The paper positions videogame genre theory within the larger context of genre studies. This will be done by applying Rick Altman’s semantic/syntactic genre theory to videogames in the manner of Aki Järvinen’s earlier contribution. The primary difference to Järvinen’s model will be the emphasized aesthetic perspective—here represented by Altman—which will be the second defining concept next to game mechanics in understanding videogame genres through simplified dual categories. In this way, the paper establishes a combined mechanic/aesthetic approach unique to videogame genre classification. The recurring example will be the adventure game genre, which can be considered the videogame genre closest to Altman’s medium, film.