10 Beloved Video Game Genres That Didn't Deserve To Die
But fear not, futuristic shooters will live on forever.
It's no surprise that as time goes on, the video game industry evolves. We see trends come and go, and new genres take the forefront only to sometimes disappear in the blink of an eye. What was once popular fades out and becomes forgotten as the new hot trend steamrolls right over it.
Not only has the popularity of certain genres changed over time, but the way we play them has, too. Just recently we've seen the increase in popularity for VR, which broke down barriers formally standing strong. It's allowed for new games to emerge whilst some long-lost genres make a slight comeback alongside. Like on-rails shooters, for example: Until Dawn: Rush of Blood will give any 90s gamer some serious House of the Dead vibes.
However, some genres have been lost to time, whether it be down to over-saturation at one point, or just a dwindling interest. While admittedly, some of the genres on this list have fallen deeper into the ground than others, there's no denying they are nowhere near where they used to be in terms of popularity.
Which dead video game genres simply didn't deserve to die?
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10. Real-Time Strategy
Up first is Real-Time Strategy games, a genre somewhat more 'alive' than any other on this list. While it may still have some air in its lungs, albeit a small amount, this genre has more than fallen off, with big releases almost never coming from it.
It's a genre almost exclusively alive on the PC, which is understandable thanks to the style of play. Smaller market games are keeping things afloat, but it has been years since it the likes of Command & Conquer was on everybody's lips.
Indeed, there's no doubting that 2010 may have been the last strong year for RTSs. The year saw releases of Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight, the last true C&C game, and Starcraft II, the last heavy-hitter from the genre. Starcraft II has seen two expansions come out since release which provided a breath of fresh air, but it hasn't been enough to spark a rebirth.
Gathering other sub-genres under the umbrella of RTS like turn-based strategy games such as Civilization VI or MOBAs like Smite make the genre seem alive and well. However, if you take it at its core, back to the old RTS games you knew and loved, then this genre's glory days are certainly behind it.