The year 2017 is still largely considered to be one of the greatest years ever for the video gaming industry by many, but 2018 has not a been a slouch so far either. Consoles, PCs and even smartphones have seen a number of good releases in various genres, with more yet to come. While a good game in any category is almost sure to be received well, each year sees a few new trends when it comes to the most popular gaming genres and of course, it has a lot to do with the games themselves. The more popular titles a particular category has, the higher it will end up on the list. On that note, here are the top six most popular gaming genres in 2018 so far.
Third Person Action-Adventure
The third person action-adventure genre has a unique appeal and a classic feel that no other genre can truly replicate. Some of the greatest games of all time belong to this category and 2018 just added a bunch of titles to that list of the greatest games ever made. When the likes of Spiderman (2018), Yakuza 6: The Song of Life and of course, the mighty God of War (2018) is released in the same year, it is just impossible for the genre to not end up on this list! Is the fact that all of the three games mentioned are PlayStation exclusives just a coincidence? Well, it could be, but there’s a reason why the PS4 Pro is still considered to be a better console than the Xbox One X, in spite of the latter having better hardware! If you don’t have a PlayStation 4, don’t worry, because other superb games in the genre like Monster Hunter: World and Shadow of the Tomb Raider are available both on the PC and the Xbox.
Casino Games
The online casino UK scene has been electrifying so far in 2018, with a significant rise observed this year in the genre. It doesn’t come as much of a surprise though, because in the UK, casino games have always been popular and the category has consistently made it onto the list of the most popular gaming genres for multiple consecutive years now. However, the booming business in the sector also means that there are way too many options to choose from and not all online casinos in the UK are worth your time and money. Therefore, just like one would check out reviews of a popular game online before buying it, it is suggested that players check out online casino reviews at a site such as casino-ratings.co.uk first who will point you in the right direction, before signing up to a new casino.
Platformers
The much-awaited Mega Man 11 is finally out now and the good news is that all major platforms, including the Switch, have this hugely anticipated title from Capcom. The long-awaited sequel will further boost the platformer category in 2018, which already has seen a long list of superb titles being released this year. Platformers are not for everyone and the difficulty and need for precise movements might just put off new players because a lot of us are so used to playing easy games. Nevertheless, gamers around the globe proved a lot of experts wrong by making Dead Cells and Celeste two of the most played games in any genre.
Role Playing Games (RPG)
The RPG genre is not only one of the most popular gaming categories of all time, but it also includes the most diverse titles in the gaming world. On one end of the spectrum, we had Monster Hunter: World this year, which is also a third-person action-adventure game, while on the other end, we had a typical turn-based RPG like Octopath Traveler. They are both brilliant role-playing games in their own right, but in spite of that, the differences between the two are obvious and huge! Add MMORPGs like the upcoming Fallout 76 to this list and we have a vast category of games that includes multiple popular titles that cater to the demands of various types of gamers. Is it really surprising that the RPG category made it onto this list?
Single-Player Shooters
A lot of people are of the opinion that single-player shooters are a dying breed and with a decrease in the number of titles in the genre, there might be some truth to that. Nevertheless, it’s not dead yet and although all single player shooters now have active multiplayer modes as well, games like Far Cry 5 and the highly-anticipated Red Dead Redemption 2 sell because of the open-world single-player experience they offer, not for the multiplayer. In 2019, more games in the single-player shooter genre are scheduled to make their debuts, such as Metro Exodus, Doom Eternal and Rage 2. It would be interesting to see if the titles are able to revive single-player shooters again.
Online Shooters
Player Unknown’s Battle Grounds (PUBG) and Fortnite were both released in 2017, but they were made available for smartphones only this year and that has potentially changed the gaming scenario forever. By giving people the ability to play the two most popular online shooters on the go, PUBG Corporations and Epic Games have created a gaming phenomenon, since tens of millions of people log in every day to play these two games now. They are not the only options though, with older games like Rainbow Six Siege, Overwatch, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive continuing to be popular among players who love competitive shooters.
Honorable mentions that did not make it onto the list include the Sports (FIFA 19, NBA 2K19, etc.) and Racing (Forza Horizon 4, The Crew 2, etc.) categories. Do note that the titles on this list are not in any particular order, so if you feel that any of the six should be higher up the ladder, then it probably should be! Also, there are still over three months left in the year, so the final list could still change.
