USgamer Community Question: What New Genre of Games Are You Trying to Get Into?

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Humans are animals of habit. Once we're set in our ways, trying new things feels daunting. That goes double for leisure activities. If you're already perfectly happy with one kind of TV show or video game, who needs to spend precious free time breaking into a genre you usually don't bother with?

Ah, but variety is the spice of life. Or the mustard of doom. Something like that. Leaping blind into a new experience can enrich your life in ways you never expected.

How about it, then? Is there a new video game genre you've been meaning to try, even if it's not typically your bag?

Mike Williams, Reviews Editor

My time with Forza Motorsport 7 has definitely illustrated to me that I need to spend more time with simulation racers. I've usually avoided them because in the past, there were a ton of arcade racers to take up my time. As such, I never wanted to put in the effort to really get a handle of simulation controls and physics.

Microsoft Studios probably has the right idea in that the Forza Horizon series acts as sort of a gateway into the more realistic Forza Motorsport side of the franchise. The core, a love of racing, is the same, but how either game goes about it is different. I'll be reviewing Gran Turismo Sport next, but taking on Forza Motorsport 7 has opened me up to the idea of games like Dirt Rally. I doubt I'll become a sim head, but at least I'm not closing the door on them either.

Nadia Oxford, Staff Writer

I always seem to drift in and out of 3D shooting games, and one of these days I'm going to make myself commit to the genre. Truth is, I enjoy shooting games, from adventure-centric stuff (like Metroid Prime), to stuff that's heavier on the RPG elements (Fallout 3 and 4), to the frantic fare that keeps your heart rate up (multiplayer deathmatches, which I admittedly suck at).

The reason why I don't stick to 3D shooting games is tricky: Sometimes they trigger my motion sickness, and sometimes I'm fine. Fallout 4 made me incredibly woozy, whereas Nintendo's 3D games barely touch me at all. I can never predict how things are going to end up. What a fun adventure.

I'm determined to break out of my comfort zone in 2018 (Kat will see to it, don't you worry), so maybe it's time to invest in some Sea Bands and get some shooting done.

Caty McCarthy, Staff Writer

I feel like 2017 is the year I've branched out in trying games outside of my comfort zone more than ever before. I got into a mini-MOBA phase with Heroes of the Storm and League of Legends. I played a decent chunk of Divinity: Original Sin 2, a game that I felt wouldn't click with me because of its old school leanings, but propelled high because its strong writing. (Kinda like how The Witcher 3 roped me in unexpectedly.) Yet the genre that's caught me most off guard is genuinely a new one, one spearheaded by one of the biggest surprise hits of the year.

Of course, it's the "Battle Royale" genre. A genre also known as Last Person Standing, where 100 or so players parachute onto an enclosed area, and are set to kill one another until one person (or one team) stands tall, chicken dinner in hand. When PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds started gaining traction earlier this year, I shrugged it off. Multiplayer-only games are very rarely my thing (except for Overwatch). Military-aestheticized games are especially not my jam (I like a little color and character in my games, thank you).

Yet, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds sunk its claws into me, and skyrocketed into being one of my favorite games of the year. Given this is a relatively new genre, I'm excited to see it expand not just within Brendan "PlayerUnknown" Greene's game, but beyond too. Fortnite's already dabbled with the genre to middling results, and by no means will they be the last. I'm counting down the days for Blizzard to enter the fray and improve on the already cemented formula. Or any other big developer, honestly.

Matt Kim, News Editor

Recently I've been trying to get into more demanding genres of games that not only demands competency, but perfection. No other game genre represents this kind of acute focus than racing games. Specifically high-precision racing games like Gran Turismo or Forza.

I've been trying to get into these kinds of racing games because I think I'd like to go into that focus mindset that high-precision racing games require. Each measure of improvement is made by shaving .1 seconds off a turn, or hitting a curve just right. These small victories end up chaining together into a perfect run, and it's a goal that I've decided to go for.

I don't yet enjoy racing games, but I'm convinced there's some kind of zen state to be found in racing games.