Gaming is on the rise like never before. With technology reaching new heights, video games have transformed from silly pixelated time-killers to immersive storytelling mediums that easily trump most other forms of entertainment. While gaming might be peaking at the moment, that doesn’t mean all games are equally beloved by video game fans. Some genres garner such low interest that they’re barely considered niches, while others have persisted to dominate throughout the history of gaming! If you’re interested in the latter, here are the game genres that never go out of style.

Sports Games

It’s no surprise to hear that sports games are, and always have been smash-hits. In the past, these games were some of the most played co-op titles on gaming consoles, but these days, they’re even more sought after! A big reason for their newfound popularity is the growth of the online betting industry. Thanks to sites like NetBet Sports, sports fans now have the opportunity to bet on their favorite sports no matter where they are. Additionally, these sites host dozens of different sports that users can follow as the matches play out in real-time!

The easy accessibility to such a diverse group of sports has gotten people interested in sports they’ve never even heard of before, and with sports betting being a popular activity, many of the same people have gone on to expand that interest to the realm of video games. Naturally, it’s easy to see why this works out. Sports games tend to be just as diverse! Many industry-leading game developers, inclusing EA, have released video games based on Football, Soccer, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Wrestling, Tennis, and much, much more.

Role-Playing Games

The fantasy RPG genre is one that people have freaked out about since before video games ever came into play. Luckily, that sentiment easily translated into the digital medium, it’s now one of the most popular genres to hit the gaming scene. There are plenty of reasons for this, but the biggest one is easily the mystical aspect of it. Exploring new and magical worlds is something everyone needs from time to time, and these games never fail to provide that in heaps.

Of course, it’s not just the fantasy that has players intrigued. Thanks to the MMORPG boom in the early 2000s, players were introduced to a new world of co-op gaming that involved a whole lot more people than a small LAN party! When combined with all of the gaming essentials that RPGs teach, the social aspect of online gaming took on a life of its own, spawning a mainstream sub-culture that has grown immensely over the years.

Horror Games

At this point, it’s safe to say that video games and horror have a complicated relationship. While horror video games might not always be at the top of the most played games list, they consistently do well, with massive jumps in popularity every few years. It’s hard to provide a good reason why horror games are so beloved, but one thing that comes to mind is the adrenaline rush we get from a good scare! Horror movies are great and all, but when you’re invested in a game and start to identify with your game character, the horror tends to hit a bit differently.

Another thing that certainly contributes to the popularity of horror games is excellent writing, especially with newer releases. While the story aspect of video games was criminally overlooked in the past due to the focus on action, these days, a well-written storyline is detrimental to a game’s success. Most new horror games hit the story mark bullseye perfectly. Some great examples of this are the two most recent Resident Evil games. Resident Evil 7 practically revived the somewhat stale zombie sub-genre, while RE: Village has players going crazy over the unique characters!