Modern gaming doesn’t conform to one set genre, instead providing players with a plethora to choose from. From racing simulations to horror, role-playing to puzzle, there is an abundance to delve into, often granting players mesmerizing settings, deep character lore, and astonishing gameplay to enthrall themselves within.
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Arguably an exemplar within the industry, Microsoft has graciously, yet cunningly made numerous titles exclusive to its Xbox consoles, honing in on creating a dedicated community. With various titles stretching across a diverse range of game types, the Xbox platform has inevitably aided the surge in popularity within certain genres, prudently defining them in the process. Boasting an extensive list of games, this highly acclaimed group of exclusives has certainly fueled the popularity of their respective genres.
Epic Games
2006
The TPS (third-person shooter) genre has aged heavily, yet dominantly within the past fifty years, with its earliest creations dating back to the 1970s. Although seen by some as the successor tothe FPS genre, the esteemed TPS genre is in fact its predecessor, inevitably paving the way for some of gaming’s most historic franchises such asGrand Theft Auto,The Last Of Us, andTomb Raider. Directing its primary focus to the player’s avatar, surroundings, and various objects much more than an FPS title would offer. Unique movement, combat, and traversal systems must be coined up, thrusting the player into an unforgettable ‘over the shoulder’ experience.
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Definitivelypost-apocalyptic, furiously violent, and downright exhilarating are all aspectsGears Of Warfans would point out within this game. Thrown into the heart of a millennia-long conflict, and callously tasked with fending off hordes of Hollow creatures,Gears of Wardebatably brandishes one of gaming’s most memorable movement systems, allowing players to tactically navigate their way through war-torn Sera. Harnessing countless aspects seen in TPS titles such as close-quarter combat and a meticulously designed avatar, this Xbox exclusive is an obvious mention with regard to third-person nature, ultimately aiding in the defining of this beloved genre.
Playground Games
2012
Similar to the age of TPS titles is the Racing Simulation genre, an area of gaming that boasts an unfathomablydevoted communitywith games stretching back to the 1970s. Without this cherished genre, the majority of developers couldn’t have implemented their admired vehicle-wielding gameplay gamers know and love, ultimately laying the foundations for titles such asGran Turismo,The Crew, and evenMario Kart. Donning an immersion-related approach to the genre, the selection of Racing Simulation titles is immense, offering fans high-speed tournaments, widely customizable automobiles, and, most commonly, delightfully captivating environments.
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AptlyItalian in nature, the ForzaHorizonseries has sped its way to the top of the genre, certifying itself as a Racing Simulation classic. Despite the vast amount of contending titles, theForza Horizongames, Italian for ‘force’, have managed to engross a large proportion of the genre with their track-style, open-world, and street-style racing competitions, oftentimes taking the player to countlessreal-world locations. With well over ten installments and a dedicated fan base, Xbox’s ingeniously exclusive fan favourite has undoubtedly assisted the growth of this revered genre.
Microsoft
2020
With a forceful surge in popularity over recent years, developers have relished making their Simulation titles as close to real life as possible, consequently producing some of the industry’s mostfascinating games. Although new to the scene, the Flight Simulation genre is definitely on the cusp of expanding exponentially, hurling with it an alluringly enchanting experience. Oftentimes, players are tasked with partaking in stunts, long-distance trips to real-life locations, and, in some cases, even gun-blazing dogfights with other pilots, which have been implemented within titles such asWar Thunder,Island Flight Simulator, andInfinite Flight.
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Eminently prominent within the cherished Flight Simulation genre,Microsoft Flight Simulatorarguably sits at the top with regard to realism, accuracy, and most importantly, playability. Positioned directly in the cockpit, players ofMicrosoft Flight Simulatorare able to journey to places they might want to in real life, all the while tasked with controlling the plane’s altitude, landing gear, and fuel levels. Although most players adhere to commercial flying, some like to branch out to the title’s wide variety of stunt planes, alone, or even with friends. Unique to Xbox owners only, this series has inevitably got the ball rolling for future titles of the admired genre.
Rare
2018
Historic to the industry is the MMO (massively multiplayer online game) genre, widely renowned for its faithfully loyal social community. Brandishing a colossalopen-world environmentfor players to run rampant through allures the majority of gamers, offering a chance to bond with new people, explore compelling settings, and even battle alongside one’s closest companions, all on the same real-time server. This genre steps into a new realm of gaming, oftentimes blurring the line between real life and fantasy through the earning of in-game currencies, the formation of economies, and even the discovery of new relationships, as seen in titles such asGuild Wars,World of Warcraft, andRuneScape.
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Excessively wacky, undeniably entertaining, and ridiculously explorable,Sea of Thieveshas ultimately taken the throne in terms ofgames involving piracy, boasting a large-scale landscape for its players to sail upon. From its tireless amount of battling sea creatures to its endless ship customization options,Sea of Thievesappeals to an inexplicably wide audience: those who wish to make friends to sail the seas with, or those who desire to attack every player they encounter. Donning a definitively memorable movement and combat system, this Xbox exclusive has coursed through the gaming industry with ease, cementing itself as a title that helped to redefine this prized genre.
Bungie
2001
Despite the many faces of gaming, the FPS genre takes center stage time and time again, and rightfully so. Dating as far back as the 1970s, this genre swooped in to claim its position as the forefront image of the gaming industry, home to famous titles such asCall of Duty,Counter-Strike, andDOOM. Fullyimmersing playerswithin an enticingly detailed setting, the FPS genre grants players unlimited possibility and pinpoint accuracy, allowing them to view their actions from a first-person point-of-view perspective.
Firmly solidified as a classic within the gaming industry and the first of the franchise,Halo: Combat Evolveddons an immensely in-depth storyline, poised to enthrall fans of the war-stricken series to battle hordes of the infamous Covenant. Although simple in graphics,Halo: Combat Evolvedstrikes gamers as anostalgic title, cleverly combining elements of first-person combat and vehicular traversal methods. With a vast array of futuristic weaponry, definitively crude alien creatures, and a notably significant gaming mascot, Microsoft played its cards right by harnessing this as an exclusive to their Xbox console, helping to redefine the FPS genre in the process.
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