The confusion in the categorization of genres in video games has led to the creation of a collective initiative among more than 450 developers to establish an official name for a new emerging genre on Steam, informally recognized as bullet heaven or survivorslikes. Games like Vampire Survivors and Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles have highlighted the lack of an appropriate label that reflects their unique proposal and mechanics, often leading to them being assigned a genre that does not fit.
A genre without a name
With the growing popularity of these titles, the community has decided to take action. The public survey, which was launched during the Bullet Heaven Festival on Steam, aims to obtain a name that provides a better definition and visibility for these games, with the hope that this will improve the discovery experience for both players and developers. Seven different name options have been proposed, ranging from more generic terms like “horde survival” to less conventional alternatives like “multi-directional shooter”.
According to the organizers of the survey, more than 7,000 people have already participated, highlighting the interest and need to establish a clear categorization in such a vast entertainment medium. “Steam has a huge influence on how game genres are defined, and this rapidly growing genre still lacks a proper label,” they mention in the statement. The lack of a clear categorization has made it difficult for players to find similar games and has led to innovative titles getting lost among broader categories like RPGs or action games.
The survey results will be announced on December 10, and the new name is expected to be presented to Valve for consideration. This initiative not only aims to provide formal recognition to a new genre but also to help facilitate the search and discovery of relevant content on the Steam platform, benefiting both players and content creators.
