Playing exciting online games has never been more popular than it is today, largely thanks to continually improving internet access and mobile connectivity, plus constant enhancements in the technologies available.
From being a simple pastime that was once associated with nerds, gaming is now regarded as being one of the leading social activities, especially now that millions of people are participating via mobile devices.
But what are the main online gaming categories attracting players? Well, the terminology surrounding online gaming is quite broad these days, although there are three key categories we should get to know and understand.
Massively Multiplayer Online
Arguably the category that paved the way for internet gaming, early Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) titles first appeared in the 1980s, played via local area network connections. Then in the 1990s, the concept blossomed thanks to the World Wide Web.
Swiftly increasing internet connectivity led to improvements in online gaming, along with some of the first genuinely commercial releases, with servers capable of hosting thousands of players at the same time.
One such title was Ultima Online (UO) released in 1997, following two years of beta testing in the United States. Incredibly, this fantasy role-playing game (RPG) still remains active, more than 25 years after inspiring other popular MMO titles.
Later on, World of Warcraft became the most popular MMO of all time, as online gaming branched into various sub-genres and categories. In 2023, some of the most played online games include PUBG, Minecraft, and Fortnite Battle Royale.
Online Casino
During the same period that internet gaming was on the rise, the first online casinos began appearing through mid-1990s, quickly embracing this novel way to engage and entertain players.
Online casino gambling has become one of the most popular categories, largely due to the diversity of games to choose from. These include games of chance like slots and roulette, along with card games involving more skill and judgement, such as poker and blackjack.
Risking money provides a level of excitement without compare, although gambling responsibly is always recommended. Experts at Gambling Sites have produced an all-in-one guide to online casino gaming, aimed at educating and informing players.
Along with learning more about each type of game, reviewers believe that comparing online casino sites is always important, especially during the current expansion across the United States. The choice of gambling websites is huge, as is the diversity and variety of games.
eSports
Not all of us can be top level soccer stars or American football players, but we can still experience the excitement of sporting action, thanks to popular video game franchises like FIFA or Madden by EA Sports.
The boom in online gaming has brought us the eSports phenomenon, boasting viewership that competes with traditional sports, according to growth projections from Syracuse University in the United States.
But alongside virtual NFL events throughout North America, and even FIFA competitions with gamers representing real soccer clubs in Spain’s LaLiga, many other gaming genres are featured at the biggest international eSports tournaments.
These include dedicated championships for DOTA 2 and League of Legends. In fact, some of the top eSports tournaments attract millions of viewers, with huge cash prizes available for winning teams and individual gamers.