Fungi perform various reproductive strategies, including sexual and asexual reproduction, with the latter being essential for genetic recombination and evolutionary processes. Sexual reproduction encompasses heterothallism, homothallism, and pseudohomothallism, all governed by genes located at the mating type locus. These genes perform a pivotal function in sexual reproduction, encode transcription factors that regulate various aspects of fungal growth and reproduction. This review provides insights into the structure, molecular function, and regulatory mechanisms of mating genes in fungal sexual reproduction.