Video Game Metadata Schema: Controlled Vocabulary for NARRATIVE GENRE
Action
The narrative is focused on characters fighting, racing, and engaging in intense physical activities. Often minimizes plot and character development in favor of faster paced activities on screen.
Mortal Combat X.
Crime
A sub-genre of mystery where the story centers on solving crimes.
Cyberpunk
The major themes and plot devices of these stories utilize futuristic developments in computers, internet, data transfer, robotics, and human-computer interaction.
Shadowrun.
Dark Fantasy
These stories are set in a Fantasy world, but also prominently feature elements of the Horror genre, dark, gritty, and gothic themes and elements.
Dragon Age: Origins.
Documentary
A retelling of events from historical or factual perspectives.
Epic Fantasy
Fairy Tale
The narrative has a basis in traditional folklore and folkloric elements. Generally contains mythological beings such as fairies and other mythical creatures, talking animals, invented creatures, and magic. Often intended for children.
Spyro's Adventure.
Fantasy
The story of these games is set in a world that contains magical elements such as sorcery, and mythological creatures, such as dragons.
Folklore
These stories are based on traditional cultural stories, indigenous tales, and local legends.
High Fantasy
The plot of these games features larger than life struggles against colossal foes, set within a fantasy world. There is little to no moral ambiguity in the actions of the characters and plot, good and evil characters and actions are clear, and the story centers on virtuous heroes that set out to deal with the major antagonist.
Epic Fantasy
Final Fantasy IV.
Historical
The story of the game takes place in the past, and the narrative emphasizes representing concepts present in specific historical times and places.
Horror
Horror games present a story that makes use of frightening, spooky, and supernatural phenomena as elements central to the plot.
Silent Hill.
Low Fantasy
The fantasy world in which the story takes place features little to no magic use, and relies on other fantastical elements to drive the narrative forward. Fantastical elements in these stories tend to be few and far between.
Military
The narrative takes place within the context of armed conflict, and emphasizes plot elements that occur within the context of operations by armed forces.
Call of Duty.
Military Science Fiction
The world and major plot elements of these games fall within a science fiction setting, while the major emphasis and narrative centers on armed conflict in this world.
Starcraft II.
Mystery
The plot and narrative primarily center on solving a mystery or puzzle based on exploration, clue-seeking, interrogation, and other investigation techniques.
Professor Layton and the Curious Village.
Romance
The game story primarily unfolds romantic and intimate relationships, dating, partner seeking, and related interactions. The narrative is preoccupied with devices that develop romantic relationships and themes.
Science Fiction
The story takes place in a world of science and conjecture, typically featuring advanced technology and futuristic elements. The story uses these plot elements to drive the plot forward and develop the speculative world, using devices such as advanced biotechnology and physics, space travel, and aliens.
Mass Effect.
Speculative Fiction
Speculative Fiction
USE: Science Fiction
Steampunk
The major themes and plot devices of these stories utilize engineering concepts and aesthetics present in the Victorian and Edwardian historical periods. The technology in Steampunk worlds is an advanced form of technology extant during these time periods, sometimes featuring complex mechanical objects, steam-powered robots, and inventive contraptions.
Machinarium.
Time Travel
The story takes place within multiple time periods, and time travel or time manipulation is a major plot device.
Braid.
Western
Games set in the Western United Sates in the post-Civil War era with cowboys, horses, and law enforcement.
Red Dead Redemption.
Published
Deprecated