3 Games That Redefined Their Genre (And 1 That Nearly Destroyed It)

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The history of gaming, like any form of entertainment, isn’t a straight line. Instead, it’s marked by sudden leaps forward, with new ideas constantly changing and inspiring game design. Gaming is all about trying new things, and each generation of games aims to do something beyond what was previously possible. Not every experiment works, but the most successful ones completely redefine their genres. These groundbreaking titles don’t just contribute to the conversation around gaming – they *change* the conversation. Very few games achieve this level of impact, but the ones listed below fundamentally shifted their genres, though one came dangerously close to destroying its own.

3) Dark Souls

FromSoftware’s *Dark Souls* profoundly impacted modern game design. Its release in 2011 sparked a new genre – the ‘soulslike’ – and propelled FromSoftware to great success. This dark, gothic action RPG didn’t just offer a challenge; it redefined what players expected from the genre. It moved away from common features like helpful tutorials, easy save points, and straightforward stories, instead emphasizing mystery, difficulty, and meaningful consequences. Players had to learn from their mistakes, and were truly rewarded for perseverance and skill.

The popularity of *Dark Souls* created a whole new trend in gaming. Many games have since tried to copy its challenging but rewarding style – sometimes successfully, sometimes not. This has led to the creation of an entire subgenre known as “soulslike,” characterized by precise combat, mysterious storytelling, and intricately connected worlds. The core ideas of exploration and difficulty found in *Dark Souls* have even influenced games outside the action RPG category, with titles like *Hollow Knight* and *Darkest Dungeon* demonstrating its impact.

Ever since *Dark Souls* came out, so many games have tried to capture that same magic! Titles like *Nioh*, *Code Vein*, *Lords of the Fallen*, *Lies of P*, *The First Berserker: Khazan*, and *Wuchang: Fallen Feathers* all feel like they were inspired by FromSoftware’s work. As a fan, I totally get why – there’s just something incredibly rewarding about finally overcoming a tough challenge through sheer determination, and it seems like a lot of developers fell in love with that feeling too!

2) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Nintendo revolutionized gaming again in 2017 with *The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild* on the Switch. This game didn’t just refresh the Zelda series; it redefined open-world games. Unlike previous titles, *Breath of the Wild* truly delivered on the promise of freedom. It moved away from traditional elements like on-screen quest markers, strict storylines, and repetitive tasks, instead focusing on interactive systems that allowed players to explore, fight, and complete quests in any way they chose.

The game world felt incredibly alive because of its realistic physics. Fire spread convincingly, weather impacted gameplay, and even the smallest details, like grass, behaved naturally. Players had amazing freedom to solve problems in creative ways – from using trees as makeshift bridges to blowing enemies off ledges, all powered by the game’s physics and abilities. *Breath of the Wild* truly encouraged and rewarded player curiosity and ingenuity.

After its release, *Breath of the Wild* inspired many developers to create similar open-world games with features like gliding and free climbing. *Immortals Fenyx Rising*, for example, was heavily influenced by it. *Breath of the Wild* revolutionized open-world adventures with its immersive and detailed world of Hyrule, and eight years later, no game has quite matched its level of freedom.

1) Anthem

Anthem was a game with a lot of potential. BioWare and EA hyped it as a groundbreaking online action RPG shooter, hoping to combine their storytelling strengths with the addictive gameplay of games where you collect lots of loot. It seemed destined to become the leading looter shooter and action game of its time, but unfortunately, it became infamous for all the wrong reasons and almost damaged the genre permanently.

Anthem didn’t fail because of one big problem, but a series of mistakes. While the game looked good and was initially fun to play, it ultimately lacked depth. Players quickly found the rewards unfulfilling, the missions repetitive, and the story weak and disjointed. These issues were made worse by the game’s constant need for grinding and its frustrating monetization practices.

Both EA and BioWare faced intense criticism after the game’s release. Players stopped playing, reviews were overwhelmingly negative, and it almost ruined the future of online, loot-based games. This forced other game companies to rethink their strategies. *Anthem’s* failure proved how risky it is to make big promises and then not follow through. While games like *Destiny* and *The Division* managed to learn from *Anthem’s* mistakes and avoid similar issues, *Anthem* came dangerously close to destroying the genre and losing players’ confidence.

As a gamer, I’ve seen so many games hit it big, and then others totally flop. Looking at titles that *really* work versus something like *Anthem* really shows you how risky game development is. Taking chances can lead to something amazing, but it can also backfire spectacularly. I think we’ll always see this push and pull in the gaming world – some games will be huge successes, some will fail, and most will end up somewhere in between.

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2025-09-20 19:41