subgenre

A subgenre is a more specialized category within a broader genre, defined by distinctive conventions, motifs, and audience expectations. Subgenres help classify and discuss works in literature, film, music, games, and other media, and they often share core elements with their parent genre while introducing unique twists.

Subgenres are not fixed; they evolve and overlaps occur. A work may belong to several subgenres, or shift categories as trends change. Debates about boundaries are common, and some classifications are contested or informal, especially for new or hybrid forms.

Examples across media illustrate the range of subgenres. In literature, detective fiction includes hardboiled and cozy subgenres; science fiction features cyberpunk, space opera, and dystopian; fantasy includes high fantasy, urban fantasy, and grimdark. In film, subgenres include slasher, psychological thriller, and body horror. In music, subgenres include punk and post-punk, emo, synth-pop, death metal, and black metal. In video games, role-playing games can be traditional RPGs or action RPGs; roguelike and other variants demonstrate further specialization.

Subgenres arise from stylistic conventions, setting, tone, and thematic focus, often shaped by cultural context, technology, and audience expectations. They guide marketing, criticism, and fan communities, and can indicate a work’s intended audience and stylistic approach.

Despite boundaries, many works cross subgenre lines, contributing to hybrid forms and new genres. Genre theory studies how subgenres reflect and influence creativity, distribution, and reception.