Ten years ago, it was relatively easy to join conversations about video games – learning a few key slang words and the main genres was enough. But now, with the growing popularity of gaming, that task has become much more challenging. As the industry expands, more and more genres are emerging—both niche and mainstream—and the gaming community is splitting into many different groups. In this article, we’ll try to highlight the most important gaming terms, primarily those related to the classification of games. You don’t need to memorize them—just recognizing them is enough.

AAA (Triple-A) Games – High-budget productions, the equivalent of movie blockbusters. Recently, people have started referring to “AAAA” games as even more expensive projects, but these are still rare for now. More common is the concept of AA games – mid-budget titles like Nier: Automata.

Indie Games – Games made by independent studios or solo developers. As the indie scene has grown, the boundaries of the term have blurred. Technically, both Hades (made by a large team) and solo-dev projects fall under the indie umbrella.

Console Games – Games made for dedicated gaming devices such as the PS5 or Nintendo Switch. These are contrasted with PC games, made for personal computers. Some titles are exclusive to certain consoles or to PC, but nowadays, more games release exclusively on PC – partly due to the boom in indie development.

Cloud Gaming – Games that can be played using cloud technology on any supported device. In this case, the game runs on remote hardware—often a server—and is streamed to your screen. The main drawback is latency; since you’re streaming, the game may respond to your inputs with a slight, or sometimes major, delay.

VR Games – Games in virtual reality. While technically all video games happen in a “virtual reality,” VR games require special headsets like the Meta Quest 2/3 or PS VR2. These games aim for deep immersion… and can occasionally cause motion sickness due to their realism.

AR Games – Augmented reality games. Pokémon Go is a good example. These games layer virtual elements onto the real world, usually via your device’s camera.

Live Service Games – Games that receive significant content updates over an extended period. These updates are often free, though they may include paid add-ons. This model encourages players to return to the game even after finishing it. Notable examples include Genshin Impact and Fortnite.

Free-to-Play Games – Not to be confused with truly free games. These are games you can play for free, but they feature monetization systems with purchasable in-game items or subscriptions. These often include skins, booster packs, battle passes, and more. Again, Genshin Impact and Fortnite are fitting examples.

DLC (Downloadable Content) – Official content released for a game after launch, either free or paid. DLC typically adds new features or storylines and is sold separately. Sometimes it’s available at launch as well.