In life, we all need to challenge ourselves on occasion and venture outside of our comfort zones. As seen in the online world on YouTube channels and on social media platforms like X, many people put their brain power to the test through some gaming-related challenges. However, not every genre of gaming necessarily provides enough of a stern test for players to get stuck into.
For keen gamers seeking a demanding game to tackle, there are certain genres that specialize in these types of games more than others. We aren’t talking about puzzle games with up to 10 levels to complete in under an hour here, but genres that require deep thinking, strategic planning, high levels of skill, and even quick reflexes. For expert gamers, these more stimulating products stand out when compared to the competition.
So, if you’re wanting more of a challenge for your next gaming marathon, then below we highlight some of the most testing genres to consider immersing yourself in and why they tend to serve up an array of head-scratching scenarios.
Rhythm games
If you’re keen to combine your love of both music and gaming, then rhythm games are the perfect opportunity to do so, especially when you manage to reach expert levels. Players have to become masters of pattern recognition, all while getting their timing right and ensuring their stamina is strong. From Beat Saber to Dance Dance Revolution, there are a number of success stories in this specific genre of gaming, all of which aren’t easy to grasp.
Survival games
We’ve all wondered how we’d fare in a survival situation, right? Well, many players can’t resist putting themselves to the test in a virtual setting. Survival games like The Long Dark and Project Zomboid immediately transport players into these life-threatening situations, with gamers having to manage their resources and survive and thrive. There are shelters to build, waves of enemies to see off, and terrifying scenes to overcome. A genre of gaming that’s almost impossible not to be gripped by, survival games are fantastic.
Fighting games
While you can potentially button bash your way to victory on occasions, fighting games require a great deal of skill to consistently come out on top. Requiring frame-perfect execution, timing is everything and knowledge around fight-winning combos is essential. Players also have to read their opponents and anticipate moves, especially during a competitive online scenario. Iconic releases that are known to be challenging includes the Street Fighter franchise and the Tekken series, although there are hundreds of top fighting games to consider tackling.
Online blackjack games
If you’re partial to the world of casino gaming, then you might fancy playing online blackjack games. While learning the casino banking game shouldn’t take too long, mastering it is an entirely different matter. Many experienced blackjack players are still fine-tuning their strategies today, with the ultimate aim being to become advantage players. Once you fully immerse yourself in this classic casino game, blackjack really is enthralling.
Real-time strategy games
As their name suggests, real-time strategy releases specialize in providing a grueling workout for your brain. Thanks to titles like StarCraft II and Age of Empires, gamers everywhere are opening themselves up to this alluring genre. Typically, RTS releases require players to multitask, with fast decision-making and strategic thinking being absolutely paramount. Alongside this, gamers also have to manage various resources, make consistently correct decisions, and stay calm and collected under pressure. Overall, real-time strategy games are definitely some of the hardest releases to get your teeth into.
Other challenging gaming genres include roguelike titles, hardcore action RPG games, simulation games, and precision platformers.