Been there, done that: Oversaturated Genres

[Chezlyn]

In your own opinion, which video game genre do you think is the most oversaturated?
In other words, a genre that so many devs flock towards to try and win over players and hope for success.
I have a few in mind but I'd like to know what you all think.
Also which genre do you think deserves more focus? Can you name a few titles within that genre that the gaming industry should focus into?
Perhaps you have an idea for a new genre that corporate lizards are unable to conceptualize?

 

[Karnik]

In other words, a genre that so many devs flock towards to try and win over players and hope for success.

Recently, eroge (hentai) games: the more they are clogged with porn scenes and body fluids, the more the developers hope to succeed among nerds.
And congratulations on the title of the thread: it is very clear and precise: it already explains everything, really...

 

[LUNARMYTH]

Not sure if over saturated is the right term for me to use here, but in my opinion, I never cared much for MOBAs (Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas). They just manifested in droves, and more times than not they are big cash grabs. Spend your money how you like, no shame from me. But man, they hold no bars to a fully thought out, story based game.

Not sure what genre I'd like to see more of. I enjoy a really well made horror game, there's a lot of bad ones, but when we eat good, we eat good.

 

[Bonkers225]

Damn open worlds with nothing but rocks, and trees

 

[Chezlyn]

my bad

Recently, eroge (hentai) games: the more they are clogged with porn scenes and body fluids, the more the developers hope to succeed among nerds.
And congratulations on the title of the thread: it is very clear and precise: it already explains everything, really...

I'm sorry

 

[Waffles]

For a really long time that spot belonged to FPSs, particularly those about WW2.

We get it. It's an easy sell... but damn it. It felt like every game happened in Normandy for a while.

 

[Bonkers225]

For a really long time that spot belonged to FPSs, particularly those about WW2.

We get it. It's an easy sell... but damn it. It felt like every game happened in Normandy for a while.

Normandy, but this time, it happened an hour earlier!

 

[Waffles]

Normandy, but this time, it happened an hour earlier!

Call Of Duty: Breakfast Run.

 

[DunkeyKong]

Battle Royale and like the other guy said, Moba. These things spreads like a virus and it's like a mosquitoes...it sucks

 

[Otosou]

I would say "souls-like". Everyone and their grandma is making them nowadays, and lots of them are just bad. Even more 2D metroidvania-soulslikes... I'm kinda fed up with the whole genre, especially 2D ones, but 3D as well..

 

[RageBurner]

Are indie games valid for the purposes of this thread? if so, the most saturated genre I can think of is roguelikes and within that, bullet heaven and Slay the Spire likes... ugh.

There are some good ones in this space, sure, but good luck finding them.

From the AAA space, maybe Soulslikes and adjacent genrres.

 

[Gorse]

Japanese developers need to knock it off with the Devil May Cry/Bayonetta/Astral Chain-style “character action” games already… they’re that country’s equivalent to our generic FPS slop. I know they’re popular with Americans, which is why they keep making them, but I’ve never been able to get anything out of these games aside from meaningless button-mashing. It’s even a thing in Sonic, now! Let’s start moving past that, lads.

As for what they shooouuuuld make, I’d really love to see point and click adventure games make a huge comeback, on both sides of the Pacific. Games like Garage: Bad Dream Adventure, Gadget: Past as Future, and Dogday really show how a slow-paced virtual world can build a deep, rich sense of atmosphere and character without the need for an RPG or shooter interface.

I know that this genre has always been maligned, even when it was current, but c’mon, fellas — we have better tools, now! Adventure games are like snuggling in with a good book, and I like games that give me a sensation like that.

 

[Clippy]

Games as a service . That blight should've never existed.

Other than that, pretty much any old genre that resurfaced in recent years, like boomer shooters or 2D platformers. There are some amazing gems in there but you have to wade through A LOT of crap to find them nowadays.

As for a genre I'd like to see more of? Commandos-like tactical games hands down. The genre really came and went in the late 90s/early 00s and we haven't seen many games in the style since. Shadow Tactics is excellent and Desperados III is pretty good too (though I feel it's missing the shootout aspect I associate with the Wild West, full-on stealth just doesn't do the theme justice imo).

 

[Estein]

Games as a service . That blight should've never existed.

Other than that, pretty much any old genre that resurfaced in recent years, like boomer shooters or 2D platformers. There are some amazing gems in there but you have to wade through A LOT of crap to find them nowadays.

As for a genre I'd like to see more of? Commandos-like tactical games hands down. The genre really came and went in the late 90s/early 00s and we haven't seen many games in the style since. Shadow Tactics is excellent and Desperados III is pretty good too (though I feel it's missing the shootout aspect I associate with the Wild West, full-on stealth just doesn't do the theme justice imo).

Post automatically merged: Dec 17, 2024

Have you tried Jagged Alliance 2?That might fit your description.

 

[Clippy]

Post automatically merged: Dec 17, 2024

Have you tried Jagged Alliance 2?That might fit your description.

I know of the series and I've been meaning to give it a go for a while now but somehow I never got round to it.

 

[Bakuma1997]

See those Vampire survivors clones where the only difference is the skin of the game and how much you can play before an Ad? That

 

[Noon]

Not a whole genre, but "Romance/Dating Sim" options... oooou I hates em. I mean, violent monsters and serial killers can fight back in a battle system, but characters stuck in a "Harem branch choice" thingy have zero influence or resistance if you pick their "right choices" there's literally NO WAY for them to "win" against you if you keep choosing them, it usually just feels weirdly tagged on, and there's usually never any other kind of final options, like friends or allies or rivals, you just leave their event line incomplete or complete it.

I HATE feeling like using a character turns into being auto-pushed into Hareming them, I just end up not interacting with any of the characters at all... It just feels like the person who made that system didn't like the characters in the first place to make them act like Lite prostitutes giving you the RPG experience?

I'm not against romances or anything, just not with mannequins. Especially when battle/racing/FPS systems are constantly evolving and decked with dozens of options and customizable classes and whatnot, like WTF!? GRAGRDBWICNO!*(#&3721...

...Inhales....Exhales...Inhales....Exhales...

 

[freebie#47]

Live Service games...they keep making them, and then quickly shut them down.

 

[RageBurner]

Live Service games...they keep making them, and then quickly shut them down.

Yeah. They tried to go this direction with MH World and backpedaled, but some of that design philosophy is still in the game.

 

[JustLooking123]

Actually i'm not much up-to-date with recent games at all, and never follow their news...

But i can tell what genre of games i like the most!
I like a mixture of RPG and VN, where each action can have a natural and logical influence and outcome in story!

I like even its battle system to be story based!
which means each battle to be unique, and with ability to talk with party members and enemies during battle in a meaningful way! (which might translate to they killing you as soon as you open your mouth! if that's the natural thing!)

I wonder if such a game exists at all...

 

[RageBurner]

Actually i'm not much up-to-date with recent games at all, and never follow their news...

But i can tell what genre of games i like the most!
I like a mixture of RPG and VN, where each action can have a natural and logical influence and outcome in story!

I like even its battle system to be story based!
which means each battle to be unique, and with ability to talk with party members and enemies during battle in a meaningful way! (which might translate to they killing you as soon as you open your mouth! if that's the natural thing!)

I wonder if such a game exists at all...

I think elements of this exist in some games, but not one quite like what you describe, I don't think.

 

[Yousef]

my bad

I'm sorry

Ignore Karnik, he’s sometimes randomly mean for no reason. Your thread titles are great and creative. These forums benefit from some personality.

 

[Clippy]

Actually i'm not much up-to-date with recent games at all, and never follow their news...

But i can tell what genre of games i like the most!
I like a mixture of RPG and VN, where each action can have a natural and logical influence and outcome in story!

I like even its battle system to be story based!
which means each battle to be unique, and with ability to talk with party members and enemies during battle in a meaningful way! (which might translate to they killing you as soon as you open your mouth! if that's the natural thing!)

I wonder if such a game exists at all...

The closest game I can think of that homes in on your ideal is Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines. Deus Ex also comes close. Gothic, Baldur's Gate, Arcanum, Planescape Torment and Dungeon Siege also meet some of your criteria.

I'm not sure if any of these games is 100% what you're looking for but they're great for what they are anyway.

 

[JustLooking123]

The closest game I can think of that homes in on your ideal is Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines. Deus Ex also comes close. Gothic, Baldur's Gate, Arcanum, Planescape Torment and Dungeon Siege also meet some of your criteria.

I'm not sure if any of these games is 100% what you're looking for but they're great for what they are anyway.

Wow! that's a lot! Thank you!
I will check them out fast!

 

[RageBurner]

The closest game I can think of that homes in on your ideal is Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines. Deus Ex also comes close. Gothic, Baldur's Gate, Arcanum, Planescape Torment and Dungeon Siege also meet some of your criteria.

I'm not sure if any of these games is 100% what you're looking for but they're great for what they are anyway.

So many good suggestions! these flew way over my head even though I played Masquerade Bloodlines before (gave up because of bugs).