A game is an organized form of activity, usually undertaken for fun or entertainment, and at times used as a teaching tool. Games are quite different from work, which are often carried out for monetary compensation, and from fine arts, that is more often a pure expression of artistic or philosophical elements. While games may be played for any number of reasons, they generally serve to improve critical thinking, hand-eye coordination and memory, as well as fostering social interaction. There are an infinite number of games and activities, ranging from games based on popular culture to ones centered on every possible interest.

In the beginning, video games were simple text-based outings with simple graphical interface. However, as technology evolved, the medium started to advance, resulting in more sophisticated game mechanics and greater interactivity. Games developed from pen-and-paper versions to text-based computer games, to graphics-rich games that relied on highly sophisticated graphic engines to offer a world-class visual experience. Today there are hundreds of different types of these different types of games, each having their own particular purposes and features.

The first category is adventure games, which usually rely on a limited understanding of how to play video game consoles. Adventure games revolve around a plot, a main character and a series of quests that must be completed in order to move the storyline forward. Although the player should have a basic idea of how to complete the quests, there will frequently be elements that require the player’s experience and skill in order to progress. This category includes such classic examples as Secret of Solstise, Gabrielle: The Golden Compass, Jade Empire and Agatha Christie’s Amnesia: The Witch.

The second most common game genre is action-adventure. Similar to adventure games, action-adventures are focused around a plot and a main character, but they often have a greater emphasis on interactive gameplay than puzzles or exploration. A typical example of an action-adventure game would be Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear 2 and Dead Orbit. The action-adventure genre includes such classics as Tomb Raider Anniversary, Rayman Raving Rabbids and platform games like Super Mario Galaxy and Zelda Twilight Princess. These games tend to include more complex puzzles and more elaborate gameplay than their action-adventure counterparts, but all are highly replayable.

The third most popular genre of video game is role-playing. This genre covers a wide variety of styles, such as fantasy role-playing, mystery Role-Playing and horror Role-Playing. One of the most fun facts about this growing genre is that many video game consoles include a feature that allows the player to control a character in an almost infinite manner, from walking around to using special attacks.

The fourth most popular genre is adventure and puzzle-adventures. These types of games are great examples of how a variety of styles can be combined to create an incredibly memorable experience. Adventure and puzzle-adventures usually feature characters that are heavily involved in some kind of story. Often the storyline in these types of games is non-linear, meaning that the player will not always know what their next step is even after going through one scene. Typical examples of this genre include Final Fantasy and Zelda, as well as the Legend of Zelda and Xanadu. In terms of popularity, puzzle and adventure games are quickly becoming the most popular type of PC game, which could be a result of their engaging and rewarding gameplay and non-linearity.