Block serifs (also called slab serifs) sit in a strange spot between categories. The strokes are low-contrast and nearly uniform, like a sans, but the terminals are blocky feet as heavy as the letter itself.
It’s both a historical classification and a genre big enough to stand next to serif and sans-serif. And despite the name, most block serifs are built like sans-serifs: unmodulated, single-weight lines. Look at a superfamily with serif, sans, and block-serif versions, and the sans and block-serif skeletons are often identical. Only the feet change.
The exception is the Clarendons. Their serifs are bracketed, so the feet flow into the stems instead of sitting on them, and the contrast between thick and thin is more pronounced. Under the wider umbrella you’ll find plenty of subgroups, split by era and form. For the sturdy look at its best, try Gonzaga, Guka, and Nexa Slab.
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