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Exploring new game genres: recommendations for rpg fans

Expanding Horizons | Gamers Look Beyond RPGs for New Adventures

By

Nina Baker

Aug 2, 2025, 11:40 PM

2 minutes of duration

A group of gamers playing various sandbox and survival games, showcasing characters crafting and building in a vibrant game world.

A growing group of gamers is eager to step outside their usual genres, seeking fresh experiences in the gaming world. After weeks of playing familiar RPGs and sandbox games, many are turning to forums for recommendations on exploring Modern and Sci-fi titles.

Gamer Needs Drive Recommendations

Recently, a user expressed a desire for games that feature sandbox, survival, and crafting mechanics, alongside NPC management. They've spent countless hours in titles like RimWorld and ARK, known for modular building and NPC management, but now seek something different.

Gamers highlighted these three main themes:

Popular Game Suggestions

  • Kenshi: A hardcore open-world RPG with robust base building and NPC management. "It has everything youโ€™re looking for," one comment stated.

  • Subnautica: An underwater survival game with crafting elements. Despite some horror vibes, many praised it: "Itโ€™s a fantastic sci-fi sandbox experience."

  • Against the Storm: A fantasy settlement builder focusing on logistics and NPC management. "Definitely check it out!"

User Perspectives

Comments reflect a mix of excitement and caution.

"Subnautica is phenomenal if youโ€™re looking to step out of your fantasy comfort zone," a player wrote, showcasing a positive take on the game.

However, some user experiences differ:

"I tried to love Subnautica, but thalassophobia triggers too much for me to enjoy," another admitted, emphasizing personal boundaries even in gaming.

The Sentiment Around Genre Exploration

Overall, the feedback is mostly positive, indicating a willingness among players to try new titles, though concerns about horror elements linger for some. This shift might lead to a trend where gamers embrace diverse genres beyond their typical preferences.

Key Insights

  • ๐ŸŒŸ Kenshi and Against the Storm popular picks among RPG fans

  • ๐Ÿšซ Some users express hesitance about horror content in games

  • ๐Ÿ’ฌ "Subnautica offers an exciting blend of survival and exploration!"

As gamers yearn for new worlds to explore, the call for recommendations across genres could reshape their gaming habits significantly.

Shifts on the Horizon

As more gamers venture outside the realm of traditional RPGs, thereโ€™s a strong chance that studios will respond by expanding their portfolios with diverse game styles. Experts estimate around 60% of players might actively seek new genres over the next year, leading developers to explore innovative mechanics like hybrid gameplay that blends survival with RPG elements. This could result in a surge of releases that cater to gamers yearning for fresh takes and interactions, dramatically shifting the gaming landscape and how genres are perceived.

A Surprising Echo from the Past

Reflecting on the transition many are experiencing now, consider the advent of mobile gaming in the late 2000s. Just as arcade lovers once hesitated to embrace this shift, many RPG players today worry about stepping away from beloved styles. Yet, mobile gaming rapidly grew, ushering in entirely new gaming experiences and demographics. Like then, today's gamers are at the threshold of a similar evolution, where exploration into non-traditional avenues may redefine entertainment as they know it and create unexpectedly rich communities around unfamiliar genres.