The gaming industry is one of the largest and most profitable industries in the world. The main reason is that a lot of people like to play video games. Some prefer to play alone and explore many imaginary words that games have to offer.
Others, on the other hand, prefer to play with others in either co-op or competitive modes. The value of the video game market in the U.S. alone is $65.42 billion as of 2021. The gaming industry is not just about the game themselves.
In fact, people purchase specific smartphones, consoles and PC builds to enhance their gaming experience. It's an entire franchise that encompasses various niches and it all pours into a giant industry that operates like a well-oiled machine.
There are tons of different games for you to choose from and explore. Some can be played offline but even those games have an online option where you can play with or against other players. But the question is - which types of online games are the best and how do they work? Let's find out shall we?
MMO games
MMO, short for Massive Multiplayer Online are games that involve a lot of players from all over the world playing in an imaginary setting or an online world. Some of the most famous MMO games include Word Of Warcraft, Guild Wars 1 and 2, The Elder Scrolls Online, Final Fantasy XIV (14) and many others.
So how do these games work, actually? Simply put, players are placed in an online fantasy world. In most cases, you can create your own character using options, such as race, gender, class, profession and other characteristics native to that world.
The goal is to explore and gain experience so that your character can improve and become more efficient at doing things, such as combat, craft, trade and so on. MMO games have a plethora of features and options for players to explore.
These features range from player customization options, such as choosing outfits and looks to characters battle skills. In MMO games, there are typically two settings PvE (Player vs. Environment) and PvP (Player vs. Player). The PvE setting usually involves world exploration, exploring dungeons and fighting NPC bosses, while PvP involves fighting against other players in competitive settings.
Some games like Guild Wars 2 have another setting WvW (World vs. World) where entire servers battle other servers in a competitive environment that involves capturing strategic locations, such as keeps, towers and camps.
MOBA games
One of the most popular online game types is MOBA, short for Multiplayer Online Battle Arena. Some of the most popular MOBA games are Dota2, League of Legends, Overwatch and many others. So, how do MOBAs work?
Usually, every MOBA games involve a PvP setting where 5 players fight against other 5 players. Some games feature more players on teams. You pick a character with unique skills and characteristic and try to coordinate with the rest of your team to defeat the enemy team.
The character you'll choose is entirely optional but other players may get angry if your character isn't supportive enough or doesn't do a lot of damage.
It's a team effort but only pre-made teams can actually make it work. That's why such teams compete in global tournaments and professional leagues. Players compete in unique arenas that are designed to provide advantages and obstacles to make the game more entertaining.
Online casino games
Many people prefer not to get involved with online games that require effort and skill, like MMOs or MOBAs. Instead they choose the old-fashioned casino games but in the online setting. These games include slots, poker, blackjack, roulettes and so on.
If you're wondering about how slot games work actually, they are pretty much the same as the ones you'd find in a brick-and-mortar casino. The only difference is that they're on your smartphone or computer screen rather than on an arcade machine.
These games withstood the testament of time and are still as entertaining as they ever were. You can play these to pass the time or you can actually make some bets and hopefully wins some money in the process.
First Person Shooter
As the name suggests, first person shooter (FPS) games allows you to play armed characters in a competitive or single player setting. The goal is to shoot others before they shoot you. The most famous FPS games include Counter Strike, Call of Duty, Battlefield and so on.
The setting is usually a warzone where many players on one side fight against many players on the other side. For example, Allies vs. Axis in WWII setting. The only exception is Counter Strike where the setting is terrorist vs. counter terrorists.
In any event, FPS games have campaigns where you can play out historical or completely imagined events. Most of these games have battle royal online features where you fight against other players.
The setting usually involves vehicles, additional weapons, forts, trenches, tanks, planes and even battleships on some occasions. Therefore, it's a massive shoot out where your team does everything they can to defeat the opposing team.
There are a lot of different types of online games. Some are more popular than the others but that doesn't mean they are your cup of tea. That said, the best ways to approach online games is to do some research and find the game that suits you most. After all, the purpose of video games is to have fun and enjoy yourself while playing.
