Gamers
People who are really into video games are sort of the classic “geek.” Their hobby was considered super uncool until a few years ago. Gamers come in all shapes and sizes, and almost everyone plays games these days, so it’s hard to make any blanket statements about this group. Sub-genres of the Gamer include: Multiplayer lovers RPG fanatics Puzzle gamers PC players Simulation fanatics Chess players
Techies
Techies are always looking forward to the latest gadget release. They were the early adopters of the Roomba, Google Glass, 3D printer, and Kindle, and they’re always on the look out for the newest cool thing to toy with. Techie subgenres include: Apple fanboys/fangirls AI/Cryto bros Hardware fanatics VR nerds
Sci-Fi Lovers
Sci-fi lovers live to get lost in beautifully designed worlds and visions of vibrant futures. Some of them tilt more towards film while others prefer literature, or even video games. Regardless, they’re one of the more iconic geek types out there. Popular variations include: Cyberpunk fanatics Speculative fiction readers Steampunk lovers Trekkies
Comic Book Fans
It’s hard to imagine something more traditionally geeky than hanging out in a comic book shop talking about the latest Batman release. Since so many comic books have been turned into film franchises these days, a lot of people kind of look at comic book readers as purists in a way—a point of pride for many comic book readers. There are: Collectors Specialists (like DC lovers or Marvel fanboys) Indy supporters Graphic novel specialists
Pop Culture Geeks
Pop culture geeks are rarely viewed as geeks, but what’s geekier than obsessing over every new viral piece of media that comes out? Pop culture geeks are the first to find the next Game of Thrones phenomenon, the first to be in line for the new Star Wars, and the first to know that The Office spin-off is in production. They’re the cutting edge of geek culture! There are also: Fandom geeks (Swifties, for example) TV/movie fanatics Fashionistas Golden Age TV historians
Live Action Roleplaying Gamers (LARPers)
Roleplayers are a classic type of geek. They’re all about entering a world of their own with their friends by engaging in role-playing games. Little miniature figurines, hand-drawn maps, dice, the whole nine yards! It’s a geeky tradition that goes back decades. Roleplaying fans especially love: Dungeons and Dragons Pathfinder Shadowrun Call of Cthulu
Anime Fans
The anime geek is pretty easy to spot. They’re not just into anime—they’re so into anime that they’ve got a manga collection, a huge collection of anime figurines, and they may or may not occasionally drop “senpai” or “kawaii” in casual conversation. Groups include: Manga purists Weebs (non-Japanese fans of Japanese culture) Gunpla (Mobile Suit Gundam) fans Shonen fans Otaku (someone obsessed with anime) Light novel readers Shojo lovers
Cosplayers
Cosplayers are a dedicated bunch. They’re always working on the next costume for the upcoming convention. They’re not necessarily super into one type of media, either. It’s not like they only dress up as characters in one show, comic, or movie! For them, it’s all about the costumes and the community. There are: Propmasters Anime cosplayers Historical accuracy nuts Photography fanatics/models 3D printing crafters EXPERT TIP Sparkle Sparkle Cosplayer Sparkle is a Cosplayer and content creator based in New Jersey. She has been cosplaying for several years. Notable cosplays of hers include characters from Arcane, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Delicious in Dungeon, Fairly OddParents, and more. She has over 286K followers on TikTok, 100K subscribers on YouTube, and 34K followers on Instagram. Through her cosplay work, Sparkle seeks to welcome and inspire Black youth in the cosplay community, and to make cosplay spaces more inclusive. Sparkle Sparkle Cosplayer I love how the cosplay community comes together to have fun and embrace being nerds. Meeting people and collaborating on cosplay projects is the most fulfilling part. Everyone brings unique skills to the table, and it’s amazing to learn and create together.
Fandom Fanatics
Fandom fanatics are geeks for one (and only one!) very specific IP (intellectual property). They might also be into other forms of geekdom, but it’s usually incidental. For example, a Final Fantasy fanatic might suddenly get into Magic: The Gathering because of MTG’s new Final Fantasy set! Popular fandom IPs focus on: Harry Potter Star Wars My Little Pony Doctor Who Marvel Lord of the Rings Pokémon The Walking Dead BTS
Music Geeks
These geeks have a passion for music that goes well beyond what normal music fans feel. They can recall entire discographies from memory, they have the down-low on the hottest concerts in town, and they’re always discussing their favorite recent tracks. Popular subgenres include: Gear heads (i.e. guitar builders) Collectors Vinyl purists Players Genre specialists
Ren Faire Nerds
Ren faire is short for “Renaissance Faire.” Renaissance faire culture is somewhat hidden from public view because most Ren faires take place in secluded wooded areas, but the people who frequent them are often super tight and close-knit. Ren faire nerds come in all shapes and sizes. There are: History nuts Character players Costume fanatics Actors/actresses Casual enjoyers
Board Gamers
Board games have gotten a lot better than Monopoly, Risk, and Yahtzee. Modern board games are much better designed and, as a result, fetch a much more engaged crowd. Board gamers typically enjoy all kinds of different games, but some of the most popular games with the deepest fandoms include: Settlers of Catan Pandemic Gloomhaven Wingspan Ticket to Ride Splendor
Card Game Players
Affectionately shortened to “TCG” (trading card game), these geeks love collecting and playing a particular card game. Some of these geeks are more about competitive deckbuilding and competition, while others are all about collecting rare cards and appreciating the art. The most popular IPs for card gamers include: Magic: The Gathering Pokémon One Piece Yu-Gi-Oh! Digimon Flesh and Blood Lorcana
Space Lovers
If someone is always checking in on the latest episode of Startalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson or sharing the latest Mars Rover updates on social media, they’re probably a space lover. These geeks are super into all things interstellar. They may be interested in space on purely scientific grounds, or they could look to the stars as a potential solution for climate change. Whatever the reason, space-loving subgenres of geek include: Scientists Astronomy photographers Stargazers Rocket geeks Sci-fi enthusiasts
Coders
Coding was something closer to magic in the 80s and 90s, but now that coding has been proliferated and people everywhere have learned how to do it, it’s a whole new world out there. Coders can work together (or totally alone!) to build apps and software that does all kinds of crazy things. Subsections include: Ethical hackers Cryptographers Hobbyists Open sourcers Game designers Web sleuths
Retro Geeks
Retro geeks are all about appreciating the old days. From cathode-ray TVs to Sega Genesis, they’re the historians of nerdom. Popular retro geek sub-groups include: Console collectors Arcade addicts Emulators Lost media hunters Vinyl collectors VHS collectors
Miniatures and Figurine Nerds
The subgroups that make up this category actually don’t have a lot in common. The only unifying theme here is that they like building and/or collecting stuff. Some of them (like Warhammer players) use miniatures to engage in a game. Others (like Funko Pop fans) just want to collect and admire their items. Subgenres include: Warhammer players Model train lovers Star Wars Miniatures players Anime modelers Gunpla (plastic model robot) builders Funko Pop fans Diagram builders
Chic Geeks
Chic geeks are a modern phenomenon. As nerdy stuff became acceptable, the chic geeks found a way to make it actively cool. They’re in and out of art galleries, collecting KAWS figurines and Labubus, and rocking retro video game tees like they’re designer. These are the trendy geeks—the ones who take bits of nerd culture and help normalize it for the best. They include: Fashionistas Designers Sneakerheads Foodies Socialites Literati
Stats Nerds
Stats nerds are all about the data. They enjoy tracking information, reading studies, and conducting informal polls on social media. Other than their love of data, there isn’t a ton uniting the different stat nerds out there. Those groups include: Sports fans Political analysts Poker/Gambling nerds Chess/eSports fans
Furries
This last group gets a special shoutout because they tend to get a bad wrap that they don’t really deserve. Furries are interested in animal characters, and they’ll often create “fursonas”—characters based on animals they identify with. Furries are huge on community and inclusion, and they’re one of the less gatekeep-y groups, as well. Similar groups include: Therians Otherkin Interested in learning more about these communities? Check out the conversation in our Therian vs. Furry forum!
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