Classic Games That Started Entire Genres

23 January 2026

You ever think about how your favorite game might owe its very existence to a pixelated pioneer from decades ago? It’s wild, right? The fact is, some legendary titles didn’t just make waves—they created oceans. Entire genres were born from the minds of a few daring developers who had no blueprint, no roadmap—just a crazy idea and a joystick.

Today, we're taking a nostalgic trip back through gaming history to highlight the classic games that started entire genres. These aren't just old-school greats—they're the foundation stones of the gaming empires we see today.

So grab a snack, lean back, and let's dive into the games that started it all.

Pong (1972) – The Birth of Competitive Gaming

Let’s kick it off with the granddaddy of them all—Pong. Yeah, two paddles and a dot, that’s it. Simple, raw, effective. Pong didn’t just become an arcade hit—it gave birth to the entire concept of competitive video gaming.

Before Pong? Nothing remotely close to that existed in the mainstream. This was the first time two players could square off in real time. Winning or losing—suddenly, that mattered. Seems obvious now, but without Pong, there might not be esports or online matchmaking today.

🎮 Genre Spawned: Competitive / Arcade Multiplayer

Space Invaders (1978) – Laying the Groundwork for Shooters

If you’ve ever popped headshots in Call of Duty or mowed down waves in Doom, you owe a silent thanks to Space Invaders. With its relentless waves of descending aliens, Space Invaders wasn’t just addictive—it was the origin story for shoot-'em-up and FPS mechanics.

It taught us that games could be fast, tense, and all about reflexes. And that sound design? That slow, heart-pounding rhythm as the invaders closed in? Genius. It basically built the emotional core of what we now expect from action games.

👾 Genre Spawned: Shoot-'Em-Up / Precursors to FPS

Rogue (1980) – The OG of Procedural Games

Ever died in a modern roguelike and had to start all over from scratch? Blame Rogue. This ASCII-based dungeon crawler introduced procedural generation, permadeath, and absolutely no mercy.

Those are staples in today’s gaming world, especially with indie hits like Hades, Dead Cells, and The Binding of Isaac ruling the leaderboard charts. Rogue earned its spot not because it was flashy (it really wasn’t), but because it was one-of-a-kind—literally. Every playthrough was different.

🧙‍♂️ Genre Spawned: Roguelike / Procedural Dungeon Crawlers

Adventure (1979) – The First Action-Adventure Game

Now, hear me out. Adventure on the Atari 2600 might look super basic today—heck, your player character is literally a square! But this was the first game to include an open world, inventory system, and item-based puzzles.

It laid down the DNA for everything from Zelda to modern open-world RPGs. Adventure didn’t hold your hand—it let you wander, explore, and solve mysteries. That was groundbreaking at a time when games were still figuring out how to exist.

🗺️ Genre Spawned: Action-Adventure

Donkey Kong (1981) – Platformers Begin Here

You know Mario, right? Of course, you do. But before he was leaping across Mushroom Kingdoms, he was a jump-happy carpenter scaling a construction site to save his girlfriend from a giant ape.

This was Donkey Kong, and it wasn’t just Nintendo’s breakout—it was the birth of the platformer genre. Timed jumps, vertical movement, enemy dodging—this game shaped the keynote features of every platform game that followed.

🐵 Genre Spawned: Platformers

Ultima (1981) – Shaping the RPG Universe

If you're a fan of Final Fantasy, The Witcher, or even Skyrim, then you have Ultima to thank. It wasn’t just another dungeon crawler. This game had storyline depth, character stats, an interactive world, and—wait for it—morality systems.

Ultima shaped the modern role-playing game by showing that games could be more than just high scores—they could be journeys where choices mattered. With Ultima, RPGs evolved from dice rolls to deep, immersive experiences.

⚔️ Genre Spawned: Computer Role-Playing Games (CRPGs)

Wolfenstein 3D (1992) – FPS Gets Its Face

Okay, this one’s legendary. Wolfenstein 3D is often called the grandfather of the first-person shooter genre—and for good reason. It gave gamers a weapon, a hallway, and a bunch of Nazis. The rest was history.

Sure, Doom would later polish the formula, but Wolfenstein built the basic gameplay loop. This was the first time you could experience a gunfight from the character’s eyes—intensifying immersion and adrenaline in a way never seen before.

🔫 Genre Spawned: First-Person Shooter (FPS)

SimCity (1989) – Inventing The City-Building Sim

Who knew that managing a tiny little village could be this addictive? SimCity didn’t just let you build a city—it made you its mayor, engineer, accountant, and sometimes, firefighter.

Before SimCity, games were about destroying or surviving. This one was about creating. It inspired an entire universe of simulation and management games, from RollerCoaster Tycoon to Cities: Skylines.

🏙️ Genre Spawned: Simulation / City-Building Sims

Metroid (1986) – The Metroidvania Blueprint

Yes, it’s right there in the name—Metroid helped spawn the “Metroidvania” genre (alongside Castlevania, of course). What did it bring to the table? Massive, interconnected worlds where exploration wasn’t just optional—it was necessary.

Backtracking after picking up new abilities? Non-linear progression? Check and check. Metroid showed us that discovery could be the best reward. Modern games like Hollow Knight and Ori and the Blind Forest owe everything to this gem.

🪐 Genre Spawned: Metroidvania / Non-linear Exploration Platformers

Street Fighter II (1991) – Competitive Fighting Starts Here

Few games lit arcades on fire like Street Fighter II. It took the fighting game concept, cranked the strategy up, introduced iconic characters, and created the idea of combos—turning button mashing into an art form.

Try to name a fighting game that doesn't follow Street Fighter II’s formula. You can’t. Mortal Kombat, Tekken, Smash Bros—all of them took notes from this 2D brawler masterpiece.

🥋 Genre Spawned: Competitive Fighting Games

Dune II (1992) – RTS Finds Its General

Here's one you might not hear about every day—Dune II. This game laid down the rules for real-time strategy games as we know them. Base building, resource gathering, unit management—it was all here.

You can thank Dune II for inspiring giants like StarCraft, Age of Empires, and Command & Conquer. It showed that thinking on your feet could be just as fun as pulling a trigger.

⚙️ Genre Spawned: Real-Time Strategy (RTS)

Alone in the Dark (1992) – The True Survival Horror Pioneer

Before Resident Evil took the crown, there was Alone in the Dark—a game that mixed puzzles, limited resources, and creepy vibes. It wasn’t just spooky scenes and jump scares—it was genuine survival horror.

It had fixed camera angles, disturbing ambient sounds, and made you feel helpless in the best (or worst) way. It wasn’t just about winning—it was about staying alive.

🧟 Genre Spawned: Survival Horror

Gran Turismo (1997) – Simulation Racing, Perfected

Sure, there were racing games before it, but Gran Turismo took it to a whole new level. We're talking real-world cars, detailed performance stats, gear tuning—it was pure simulation racing bliss.

It wasn’t just about speed—it was about precision, timing, and realism. Games like Forza and Assetto Corsa followed its tire tracks, but GT paved the road.

🏁 Genre Spawned: Racing Simulation

Myst (1993) – Cinematic Puzzle Adventures Begin

If you’ve ever enjoyed a serene, story-rich puzzle game like The Witness or Obduction, tip your hat to Myst. This game dropped you into a gorgeous, mysterious world with zero guidance and said, “figure it out.”

Its combination of mood, music, and puzzles introduced a whole new kind of game—calm, cerebral, and immersive. It proved that games didn’t need violence to be compelling.

🧩 Genre Spawned: Puzzle Adventure / Interactive Story

The Legacy (And Why It Still Matters)

What’s truly mind-blowing is how these genre-defining classics continue to influence game design today. Developers still borrow mechanics, remix concepts, and pay homage to these innovators. You’ll see their fingerprints on just about every modern title.

And as players, understanding these roots helps us appreciate the games we're obsessed with now. It's like listening to the Beatles before diving into your favorite indie band—it gives you context, history, and a greater sense of awe.

So next time you boot up a game and get lost in its world, remember—somewhere in that code is a little piece of Pong, a shadow of Metroid, or a whisper of Rogue.

Final Thoughts

From bouncing dots to sprawling storylines, it’s clear that classic games didn’t just entertain—they invented. These titles laid the groundwork for gaming as we know it. The genres they spawned have evolved, sure, but at their core? They're still rocking the DNA of these early titans.

So whether you’re a seasoned gamer or just picking up the sticks, take a second to appreciate the pixelated pioneers that made everything possible. Who knows? One of today’s indie gems might end up creating the next genre.