Top Mobile Game Genres

Mobile gaming is a massive industry. The days of playing Snake 2 on your Nokia 3310 are long gone. Now, you can play pretty much any genre of game on your mobile. Here are the top mobile game genres.

Action / Adventure

This is probably the most popular genre on the mobile platform. Games such as Assassin's Creed Pirates and Shadowgun Legends are examples of action/adventure games. The player typically plays an agile protagonist that has a special gun, sword, or magical ability. They must go through levels full of enemies and solve puzzles to complete the game.

Arcade

These are games that don't take themselves too seriously. If the player fails, they get a game over screen and can try again. Arcade games often have bonuses, power-ups, or extra lives to give the player an advantage

Battle Royal

Also known as Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA), this genre involves fast-paced multiplayer combat between two teams. The goal is to destroy the other team's main structure before they get yours. Or, at least to have more points than them when time runs out.

Casino

Quite simply, this genre involves gambling. Online casinos are now more popular than brick-and-mortar casinos, which gives you an insight into the popularity of mobile gaming. Online blackjack games and poker games attract people from all over the world.

MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online RPG)

This genre is all about exploring a large online world while completing quests and fighting enemies. Mobile MMORPGs can be played on the go, giving you an endless supply of quests to complete. These are less common on mobile, but they do exist.

Puzzle

These games challenge the player's mind. The genre includes logic puzzles, tile-matching games, and Sudoku puzzles. Plus, puzzle games can also branch out into role-playing or adventure titles such as The Room.

Racing

The most popular racing games on the mobile platform are far from realistic. Instead, they typically involve cartoon cars in a colorful world. The player has to collect coins and avoid other drivers along the way. They can also use power-ups to boost their speed or slow down enemies around them.

Role-playing Games (RPGs)

This genre involves the player creating a character and taking it through levels. Players have to complete quests, level up their characters, and improve their gear, all while fighting monsters.

Simulation

The simulation genre is about recreating real-life scenarios in a virtual world. In these games, you are typically put in the shoes of a pilot, doctor, or mayor. You usually have to perform tasks that are similar to those in real life in order to succeed.

Sports

This genre is all about recreating sports scenarios in a virtual environment. Sports games on mobile are typically soccer, football, and baseball titles where you can play against other players or the computer.

Digital Card Games

This genre involves collecting virtual cards and using them to defeat an opponent. The player typically buys packs of cards with real money. They must then build a strong deck from those packs in order to play against other players online. Digital card games are similar to physical trading card games like Magic the Gathering or Pokémon.