Trying out new genres can be hit or miss. You either mesh well with the new mechanics, or you waste 40 hours figuring out if something's "your thing." That's why this list doesn't just tell you which games are good. It gives you the one that's worth your time in each niche genre. That way, you can be sure if it's really your thing or not.

These aren't always the most popular or critically acclaimed (though some are), but they're the most accessible and representative of what really sets the genre apart. And who knows, you might find your next obsession.

If you've ever considered trying visual novels but are afraid they might be too slow or romance-heavy, AI: The Somnium Files is a great option to try. It’s a murder mystery wrapped in dream logic puzzles, with genuinely funny writing and twists that land. The dream sequences are strange and surreal, but the logic that ties them all together is rock solid.

Even if you've never touched a VN before, this game is very easy to get into thanks to the stellar voice acting and detective mechanics. They make you feel smart without getting stuck.

Prey isn't just about shooting aliens on a space station. It's also about how you do it. Want to turn into a coffee mug to sneak past enemies? You can. Want to glue a stairway up the side of a building because you skipped hacking skills? Go for it.

This game rewards curiosity and thinking outside-the-box in a way that most titles in this genre don't. Even after multiple playthroughs, I’m still finding new ways to solve old problems. If you’ve never played an immersive sim before, Prey is the smartest, strangest entry point.

You build a team of cute animals. They fight automatically. That's it. But Super Auto Pets turns this simple concept into a dangerously compelling strategy game. It's less about reacting in real-time and more about figuring out synergies that snowball into wins.

There's a level of goofy involved, too (poop-throwing skunks and buffed-up hedgehogs) that keeps the game interesting. If you've never tried an auto-battler, this is one of the gentlest and most fun ways in.

Escape from Tarkov is exceptionally punishing, like most extraction shooters out there. You bring in gear you earned (or paid for), and if you die, it’s gone. The tension is like nothing else: every gunfight is really a battle of life and death.

I avoided it for years because it sounded too stressful, but once I committed, the sheer adrenaline of a successful extraction made it all worth it. Plus, this game made the genre. If you only play one extraction shooter, it should be this one!

You’re not just solving puzzles in Baba Is You. You're rewriting the rules of reality. “Wall is stop”? Move that. “Flag is win”? Replace it. Suddenly, you are the flag, or the wall, or victory itself.

Sound confusing? It is. While the game starts out very simple, it quickly devolves into mind-melting logic problems that will make you feel like a genius and a fool at the same time. I’ve never played a game that made me question how puzzles work until this.

Monster Sanctuary is what happens when someone takes Pokemon and makes it a bit deeper. Buffs and debuffs mean a whole lot more here, and combos are expanded. You can't just steamroll over an opponent because you're a couple of levels above them.

There’s also a full Metroidvania map to explore, with monsters unlocking new traversal options. It’s part strategy RPG, part monster-collector, and somehow it all works. It's a cool game for those who want to do a bit more than "use Water Gun" over and over again.

Yes, this is a real game. And yes, it rules. The Typing of the Dead: Overkill replaces light-gun zombie shooting with fast-paced typing challenges, turning your keyboard into a weapon of mass undead destruction. It's hilariously self-aware and full of grindhouse energy. The phrases you type range from absurd to downright unhinged (“Banana Smoothie” while a zombie lunges at you).

It's a great starting point for those who have never touched a typing game and don't mind a bit of gore.

A decade before Vampire Survivors made low-effort chaos fashionable, Shatter was blending Breakout with bullet-hell boss fights and gravity tricks (and one of the best video game soundtracks, in my opinion). It's very flashy, but not so much so that it's overwhelming. It's also clever, but doesn't demand all that much from you. It's a great zone-out-and-feel-cool game.

There's enough control over your shots for you to feel like you're being awesome. My favorite part of this game is that the levels flow together very nicely, which makes it just feel good to play. It's a great rendition of the traditional Breakout formula.

Most parenting sims lean into humor or chaos. My Child Lebensborn does the opposite. You’re not just feeding and bathing a child. You're raising them in post-WWII Norway, where you'll have to help them navigate identity and trauma. It's a slow game that's very heavy-handed, but it has some serious emotional beats.

Every choice directly impacts how your child sees themselves, and the game will sit with you long after you've finished it. It isn't about stat-maxing and is far more about the feels than others.

Think Worms, but every weapon is a laser show, and you don’t have to wait 20 minutes for your turn. ShellShock Live is a sleek, turn-based artillery that's been evolving for several years now. It has dozens of weapons, terrain deformation, and team modes that can feel a bit chaotic. You can spend hours just trying to master bouncing shots.

It's a satisfying mix of strategy and mayhem. No plan survives first contact, but that's part of the fun.