Hello from Nexon PEAK.

PICO, what game genre do you enjoy the most?

Do you prefer RPGs, where you can steadily build up your character over time?

Or do you enjoy competitive games, where a single moment can deliver a thrilling sense of achievement?

Everyone has their own way of enjoying games, but finding a genre that suits you

is also one of the most important factors in discovering a game you can keep enjoying for a long time.

In this PEAK Note, through the [Nexon PEAK Post Challenge],

we looked at the game genres mentioned most often in posts written by PICO users themselves, along with the reasons they gave for recommending them.

In PICO posts, Mabinogi Mobile, FC Online, MapleStory,

MapleStory M, and Overwatch were frequently mentioned as standout titles.

From the joy of growth to the thrill of competition.

Let us take a closer look at the appeal of the game genres recommended by PICO users themselves.

[RPG vs. Sports Games: What Did PICO Choose?]

Game	Genre	Appeal Highlighted by PICO
Mabinogi Mobile	MMORPG	The fun of steady growth and flexible play
FC Online	Sports	The thrill of victory through competition and club management
MapleStory	RPG	The satisfaction of growing stronger in proportion to your effort
MapleStory M	RPG	A progression environment that makes it easy to return
Overwatch	Team-based action FPS	A sense of achievement earned through intense competition

1. Mabinogi Mobile — An MMORPG built around the fun of steady growth

The game genre mentioned most often by PICO users was the growth-focused RPG, and within that category, Mabinogi Mobile received the most recommendations.

PICO users pointed to one main appeal in Mabinogi Mobile: the time invested day by day leads directly to character growth. Many noted that not only levels and equipment, but also life content and character customization, let the time they spend playing accumulate in a visible way, which is a major reason they continue enjoying the game over the long term.

Beyond combat, many also frequently mentioned the variety of life content available, including fishing, logging, gathering, and cooking, all of which can be enjoyed at your own pace.

Points Highlighted by PICO

• The fun of steady growth

  • You can feel a strong sense of achievement as your character gradually becomes stronger through challenges such as Abyss Hell difficulty, completing the Rune Codex, and refining your equipment setup.

• High freedom and life content

  • Because the game offers not only combat but also customization and life content, it allows you to create a play style that feels distinctly your own.

💬 "The fact that the time I play today leads to growth tomorrow, and that the time I invest little by little each day remains as visible results, gives me great satisfaction." — 곤류님 [RPG and Competitive Games, What’s My Choice?]

2. FC Online — A sports game that offers both the thrill of competition and the fun of club management

PICO users most often introduced FC Online as a representative title for competitive games.

The biggest appeal of FC Online was said to be the range of memorable moments that can unfold within a single match, from the thrill of a comeback goal to the tension of a penalty shootout.

Beyond simply playing for a win or loss, many PICO users also enjoyed the process of signing players, completing a squad, and building a team of their own.

Points Highlighted by PICO

• The fun of skill-based competition

• Club management that lets you complete your own team

• A growing sense of improvement the more you play

💬 "Unlike RPGs, where reaching certain goals and experiences requires quite a long investment of time and effort, once you know the control keys, you can jump right into a match and compete against other players, and that quick access to the experience is one of the appeals of sports genre games." — 연백님 [Comparing the Appeal of RPG and Sports Genres!]

3. MapleStory — An RPG where your effort directly translates into growth

PICO users most often described MapleStory as "an RPG where you become stronger in proportion to your effort."

They highlighted the process of leveling up, gearing up, and challenging bosses as a goal in itself, and pointed to MapleStory’s greatest appeal as the way character growth becomes more and more visible over time.

In addition, sharing strategies with other PICO users and taking on bosses together was also frequently mentioned as part of the unique appeal of RPGs.

Points Highlighted by PICO

• A sense of achievement from growth that reflects your effort

• The fun of boss strategies and gear progression

• An RPG community built around playing together

💬 "In MapleStory, the levels I gained today, the gear I completed, and the content I cleared all felt like goals that would remain for a long time." — Tuanzebe님 [MapleStory Grows Slowly, FCONLINE Gets Straight to the Match]

4. MapleStory M — A growth-focused RPG you can enjoy anytime, anywhere

PICO users frequently recommended MapleM as a growth-focused RPG that is easy to return to.

Many said that return support events and growth benefits make it easy to start again without pressure, even after a long break.

They also pointed to the ability to keep progressing your character on mobile, along with systems linked with MapleStory, as another major advantage.

Points Highlighted by PICO

• A progression environment that makes returning easy

• The fun of continued growth on mobile

• Gameplay linked with MapleStory

💬 "Sports games are fun because of the competition too, but I personally prefer growth-focused RPGs like 메이플m." — 빵파먹기님 [Even when you return, they always give you 3 pets and hand out items. Makes you want to come back~]

5. Overwatch — The highest sense of achievement earned through fierce competition

PICO users frequently mentioned Overwatch as a representative example of competitive games.

Many said its greatest appeal is the sense of achievement that comes from facing similarly skilled opponents in intense matches and turning a disadvantaged game around to secure the win.

The process of understanding each hero’s role and working in sync with teammates to achieve victory was also introduced as part of the distinctive appeal of competitive games.

Points Highlighted by PICO

• The thrill of a comeback that turns the match around

• Competitive play where you can feel your skills improving

• Victory built through teamwork

💬 "In the end, I think what I really like is not victory itself, but the sense of achievement that comes after an intense match." — 곤류님 [RPG and Competitive Games, What’s My Choice?]

[What the Genres Recommended by PICO Have in Common]

The joy of growth

Experiences like those in Mabinogi Mobile and MapleStory, where the time you invest leads directly to character growth, were identified by many PICO users as one of the biggest sources of enjoyment.

A sense of achievement through competition

In titles like FC Online and Overwatch, the process of testing your skills and winning was seen as something that delivers both tension and immersion.

The fun of enjoying games together

Beyond progressing alone, sharing information and cooperating with other PICO users while playing was also described as an important reason people continue enjoying games over the long term.

A play style that suits you

Whether someone prefers fierce competition or a more relaxed style of progression, it was clear that players tend to enjoy games for longer when they choose a genre that fits their own preferences.

[FAQ]

Q1. Between growth-focused RPGs and competitive games, which genre is more popular?

In PICO posts, both growth-focused RPGs and sports/competitive games were mentioned consistently. RPGs were highlighted for the fun of building characters and enjoying long-term growth, while sports and FPS titles were introduced for the sense of achievement that comes from competition and match outcomes. Rather than one genre being more popular than the other, the shared view among PICO users was that preferences vary depending on the kind of play experience they want.

Q2. What is the biggest appeal of competitive games?

PICO users who enjoy FC Online and Overwatch identified the tension of competition and the sense of achievement that comes with victory as the biggest appeal.

Q3. What kind of enjoyment do growth-focused RPGs offer?

The most frequently mentioned points were that characters gradually become stronger, that players can take on new content step by step, and that the time they invest leads to visible results.

Q4. Which genre is best for returning players?

PICO users said that when choosing a game that is easy to return to, the return support environment matters more than genre itself. Titles with abundant return events and growth support, such as MapleStory M, as well as games like FC Online that can be picked up again comfortably through familiar gameplay, were introduced as good examples for returning players.

Q5. What is the RPG genre?

RPG stands for Role Playing Game, a genre in which players grow characters, strengthen equipment, and enjoy story and content. In the Nexon PEAK Post Challenge, Mabinogi Mobile, MapleStory, and MapleM were frequently mentioned as representative growth-focused RPGs.

Q. What is a sports game?

A sports game is a genre based on real-world sports, where players compete through strategy and control skill. A key characteristic is that, like FC Online, it allows players to enjoy signing athletes, building squads, and real-time matches together.

Q. What is the FPS genre?

FPS stands for First-Person Shooter, a shooting game played from a first-person perspective. It refers to genres like Overwatch, where quick judgment, teamwork, and precise controls determine victory or defeat.

Through posts from PEAK users in 2026, we were able to look at the distinct appeal of a wide range of game genres.

From the joy of character growth, to the thrill of competing for victory, and the fun of communicating and playing together,

the gameplay experiences shared by PICO users are truly diverse.

What do you think is the best game genre?

Share your story on PEAK today and connect with other PICO users.

※ This content was compiled based on mentions in Nexon PEAK Post Challenge participation posts on PEAK as of July 28, 2026. The status of game content and event operations may change.

※ The images used in this post were created to aid understanding of the content and are not images that directly depict actual game screens or in-game content.