Video games have come a long way from their early days and it’s not just the technical aspects that we are talking about here either. There are games out there in almost every genre that cater exclusively to adult gamers and carry a “Mature” rating to prove it. Since some genres are naturally more popular with adult gamers than others, most M-rated games are developed within those categories. Read on to know what those genres are and if you are missing out on any of the masterpieces.
Shooters
Unfortunately, a lot of people fail to recognize the fact that most realistic shooters are M rated games, which includes super popular titles in long-running franchises such as Call of Duty, Rainbow Six, Payday, GTA, Saints Row, Mafia, and Red Dead Redemption to name just a few. If you love playing online/offline shooters more than you would like to admit, know that these were games made for grownups.
Single-Player RPGs
Role-playing games are not meant for adults exclusively, but surveys have shown adults are particularly fond of single-player RPG games with a solid storyline. For example, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Dark Souls III, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice are three of the most popular single-player RPG games among adult gamers. All three share pros such as a good storyline, a punishing but rewarding combat system, and ample violence in them to be truly worthy of that M rating!
Casino Games
The entire genre of real casino games is meant strictly for grownups, so it should not come as a surprise that video poker, blackjack, roulette, and slot games are among the most played adult-oriented games in the US. If you prefer to play games on your smartphone, here’s an updated list of the top mobile casino sites and apps in 2022.
Strategy
Unlike the three previous genres we already discussed, strategy games do not generally carry an M rating because that’s not the focus here. Older generations in general prefer playing strategy games because they are designed to test human intelligence, be it against the AI or other players online. Chess remains one of the most popular strategy games loved by grownups, but the Total War and Civilization series in all their glorious, strategic complications have managed to pull in a lot of adult gamers over the years.
2D Platformer/Brawlers/Shooters
More popularly known as Metroidvania, this is a genre that’s popular with adult gamers for nostalgic reasons. Familiarity and the promise of a real challenge are the prime reasons behind the growing popularity of retro-styled modern Metroidvania games. Although gory 2D platformers such as Blasphemous and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Dark Night are quite popular, artistic, and challenging platformers like Ori and the Will of the Wisps or Shovel Knight is no less popular with grownup gamers either.
Some games are hard to define under any one genre, but Disco Elysium deserves a place here like any other. This one is meant exclusively for the matured mind because the grim settings here are far too rooted in real life for anyone who is not yet ready to see them.