The global gaming industry has seen many trends come and go in its decades of existence, often with new iterations of technology essentially forcing sectors to adapt in order to survive.
There are some sectors, however, that have endured over time due to their popularity and ability to consistently keep gamers engaged. The popularity of the online casino gaming sector, for example, has undoubtedly been boosted by the proliferation of bonus offers. With more deals available, more players are willing to dive into a new gaming experience.
Meanwhile, the sports sector has only increased in popularity as technology has advanced, giving gamers access to realistic simulation games.
Online Casino Gaming
Online casino gaming, in some form or another, is now present in every continent of the world. This gaming trend will likely never go out of style, particularly as the acceleration of technological development continues.
Online casino gaming is now more popular than brick-and-mortar casinos, even in major gaming territories like New Jersey. Part of the success of iGaming is the variety of games that are available, with players able to access traditional games like roulette as well as digital-only games like fast-fold poker.
But what makes online casinos so much fun? Let’s take a look at a game like roulette. Most virtual platforms offer different variations to meet player needs. Over the last decade, live dealer variations have made games like roulette even more exciting. Now, remote players can live-stream a game of roulette straight to their devices, which means a live dealer facilitates the game just like a croupier would at a brick-and-mortar location, spinning the wheel and calling out the winning number.
Action and Adventure Gaming
Action/Adventure games have been a staple of the gaming industry since day one. Many of the arcade titles of the 1970s featured an action or adventure theme, while games like Donkey Kong and The Legend of Zelda helped ensure the long-term success of the home gaming boom.
Of course, the action/adventure sector has expanded since those early days, with many of today’s popular RPG and MOBA games following the format. As a genre, action and adventure gaming has evolved substantially, offering cinematic visuals, compelling gameplay and epic narratives that make them as relevant as ever for gaming audiences.
In fact, that’s part of this genre’s magic. It doesn’t just let players dive into a new sort of game—instead, the goal of action and adventure titles is to fully immerse a player into a new world. Though they’ll need to battle their way through different levels and against different bosses, players will also be treated to Hollywood-esque plots and characters along the way.
Sports Games
Sports-themed video games are another vertical that has been popular since the late 20th century. Early versions of sports video games had very limited gameplay options and basic graphics but, as the new century approached, titles like FIFA and Madden NFL took sports games in an engaging and immersive new direction.
Like the action-adventure genre, 21st-century sports games have since morphed into numerous other verticals. Sports simulation games have been enhanced by VR and augmented reality tech, while franchises like FIFA and NBA 2K have set a new standard for life-like visuals and enhanced features. The goal is to let players step into the shoes and mindset of an athlete.
In fact, the earliest video games were all about doing the same. Pong, for example, simulated a rudimentary game of tennis. Though the mechanics were simple, the goal was to recreate a sport. Today, this precedent has evolved into totally new territory. Titles such as Football Manager have brought sports fans even closer to the action by combining the fantasy sports concept with video gaming.
In these titles, players must manage a simulated team just like a real-life coach would. They must balance their resources, manage their talent, and know how to spend effectively when it comes to crafting the perfect lineup.
