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Genres
Almost every game has a story, but in some the story is the main character. These games divide your attention between narrative and action in different ways: some consist almost entirely of conversations and choices, others punctuate chases with long staged scenes, and still others get by without a single word, telling everything through light, music and gesture. Below is a guide to the main genres, described in general terms, so you can figure out which pace and style of storytelling suits you best.
A genre hints at how the game will talk to you: with dialogue, with a chase, or with silence.
How this section works: genres are described in general terms, without titles, studios or scores. Check the age rating, length and accessibility settings on the page of each specific game.
Genres where decisions and dialogue matter more than reflexes.
A game built like a story told in episodes: scenes with the characters, dialogue, choices and occasional action moments where you have to press a button in time. The main appeal is how your decisions change the characters' relationships and the ending.
Drama in games (in Russian)
You explore places, collect items, solve small puzzles and have long conversations with the locals. Branching conversations reveal personalities and open up new paths.
You examine a scene, compare evidence and testimony, and then draw a conclusion. Good games in this genre let you get it wrong and honestly show where a bad guess led.
Documentary games (in Russian)
Not a single line of dialogue: the story comes through the character's movement, light, color, music and the layout of the space. These games are usually short and leave plenty of room for your own interpretation.
Genres where the plot goes hand in hand with a chase, fear or a quiet walk.
Fear here comes not from sudden noises but from the story: a secret from the past, the hero's limited strength, silence in a hallway. Before buying, it's especially important to check the age rating and content description.
Game thrillers (in Russian)
A half-joking name for games with almost no fighting: you walk through the world, listen to voices, read letters and piece the story together from fragments you find. The pace is calm, yet the impression is often powerful.
Shootouts, chases and fights are stitched together with long staged scenes. The camera behaves like it would in an adventure movie, and the game tries not to interrupt the action with loading screens and menus.
How to finish a story game without losing the thread: a step-by-step plan, plus the catalogue of our articles.
Cutscenes and skipping them, quick-time events, branching dialogue, the journal and notes, saves and accessibility.
Your own criteria, no ratings: story and characters, weight of choices, pacing, accessibility, length and fair payment.
A glossary: cutscene, quick-time event, branching, ending, motion capture, "point of no return" and more.
We describe mechanics and settings in general terms. Every game has its own menus, option names and set of accessibility features, and they can change after an update, so check the game's own help pages and settings for exact details.