This is like, everything, y'know? All games.

Fighting, RPGs, Simulators, you name it. All are beloved here.

The highest category, grouping genres that share foundational purpose.

For example, Arcade Class genres typically emphasize perfecting a limited set of mechanics by reaching high scores in short bursts of a gameplay loop.

Contrast that against Adventure Class genres, which may feature Arcade Class mechanics woven into a larger, narrative-based framework.

Genre is based on sharing a similar base gameplay objective, while still maintaining values from its Class.

For example, games in the Shooting Genre center around firing and dodging projectiles.

Subgenre groups games in a genre by their gameplay implementation.

For example, Shooting games may take the form of a V-SHMUP, Fixed Shooter, or Platforming Shooter.

Some groups of games may similarly riff on an implementation or combine existing subgenres.

These groups are typically not plentiful enough to form their own subgenre; however, they are still distinct as a unit.

Gameplay may be altered due to its visual representation, despite retaining the same properties within a subgenre.

2D, 2.5D, 3D, and isometric representations can all serve as variants of the same type of game.

Games that share deep ties - mechanically or otherwise - create informal packs.

This is most typically seen with sequels and spiritual successors.

Modifiers exist outside the hierarchy but denote when games pull mechanics from other sub/genres but not in a way that adjusts the underlying purpose. Think of how a platformer may have an RPG-like EXP system, or how versatile "Roguelite" elements are brought across genres.

Represents a shared visual theme (e.g. cel-shaded, voxel, cute 'em up.