What Are the Different Types of Facebook Games?

The social networking website known as Facebook features more than a way to connect with friends–it is also known for a myriad of activities and Facebook games for various age groups. Some of the games Facebook offers include simulation games, card games and board games. There are several other game categories as well as applications that are designed to provide leisure time entertainment.

Facebook games feature a wide array of virtual world applications, as this is one of their more popular genres. In a virtual world game, the player may assume the task of building a town or perhaps owning a zoo or raising several pets. This genre is very similar to simulation games, which emulate activities that are done in real life, such as raising children, choosing a career or buying a home.

Educational games can be played on Facebook, although this genre is basically limited to word games and trivia. Many of these games award points to players, and others utilize a time limit. There are games that offer challenge questions with different levels to complete. Some of these word games have been known to have several thousands of players in any given month.

There are also several varieties of card games. There are typical casino style card games to choose from, such as Texas Hold 'Em Poker and Five Card Stud. Another popular choice for Facebook games would be Blackjack. Individuals who prefer Solitaire can most likely find different varieties by searching through the list of Facebook games.

Board games such as Mahjong and chess are a few choices that are featured on Facebook. There are several variations of Mahjong-style games in the Facebook applications. Others include checkers and Tic-Tac-Toe. Many of these board games can be played using Facebook friends as opponents.

There are many sports-style applications that are featured as Facebook games as well. Fishing, baseball, football and others make up the selection. Most of the games can be played solo or against a Facebook friend. Also in the lineup are pool, sports racing and wrestling. There are soccer games as well.

Several action and arcade-style games are featured on Facebook. Some classic games featured on this site are designed to have old-school gamers reminisce of days gone by. These may include shooter-style and fighting games. Also featured are platform games along the line of Super Mario Brothers game play.

Puzzle games make up another genre featured on Facebook. These types of games test the player's strategy and logic rather than reflexes. Some of them are similar to Tetris® in game play and basic concept. Other types of puzzle games may include balloon popping, where same-colored balloons are eliminated by placing them adjacent to each other in groups of three or more.

Some of the more in-depth and time-consuming Facebook games are role-playing games, also known as RPGs. This is where the player typically takes on the role of the hero and goes on adventures or a quest in a story-driven plot line. The setting in such games is generally fantasy-style rather than virtual world. Role-playing games became well-known with the rise of the Final Fantasy® storylines that originated back in the 1980s.