Nameless genres
Game genre theme
Any game genres that don't have widely agreed upon name yet nor have decent placeholder name.
See also: hybrid genre
This is a container group; its children are:
| Asteroids-like | Anything that replicates the basic gameplay introduced in Asteroids. (too short) | 1979 / 2017 | 83 games |
| Awkward Physics | A nameless genre where most of the gameplay involves fighting an awkward physics mechanics to accomplish your job. | 2008 / 2016 | 10 games |
| Blitz-like | Anything that replicates the basic gameplay of the game "Blitz", in which the player controls a bomber aircraft and throws bombs on buildings etc. Once leaving the screen the bomber reappears at a lower altitude. | 1977 / 2015 | 68 games |
| Boulder Dash-like | Any games that replicate the game type established by Boulder Dash, that is collecting treasures while evading hazards such as falling boulders. | 1984 / 2019 | 192 games |
| Breakout-like | A type of action game where player controls a pad - usually moving it along the bottom edge of the screen - and using it to bounce a ball up to destroy blocks with it while trying to prevent the ball from falling off screen. | 1976 / 2020 | 659 games |
| Centipede-like | Anything that replicates the basic gameplay introduced in Centipede, where the character must shoot and destroy segments of a centipede as it moves down the screen. | 1981 / 2021 | 121 games |
| Dandy-like | Replicates the gameplay established by Dandy - a top-down maze shooter. Popularized by the first clone, Gauntlet. | 1983 / 2017 | 130 games |
| Defender-like | Anything that replicates the basic gameplay introduced in Defender. (too short) | 1980 / 2022 | 87 games |
| Defense game | Any games where the primary goal is to defend something besides the protagonist (unless the protagonist's movement is uncontrollable by player). | 1980 / 2016 | 46 games |
| Depthcharge-like | Anything that replicates the basic gameplay introduced in Depthcharge, a ship that must sink submarines. | 1977 / 2008 | 23 games |
| Diablo-like | Top-down hack&slash action-RPGs where roleplaying is usually nonexistent and the focus is solely on combat and combat related character advancement. | 1996 / 2021 | 62 games |
| Donkey Kong-like | Anything that replicates the basic gameplay introduced in the original "Donkey Kong" arcade game. (too short) | 1981 / 2016 | 86 games |
| Dungeon Keeper-like | A variation of god games. (too short) | 1997 / 2012 | 0 game |
| xPS/RTS | This is a placeholder for the FPS/RTS and TPS/RTS hybrid genres. (too short) | 1988 / 2016 | 30 games |
| Frogger-like | Anything that replicates the basic gameplay introduced in Frogger, where you navigate obstacles, time your movements, and find safe paths, often from a top-down view or grid-based layout. | 1981 / 2022 | 151 games |
| Galaxian-like | Anything that replicates the basic gameplay introduced in Galaxian. (too short) | 1979 / 1990 | 48 games |
| Galcon-like | Replicates the gameplay of Galcon, a simple strategy game similar to Risk but more dependant on number of units than random chance. | 1995 / 2016 | 26 games |
| Grand Theft Auto-like | An open world action-adventure with transitionless change between on foot and vehicular/mounted movement, vehicle/ride jacking, and combat. | 1997 / 2023 | 146 games |
| Head On-like | Anything that replicates the basic gameplay of "grid capture" games, introduced in Head On. (too short) | 1979 / 1990 | 24 games |
| Heiankyo Alien-like | Anything that replicates the basic gameplay introduced in Heiankyo Alien. (too short) | 1979 / 1995 | 5 games |
| Joust-like | Anything that replicates the basic gameplay introduced in the Williams Arcade game "Joust". (too short) | 1982 / 2009 | 43 games |
| Kikstart-like | Replicates the gameplay established by Kikstart - a (side-scrolling) driving/biking game similar to motorcycle/mountain bike trials with heavy emphasis on physics. | 1985 / 2017 | 18 games |
| Knight Lore-like | Replicates the gameplay established by Knight Lore - an isometric maze-adventure-platformer. (too short) | 1984 / 2019 | 125 games |
| Lemmings-like | Replicates the gameplay of the original Lemmings puzzle game where player instructs or sacrifices individuals from a throng to guide the remainder into safety. | 1987 / 2014 | 12 games |
| Lunar Rescue-like | Anything that replicates the basic gameplay introduced in Lunar Rescue. (too short) | 1979 / 1987 | 17 games |
| Maxit-like | Any games that replicate the game type established by "Maxit". (too short) | 1979 / 1998 | 24 games |
| Melee combat simulation | This is a placeholder for the nameless genre about melee combat simulation. (too short) | 1998 / 2017 | 33 games |
| Missile Command-like | Missile Command and any game that involves defending a base or cities from incoming missile attacks intercepting the incoming projectiles before they reach and destroy the player's assets. | 1980 / 2021 | 106 games |
| Moon Patrol-like | Anything that replicates the basic gameplay introduced in Moon Patrol. (too short) | 1982 / 1987 | 25 games |
| Outbreak simulation | A pandemic or other disease, viral or such outbreak simulation where player attempts to mutate/evolve/develop an extremely virulent and possibly lethal one or tries to fight such. | 1984 / 2017 | 19 games |
| Pac-Man-like | Any game that replicates the basic gameplay of the original Pac-Man, with the goal of clearing a maze of dots while eluding deadly adversaries. | 1979 / 2020 | 556 games |
| Panic-like | Anything that replicates the basic gameplay introduced in Space Panic, that is a platforms with ladders, limited oxygen and the ability to create holes in platforms to trap pursuing enemies. | 1980 / 2020 | 120 games |
| Pengo-like | Any games that replicate the game type established by Pengo. (too short) | 1982 / 2018 | 51 games |
| Qbert-like | Anything that replicates the basic gameplay introduced in Q*Bert. (too short) | 1982 / 2021 | 92 games |
| Qix-like | Gameplay based on Taito's arcade game Qix, where one fences off sections off the gameworld, trapping bonuses, enemies and whatever else inside. Usually levels are won by fencing off ~75% of them. | 1981 / 2019 | 104 games |
| Rally-X-like | Anything that replicates the basic gameplay introduced in Rally-X. (too short) | 1980 / 2007 | 12 games |
| Scramble-like | Anything that replicates the basic gameplay introduced in Scramble. (too short) | 1981 / 2008 | 71 games |
| Shariki-like | Replicates the gameplay established by Shariki - a combination of 3-visual matching and 1x2-tile cycle puzzle. | 1994 / 2021 | 71 games |
| Souls-like | A variant of action-adventure/RPG games popularized by FromSoftware with their Dark Souls and Bloodborne games. Superficially similar to hack&slash games but with much slower, tactical pace. | 2001 / 2024 | 39 games |
| Space Invaders-like | Anything that replicates the basic gameplay introduced in Space Invaders, where the player character at the bottom of the screen is tasked with shooting down waves of advancing enemies descending from the top. | 1978 / 2024 | 126 games |
| Tile cycle puzzle | A visual matching puzzle where player cycles tiles in predefined area (usually 1x2, 2x2, or similar area of adjacent tiles) until they match what is desired. | 1994 / 2021 | 8 games |
| Tile swap puzzle | A visual matching puzzle where player swaps any tile with any other to achieve what is wanted. May also occur with swapping groups of adjacent tiles together for added challenge. | 1982 / 2012 | 5 games |
| Tug o' War strategy | A nameless genre that resembles a very simple single-plane strategy where one factions harvests/generates resources in one end and sends endless stream of uncontrollable troops towards the other end and hope they beat the opposition generated there. | 2009 / 2013 | 11 games |
| Turret defense | A nameless genre where player mainly controls a turret gun (usually a ballista) and protects something (usually a castle) from waves of enemies while often also using support powers (such as magic) and sending automated troops to aid in the defense. | 6 games | |
| Zelda-like | Anything that replicates the basic gameplay introduced in "The Legend of Zelda". Meant to be for the classic "2D overhead" Zelda type games aka "The Legend of Zelda (NES)" clones. | 1986 / 2012 | 20 games |