mainstream action and adventure genres. A variety of alternative genres have emerged, each with distinct characteristics and target audiences.
Some alternative genres include Walking Simulators, Interactive Fiction, Visual Novels, Puzzle Games, and Art Games.
Such genres often focus more on narrative and theme development, shifting away from the traditional emphasis on high scores, levels, and lives.

Walking Simulators

Walking Simulators often involve minimal player interaction, focusing instead on exploration and exposing players to the environment and story.
Games such as ‘Gone Home’ and ‘Firewatch’ employ this style, focusing on immersive settings and rich narratives.

Interactive Fiction & Visual Novels

Interactive Fiction (IF) and Visual Novels involve reading text descriptions and making choices that influence the game’s ongoing narrative.
IF game design has roots in early computer games like ‘Zork’, while Visual Novels evolved from Japanese video game traditions.
Choice-driven narratives mean each player may have a different gaming experience. A well-known example of a Visual Novel is the game ‘Doki Doki Literature Club’.

Puzzle Games & Art Games

Puzzle Games, such as ‘The Witness’ or ‘Limbo’, prioritise problem-solving over combat or adventure.
Art games, like ‘Journey’ or ‘Flower’, often feature abstract themes and visuals. They might convey a narrative or emotion through creative visuals and gameplay over traditional storytelling methods.

Significance of Alternative Genres

These alternative genres broaden the appeal of video games, attracting different audiences and promoting diversity within the medium.
They can offer more insightful social and cultural commentary, exploiting the interactive nature of video games to achieve this.
Also, they stimulate new ways of thinking about game design and the possibilities of the video game medium.
These genres often face criticism and debate over their status as ‘games’, raising important questions about the definition and boundaries of a ‘video game’.

Remember that understanding these alternative game genres contributes to your wider understanding of media products, their contexts, and their impact on audiences and societies. Keep exploring, and you will gain a much richer perspective on the broad and diverse landscape of video game media.