5 games that created entirely new genres

Most games build on ideas that came before, genres that have been around for ages. But every now and then, a single title does something so radically different that it spawns an entirely new genre. These five games didn’t just raise the bar; they created an entirely new one.

5 Wolfenstein 3D (1992)

The birth of the first-person shooter

Wolfenstein 3D, released by id Software back in 1992, is widely credited as being the first true first-person shooter game of its kind. It placed players into 3D mazes filled with enemies, treasure, and secret levels to find. Although the game looks incredibly dated by today's standards, it was a technical marvel at its time.

Before Wolfenstein 3D, traditional shooters were usually viewed from the top-down or side-scrolling perspectives and were considered Maze games. The game created something completely new because you viewed it from a first-person perspective. Wolfenstein 3D introduced fast reflex-based combat in enclosed spaces. The combat inspired a new genre of games, ushered in the era of Doom and Quake, and led to the rise in popularity of all subsequent FPS titles.

4 Metroid (1986)

The blueprint for Metroidvanias

When Metroid dropped in 1986, it redefined how side-scrolling games worked. Most side-scrolling platformers of the time would have players run from one side of the level to the next and then start the next level once it's completed. Metroid introduced power-ups that would let players return to areas that were previously inaccessible, essentially turning a level-based game into an open-world game.

This new level of exploration and layered progression was a major shift away from linear platformers. Soon, games like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night adopted the same open-world design, and the label “Metroidvania” was born. What could have just been a one-off game spawned an entirely new sub-genre of games. Modern Metroidvania games includeOri and the Blind Forest and Hollow Knight.

3 Rogue (1980)

The grandfather of roguelikes

Long before, roguelikes became the most popular indie games on the market. We had Rogue, released in 1980. The game introduced permadeath, procedurally generated dungeons, and turn-based combat. Each run was unique and final. Die once, and you start from scratch.

While the original's graphics were not the greatest, the gameplay loop it created was addictive and slowly grew a cult following. That core gameplay loop spawned a legion of indie roguelikes like Spelunky, Hades, and The Binding of Isaac.

2 Pokémon Red/Blue (1996)

Defining the monster-collector RPG

When Pokémon Red and Blue launched in 1996, the franchise became an instant success. It popularized a new type of game revolving around collecting, training, and battling creatures. While RPGs did exist at the time, Pokémon created a genre focused on capturing monsters instead of finding loot or weapons.

After a successful anime, trading card game, and multiple video games, Pokémon would become a household name in both Japan and around the world. While The Pokémon Company doesn't outright have a patent on the genre of video games, they are very protective of their IP rights, so not many studios make competitive titles. The most recent game to rise to popularity in the genre is Palworld, but some other titles under less legal dispute are games like Temtem, Nexomon, and Ni no Kuni.

1 Demon's Souls (2009)

Launching the Soulslike genre

Demon’s Souls, released in 2009, took a dark fantasy aesthetic and combined it with one of the most brutal combat systems ever conceived. There were tons of difficult games before the Souls series. FromSoftware took a different approach to their games. They wanted their game to be as hard as humanly possible to beat, forcing players to master the game's complex weapon system and combat mechanics. Soulslike games are known for having incredibly difficult enemies and often slow-paced combat that requires precise hits by the player. Gamers consider the genre a true test of skill.

After Demon's Souls, the “Souls” formula was slowly perfected after the Dark Souls trilogy, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring expanded on the blueprint. Soon, other studios followed, spawning “Soulslikes” games like Nioh or Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Even titles like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Lies of P have stated directly that their games pay homage to Demon Souls-esque combat or setting.

These games broke the mold

Each of these five games did more than define a particular series; they completely broke the mold and became an entirely new genre. These titles rewrote rules, set new standards, and inspired generations of developers.