PC games entered the private consumer market in the late 1970s and quickly became a very popular activity among children. This coincided with the spread of affordable personal computers (PC). The PC game market has over time undergone dramatic developments, and the games became increasingly complex with sophisticated graphics, plots, and features.
While some believe that the golden years of PC gaming are over, the fact remains that it is still a very popular activity among both children and adults. According to surveys, there are today around 1.8 billion PC gamers worldwide, so gaming is still going strong. Welcome onboard on a gaming themed journey as we unpack the diversity and popularity of different PC gaming genres.
Advantages of PC gaming
PC gaming offers several advantages for players compared to for instance console games. The most significant are:
- Wide range of games – the selection of PC games is greater, and many games are only available in PC format
- Optimized graphics and performance – modern PC games offer increasingly sophisticated graphics and optimized gaming experience.
- Customizable hardware – PC games are flexible and offer customizable components for players such as graphics cards and various computer processors.
Online casino gaming
Let’s face it, most people don’t live in Las Vegas or next to a local land-based casino. However, that does not mean that Americans don’t enjoy casino gaming. The emergence of online casinos has made this popular gaming genres accessible for millions of people across the United States and beyond. Unlike land-based casinos, online gaming sites are open 24/7 and offer an unparalleled variety of gaming experiences.
It is important to note that each US state has different casino gaming laws. For instance, gambling in California is currently not permitted, however the state has shown recent efforts in legalizing sports betting so the situation could change. Currently only social and sweepstake casinos in California are legal, we’ll have to keep an eye out to see if this changes in the future!
Some of the most popular casino games online are:
- Slot machines or slots
- Roulette
- Poker
- Blackjack
- Baccarat
These games cater for different gaming segments. Slots are simple and fun and thereby suitable for both beginners and more experienced gamers. By contrast, strategic table casino games like poker and blackjack require more skills and past gaming experience.
Adventure PC games
Adventure-focused games is a very popular PC entertainment genre. This is quite understandable as the demand for escapism is great. Adventure games transport players to magical worlds that are very different from our daily lives. Today there is a huge variety in adventure titles in the PC game market. One of the top adventure games is The Legend of Zelda, a classic title that has emerged in several editions. It is a game of Japanese origin with a plot focusing on a fantasy world inspired by Medieval Europe. Other popular adventure games are The Walking Dead and Life is Strange.
Strategy PC games
The popularity for strategic challenges has stimulated the growth of strategy focused PC games. This genre of PC Gaming offers a combination of entertainment with the need for strategic decision-making and longer-term resource management. Chess is one of the oldest and most popular strategy games and has also been transformed into the PC format. Age of Empires is another very popular strategy game that focuses on the various challenges and excitement of establishing, expanding and maintaining an empire while confronting other players with the same imperial dreams.
Role-playing games
Role-playing games are in many ways similar to adventure games. However, as the name suggests, role-playing titles enable players to create and customize unique characters that can then play prominent roles in the how the digital virtual worlds are shaped and developed. One popular title is The Witcher, which features Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter with supernatural powers who lives and moves around in a medieval fantasy world of adventure. Other appreciated role-playing games are Mass Effect and the Final Fantasy.
Simulation games
Simulation games are designed to reproduce real settings into a realistic virtual world of challenges and adventure. For instance, Flight Simulator allows some players to fulfill their dream of experiencing the feeling and thrill of piloting a plane with realistic mechanics features that simulate real plane functions. FIFA is another popular simulation game that enables soccer players to experience their favorite teams up-close as they try competing for the championship title. This is a chance to step into the shoes of soccer mega stars like Messi and Ronaldo. The popular simulation game Civilization is for fans who dream about building their own civilization from scratch.
Conclusion
PC games emerged as an entertainment segment almost 50 years ago. PC games have over time become very sophisticated and complex forms for entertainment for children and adults alike. PC gaming is still going strong with some 1.8 billion gamers worldwide. Popular PC game categories include casino games, strategy games, simulation, adventure and strategy.