subgenres
Categories within categories
Subgenres are categories within a larger genre, dividing it into more specific types.
Horror has subgenres like slasher, psychological, and body horror.
Electronic music splits into house, techno, dubstep, and dozens more.
The term applies wherever genre classifications exist—literature, film, music, video games: I'm really into the roguelike subgenre.
Dystopian tech-noir fiction
- steampunkRetrofuturistic Victorian science fiction
- dieselpunkRetrofuturism through 1930s aesthetics
- grimdarkCynical fantasy subgenre
- hardboiledTough, cynical fiction style
locked-room · gothic · bizarro · cli-fi · solarpunk · sword-and-sorcery · dystopian · romantasy
Joining into unity
- crossoverGenre-blending work or transition
- mashupCombined creative fusion
- blendCombine into mixture
- splicedBound by interweaving
hybrid · dramedy · rom-com · tragicomedy · mockumentary · docudrama
Hard-boiled film genre
- westernOf the sunset side
- slasherKnife-wielding horror villain
- mockumentarySatirical fake nonfiction film
- kaijuJapanese giant monster
blaxploitation · sword-and-sandal · wuxia · neo-noir · grindhouse · arthouse · exploitation · splatter
Eighties-inspired electronic genre
- vaporwaveIronic eighties nostalgia genre
- chillwaveHazy, nostalgic electronic genre
- shoegazeDistortion-heavy ethereal rock
- post-punkExperimental rock after '77
post-rock · thrash · grindcore · hardcore · emo · screamo · trap · drill
Permadeath procedural game genre
- roguelitePermadeath game with carryover
- battle-royaleAll-against-all elimination contest
- hack-and-slashAction genre emphasizing combat
- sandboxEnclosed play area
city-builder · JRPG · MMORPG
cyberpunk
Dystopian tech-noir fiction
- steampunkRetrofuturistic Victorian science fiction
- dieselpunkRetrofuturism through 1930s aesthetics
- grimdarkCynical fantasy subgenre
hardboiled · locked-room · gothic · bizarro · cli-fi · solarpunk · sword-and-sorcery · dystopian · romantasy
fusion
Joining into unity
spliced · hybrid · dramedy · rom-com · tragicomedy · mockumentary · docudrama
noir
Hard-boiled film genre
- westernOf the sunset side
- slasherKnife-wielding horror villain
- mockumentarySatirical fake nonfiction film
kaiju · blaxploitation · sword-and-sandal · wuxia · neo-noir · grindhouse · arthouse · exploitation · splatter
synthwave
Eighties-inspired electronic genre
- vaporwaveIronic eighties nostalgia genre
- chillwaveHazy, nostalgic electronic genre
- shoegazeDistortion-heavy ethereal rock
post-punk · post-rock · thrash · grindcore · hardcore · emo · screamo · trap · drill · grime
roguelike
Permadeath procedural game genre
- roguelitePermadeath game with carryover
- battle-royaleAll-against-all elimination contest
- hack-and-slashAction genre emphasizing combat
sandbox · city-builder · JRPG · MMORPG
- groupingsgroups, categories, classes, divisions, clusters