Alright, combined answer >:c

Mighty's favorite genres:

That-XCOM:EU-genre-methinks-is-strategy-with-RPG genre: Man, I love those kind of games O: like you had this whole squad and you have to control their actions. Like working as a team but with the whole input of just one guy, you, the one who control them and decide what to do. And then you kind of start caring for them. Also the turn based element, knowing that everyone will have their chance. I love that. I love how much of a team is there and how everyone fits a role.

RPG: I'm sometimes a sucker for this not because of the story but because of how much a character can progress with specific actions. Like with Shadowrun, the one for the SNES, I love the different skills and stuff and how everyone view my character. The new one is kind of a hit or miss in that regard but still, a fun game. I've begun playing the DLC, Dragonfall. Seems a lot more fun o: But back to the genre, progress and inmersing in a character and growing with him? Awesome feeling >:3!

FPS: I have one game that comes to mind when I think about FPS and that is Killing Floor. Goddamm boy! Killing Floor has this awesome wave mechanic in which every waves comes a harder challenge. And the perk trees! It combined FPS with a bit of RPG material in that regard. It really promote teamplay and it had everyone play a role. It was a bit too grindy but hell, it was a lot of fun getting those perks! Another FPS that was not a bullet shooter was Portal (1 and 2). Love me some brain puzzling and murdering co-op with bf.

Now, Mighty's bf favorite genres:

Dem RPGs: Oh boy character progression here we goooooooooooooooooooooooooooo :U !!!! Fuck yeah I love me some character getting better and better after some time. But of course, the challenge of doing that has to be satisfactory. A MUST! Like when beating a level in Dark Souls when you couldn't before after dieing a lot. It feels good. No, it feels damn good. Also, roleplaying that character. Like really getting into the character because you start caring for him.  With a RPG I need to feel engaged by part gameplay and part story. A good example (and with mods included), would be Fallout New Vegas. The game tells you your backstory while progressing through it, and, at the same time, you write the new story for your character. Also, it doesn't hold a kind of Great Man theory, it states that you're this guy who influences other factions and wins a territory. Not alone, but with help. I like that, I'm only a man who leaves a trace of influence through my actions.

FPS: Back in the 90's I remember thinking how badass was the whole Half-Life universe even though I didn't understand a butt of the history since I didn't understand english at that time. But then I got it and it was even better.
I really do appreciate a FPS with some kind of plot, something that makes the character go there and there and experience all that stuff. Also, good gun animations and sound. Like Mighty mentioned, Killing Floor is a huge part of us. The feeling of a double barrel shotgun shooting some pellets through a specimen is so satisfying because how heavy that weapon feels and sound even though I physically don't have it. Kinda curious, Killing Floor has almost none plot. Gotta have some KF 2 soon hnnnng!

Combined each/every of the ones mentioned before with survival and/or crafting aaaaand: Other stuff that I really love about New Vegas is the survival mechanic. Like, if you have more survival skill you could craft stuff. Or maybe resist some things better, or do better ammo than the regular ones. Crafting is really expanded with some mods so you can create more stuff and even weapon mods with specific tools. Crafting is satisfying if, at some point, it lets you surpass something already great but only if it took some kind of great effort to get there.
Now with survival, one have to be careful (speaking from the designers perspective) since, if you put too much realism, you could annoy players (it may be the cup of tea for some) or if you let it slide with no realism, it'll end up being a useless mechanic.
I remember back last year when the MISERY 2.0 mod for STALKER Call of Pripyat came out. It had quite a lot of backlash since it was pretty ridiculous. They balanced and made it too easy. They balanced it again and it was broken. They took a break and are working on a new patch. That's a perfect example of "shit, I should remember this. i don't want this happening to me :C"

Just an addendum! Everything has to had a solid plot or backstory. It's a must. Even KF explains how everything went to shit.

Mighty and bf out :0!!!