10 WORST Things About Popular Video Game Genres

Popularity is not always indicative of quality.

What's popular today may not stand the test of time, and though it's reasonable to say that video games are more than just a fleeting curiosity at this point, there's a handful of genres under the wider umbrella of virtual entertainment that have maintained their lofty status since their humble beginnings.

Text-based RPGs have evolved into fully-realised, open world offerings and racing games have developed from janky, top-down, affairs to downright simulation. There's something for everyone to enjoy within the realm of video games, with people across the globe discovering a handful of games that they hold dear.

However, the refining of each respective category of games hasn't been void of errors and annoyances. Medium-defining titles are so rare in number. Pitfalls of modern gaming are still present in abundance, and it seems that every popular genre of game has one or two recurring frustrations.

There are games that innovate, and games that follow, but many of the trailblazing developers and their projects have blemishes that are replicated by others attempting to create something themselves.

Video games are amazing, but there's always room for improvement.

Perhaps above all else, games are supposed to be fun. That's not to say they can't be hard-hitting or educational, though, as much of our world's history comes from warfare. As such, realism is placed on a pedestal, bringing players as close to the fight as possible.

Heavy storylines, malfunctioning guns and realistic bullet flight are all in line with real combat, but this philosophy when implemented in games often comes at the cost of fun. For as great as games like Metro Exodus, S.T.A.L.K.E.R and Far Cry 2 can be, the addition of such realistic elements only hinders the overall enjoyment.

Fairness and competition (be it online or in PvE) are surely far more important to a first person shooter's core design, which is often ousted in favour of a 'realistic' experience.

Plonking a AAA release in the trenches of World War I or the intricate warzones of modern conflicts can offer significant emotional weight that's grounded in reality. The issue is when the gameplay tries to mimic the real-world scenario, and in turn it becomes a chore to play.

Gameplay is the vessel for which most enjoyment from a game can be extracted, so it's crucial to design the fundamentals of the game in a way that retains a sense of realism while never losing its fun.