Glossary of Video Game Terminology

Glossary of Video Game Terminology

 

0-9

  • 1-up

    An extra life. 

  • 360 noscope

    Is a trick shot, where players turn a full 360 degrees; landing a blind shot. Commonly occurs in first person shooters, sports, melee, and fighting games.  

A

  • ACG (subculture)

    A term used in Greater China and Southeast Asia, describing the phenomena of Animation, Comics/Manga, and Video Games.

  • Achievement (video games)

    An achievement (or trophy) is a meta-goal embedded outside the confines of the video games environment and parameters. Achievement are commonly referred to as bonuses and secret unlocks. 

  • Action-adventure game

    A hybrid gaming genre; combining core elements of both action and adventure. The Action-adventure genre combines both elements by engaging the players' reflexes, eye-hand coordination, and problem solving skills. 

  • Active users

    A metric commonly used to measure the level of engagement for a particular product, object, server, and so on. 

  • Adventure game

    A game centered around story, exploration, and/or puzzling solving. 

  • Advergame

    A video game developed by, or in close collaboration with a corporate entity for the main purpose to promote a brand product for advertainment. 

  • Arcade Cabinet

    Also known as arcade machine or coin-operated arcade, or coin-op machine; is the housing in which the arcade games electronic hardware resides. 

  • Arcade video game

    Arcade games take inputs from players from a control, processes the information with computerized components, and then displays the output on a monitor or television screen.

  • Arena shooter

    Emphasizes fast paced action in an enclosed map, designed to foster player interaction. These games are a sub-genre of first person shooter and multiplayer, incorporating both first-person and third person perspectives.  

  • Asset flip

    A term coined by gaming journalist James Stephanie Sterling in 2015, referring to low quality games created with generic pre-made assets. Also lookup shovelware. 

  • Auto battler

    Also known as auto chess; typically features chess-like elements, where players place characters on a grid shaped battlefield, who then fight other enemy characters without any further inputs from players. 

  • Autosave Avatar (computing)

    A graphical representation of the user as a character or persona. 

B

  • Battle pass

    A type of monetization approach, offering players additional in-game content; rewarding them through a tiered leveling system, for completing challenges and quests. 

  • Beat 'em up

    Also known as "brawlers", and "beat em all"; is a game featuring hand to hand combat against a large number of opponents at once.  

  • Bonus stage

    Also known as "bonus level", "bonus round", and "special stage"; are a special level within the game, designed to give a player or players a chance to collect extra points and power ups. 

  • Boss (video games)

    A significant computer controlled opponent. A fight with a Boss is commonly referred to as boss battle or boss fight. Bosses are significantly stronger than other opponents in game, and serve as climax points at different stages of the game, 

  • Breast physics

    In video games, a feature that makes a female characters chest bounce when she moves in exaggerated or unnatural manners. 

  • Browser game

    A video game that is played via the internet through a web browser. 

C

  • Career mode

    A mode of gameplay where the player takes full control of a single character, and guides them through a structured career in the game. 

  • Casual game

    A game with simpler rules, shorter sessions, and require little skill to enjoy. These games are typically targeted toward a mass audience. 

  • Chiptune

    Also known as chip music or 8-bit music; is a style of synthesized music using the programmable sound generator (PSG) from vintage arcade, computer, video game consoles. 

  • Combo (short for combination)

    A set of actions performed in a sequence, with strict timing parameters, which yield significant benefits and advantages. 

  • Compulsion loop

    Also known as core loop; is a habitual chain of activities repeated by the user to cause them to continue the activity. 

  • Console

    An electronic device that outputs a video signal or image to a display, that can be played with a gaming controller. 

  • Console game

    A type of game consisting of unique images and sounds generated by the console. Console games come in various formats such as optical disc, ROM cartridge, digital download; or in the case of dedicated consoles: internal memory. 

  • Cooperative video game

    Also abbreviated as co-op; is a game or mode that allows two players two work together as teammates, against other players or computer opponents. Also Look up (PvE)

  • Cover system

    A gameplay mechanic that allows a virtual avatar the ability to hide and avoid danger, behind large solid objects. Commonly utilized in 3D environments. 

  • Cross-platform play

    Also known as cross-compatible play or cross-play; describes the ability of players using different hardware to interact with each other simultaneously. This is only possible with video games that have an online gaming functionality. 

  • Crowd control (video games)

    Also known as CC, is a term used in MMORPGs (Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) and MOBAs (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena); referring to the ability to limit the number of players from actively fighting during an encounter. 

  • Crunch (video games)

    Compulsory overtime during the development of a game. 

  • Cutscene

    Also known as the event scene, in-game cinematic or in-game movie; is a sequence in a video game that is not interactive, often interrupting gameplay to show conversations or builds in the games story. 

D

  • Danmaku

    Also known as Danmu; is a subtitle system that allows users to post comments in real time. These comments often shoot onto the screen in a barrage of characters. This system became popularized in Japan and Mainland China. 

  • Dating sim

    Also known as a romance simulation game; is a sub-genre of simulation game with romance elements. Dating sims are dialogue heavy and often rely on time management. 

  • Deathmatch: Or free for all

    Gameplay mode where the players goal is to eliminate as many players as possible, with the given set of parameters. This game mode is often utilized in multiplayer games. 

  • Director's cut

    An edited version of video game, that represents the director own approved edit in contrast to its original release. These cuts most commonly add extra scenes, characters, and levels. 

  • Downloadable content

    Refers to additional content for video games already released by the game developer, via the internet. 

  • Dual wield

    The technique of carrying two weapons, one in each hand, for training or combat. In video games, the option to carry two weapons can vary on character or gaming style. 

  • Dungeon crawl

    A type of scenario in fantasy role-playing games, where players have to navigate through a labyrinth, battling monsters, avoiding traps, and collecting items. 

  • Dynamic game difficulty balancing

    Also known as dynamic difficulty adjustment (DDA) or dynamic game balancing (DGB), is the process of automatically changing scenarios, events, and behaviors in a video game in real-time, based on the players natural in-game ability. This functions as a way to keep players engaged in the game, and avoid boredom (this game is too easy) and/or frustration (this game is too hard). 

E

  • Educational entertainment

    Also referred to as edutainment; is a type a media designed to educate through entertainment. 

  • Expansion pack

    Also known as an expansion set, supplement; is an addition to an existing role-playing, table-top, collectible card, or video game. These add-ons commonly include new game areas, weapons, power-ups, characters, or extended storyline. 

  • Experience point

    A measurement metric used to quantify a player character's life and progression through a game. 

F

  • Fantasy video game console or Fantasy console

    An emulator for fantasy console gaming. The aim of the fantasy console is, to recreate retro-gaming without the need to emulate a real console, allowing the gamer to full customize the specifics of their fictional hardware. 

  • Fast travel or teleportation

    A gaming mechanic that allow players the ability to transport to previous discovered locations instantaneously, without having to travel the distance in real-time. 

  • Fatality

    The gameplay feature introduced from Mortal Kombat, where the winning player deals a brutal final blow on the defeated opponent. 

  • Fighting game

    Also known as a versus fighting game, featuring combat mechanics such as blocking, grappling, counter-attacking, and chaining attacks into combos to win. 

  • First-person shooter

    A sub-genre of shooting game centered on weapon and other weapon based combat, from a first person perspective. 

  • Flight simulator

    Recreates aircraft flight and the environment it flies, pilot training and other purposes. 

  • Full-motion video (FMV)

    A video game animation technique relying heavily on pre-recorded video files (rather than sprites, vectors, or 3D models) to display in game action. 

G

  • Game balance

    Consists of adjusting values in the mathematical algorithms to create a certain user experience. 

  • Game feel

    Sometimes referred to as "game juice", is the intangible, tactile sensation experienced when interacting with a video game. 

  • Game mechanics

    The rules that govern and guides a players' actions, as well as the response the game has to these actions. 

  • Game over

    The point when a game and all attempts at completing the level are done. A message is usually seen reading, "Game Over", or "Better Luck Next Time". 

  • Gameplay

    The specific way players interact with a video game, through a defined pattern of game rules, player challenges, plot and player's personal investment. Video game gameplay is distinct in graphic and audio elements. 

  • Gamer

    A proactive hobbyist who actively engages in playing interactive games; especially, but not limited to video games. 

  • Games as a service (GaaS)

    Refers to video games or gaming content that is designed to receive continuous revenue, long after the initial release of the video game, or to support a free-to-play game. Games that work under the GaaS model are often called "living games", "live games", or "live service games". 

  • God game

    An artificial life game, casting the player as the supreme being, leader, or overseer of the actions in game; without any necessary spawn point.  

  • Grand Theft Auto clone

    An open world game characterized by its likeness to Grand Theft Auto Game, in either look, gameplay or overall design. 

  • Griefer

    Also known as a "Bad-faith player" or "Troll"; is a player in a multiplayer game, who deliberately harasses and trolls other players, in ways that the game was not intended to be used. 

  • Grinding (video games)

    The act of repeating an action or set of actions to achieve a desired result. 

H

  • Hack and slash

    A sub-genre of beat em up games; emphasizing on combat with melee weapons such as swords, blades, guns and explosives. Also known as "hack and slay" and "Slash em up". 

  • Handheld game console or handheld console

    A simple, portable self-contained video game unit, with built-in screen, controls, and speakers. 

  • Hate (video games)

    A mechanis used in MMORPG, and some rpgs, where opponents can distinguish priority of attack, based on threat levels. Also can be called threat, aggro, enmity

  • Health Meter

    An attribute that determines the amount of health, stamina, magic that a character can take before loosing consciousness, dying or needing to recharge. 

  • Hero shooter

    A sub-genre of first and third person shooting games; emphasizing the "Hero" character and their specific ability and weapons, signature to them. 

  • Hitbox

    An invisible space commonly used for collision detection. 

  • HUD (video gaming)

    The "Heads Up Display" or "Status Bar", is the method in which information is visually displayed to the player, as the game's user interface. 

I

  • Indie game

    Short for Independent game, is a game developed by a single individual or small team, without the budget or technical support of a larger corporation. 

  • Interactive film

    A video game or other interactive media that have characteristics of a cinematic film. 

  • Invisible wall

    A boundary in a video game that limits where a players character can go in an area, but does not appear as a physical object.

  • Item

    An object within a game world that can be collected by players through challenges, drops, and random pick ups. 

K

  • Kart racing game

    Uses simplified driving mechanics; includes unusual racetrack designs, obstacles, and vehicular combat. Also known as cart racing or go-kart racing games. 

  • Killing off

    A device in fiction, where a character dies, but the story continues. 

L

  • Lag (video games)

    Refers the delay (latency) between the user's inputs and the games reaction time. 

  • Let's Play Level (video games)

    A video; documenting the play-through of a video game. 

  • Life (video games)

    A play turn a character has. Also known as a chance, try, rest, continue, particularly in all ages games; as  Generally if a player looses all their health, They loose a life. 

  • Life simulation game

    Also known as a simulation; is a game where the player lives as one or multiple characters; revolving around their relationships, in a simulated ecosystem. 

  • Light gun shooter

    A game setup in a gallery style, designed for the player to aimed a gun-shaped controller at a screen. Also called "light gun game" or "gun game".

  • Line of sight (video games)

    The visibility of a player's character in a particular area. Many abilities can only be performed when an entity is in a characters line of sight. 

  • Loot (video games)

    The collection of item pickups by a player's character, that increase their power level and other abilities. 

  • Ludonarrative dissonance

    The conflict between the video game story, and its gameplay. 

M

  • Massively multiplayer online first-person shooter game or MMORPS

    An online real-time shooter, where a large number of players interact with each other in a massive virtual world. 

  • Massively multiplayer online game,  MMOG or MMO

    An online game with a large number of players, often hundreds, even thousands. 

  • Massively multiplayer online real-time strategy game or MMORTS

    Mixing real-time strategy and massive multiplayer online gaming, these games often take place on massive virtual battlefields, where players assume roles of general and head leaders. 

  • Massively multiplayer online role-playing game or MMORPG

    A game that combines role playing and massive multiplayer online gaming. Also look up role playing game. 

  • Metroidvania

    A sub-genre of action-adventure and platform game, focused on guided non-linear and utility purposed exploration and progression. 

  • Microconsole

    A home console, significantly priced below other full size console systems, due to its low-cost computing hardware and size. Some of these consoles are bundled with titles that are on its hardware or downloaded from an online store. 

  • Minigame

    A short game, often contained within another game. 

  • Mob (video games)

    A computer controlled non playable character in a video game. Also known as a mobile or mobile object. 

  • Mobile game or Smartphone game

    A video game that is typically played from a mobile phone. This term extends to all games played on portable devices such as phones, tablets, handheld consoles, calculators, and portable media players, with or without network connection. 

  • Module file

    Also known as MOD music or Tracker music; is a family of music file formats originating from Amiga software sounds used in the 1980s. People apart of the Demoscene subculture, listen to these files over the worldwide MOD. 

  • Multi-User Dundeon or MUD

    A multiplayer real-time virtual world, usually text-based and storyboarded. 

  • Multi-boxing

    Refers to playing as separate multiple characters concurrently in a game, such as an MMORPG. 

  • Multiplayer online battle arena or MOBA

    A game where two teams of players compete against each other on a predetermined battlefield. 

  • Multiplayer video game

    A game where more than one person can play in the same game environment at the same time, either locally or over an larger network. 

N

  • New Game Plus, New Game + or NG+

    An unlockable game feature in some game, allowing the player to start a new game with upgrades, and advance abilities, after the player has completed the game at least once. 

  • New Games Journalism or NGJ

    A new model of journalism where the writer includes personal anecdotes, and references to other media, as a way of exploring video game design, play and culture. 

  • Non-player character

    Any character in game that is not controlled by a player. Often considered the computer player. 

  • Nonlinear gameplay

    Presents players with a number of challenges that can be completed in many different sequences. 

  • Nuke (video games)

    The term describes an item, attack, spell or skill, capable of dealing a considerable amount of damage to its target. 

O

  • Online game

    A particular game that is played on the internet or similar network. 

  • Open world

    A virtual world where players can interact with objects and spaces freely. 

  • Optimization or Power-gaming (role-playing games)

    A style of interacting with video games, or game-like system, with the aim of achieving a specific goal. 

  • Outro or Credit Screen

    The list of developers and people involved with the work, as well as thank you's; marking the end of the game. 

P

  • Paper doll (video games)

    In a role playing game, a paper doll is a player character's inventory and actively used equipment. 

  • Personal computer game, Computer game, or PC Game

    A video game played on a personal computer, as oppose to a console system. 

  • Permadeath or Permanent death

    Is a game mechanic where if a player's character looses all their health, they die and cannot be used for that round. 

  • Personalized video game

    A game created as for a single person or group of people as a luxury gift, kind of like a personalized book. 

  • Photography game

    A game in which taking photographs, utilizing in-game camera mechanics. 

  • Platform fighter

    Games that emphasize fighting on stages with 2D freeform movement, similar to a standard platform game. Also look up platform game. 

  • Platform game or platformer

    A game in which the core objective is for the player to move their character between different points of a 2D environment. 

  • Player character or playable character

    A fictional character in a video game, whose actions are solely controlled by the character instead of the rules of the game. 

  • Player versus environment, player vs enemy or PVE, also player vs monsters or PVM

    A term used to refer to fighting computer controlled enemies 

  • Player versus player or PVP

    is a type of multiplayer interactive conflict within a game between human players. 

  • Power-up

    An item that adds temporary benefit or extra ability to a playable character as its game mechanics. 

  • Puzzle Game

    A video game genre that emphasizes solving puzzles. 

Q

  • Quest or mission (video games)

    A task in a video game that a playable character or party, may complete to gain rewards. 

R

  • Racing game

    A video game genre where players participate in a racing competition. 

  • Raid (video games)

    A type of mission where a player or larger number of players can complete the task within an instant to receive greater rewards.

  • Random encounter

    A feature in games whereby players are met with random combat encounters by enemies and other objects. 

  • Real-time strategy

    Is a sub-genre of strategy game that does not move in turns, but allows players to move simultaneously in real time. 

  • Real-time tactics also Wargames

    Played in real-time in wartime and operational situations in real time. 

  • Reboot (fiction)

    Term signifies a new start.

  • Remake (video game)

    A video game closely adapted from an earlier title. 

  • Replay value, replay-ability, or colloquially

    The potential of a video game or other media of being played continuously after its first completion.  

  • Rhythm game or rhythm action

    A genre of music themed video game that challenges a player's eye-hand coordination and sense of rhythm. 

  • Rogue-like

    A sub-genre of role playing game characterized by dungeon crawls, turn-based gameplay, procedural level generation, and permadeath of the playable character. 

  • Roguelike deck-building game

    A card game combining procedural- generated randomness. 

  • Role-playing video game

    A game where the player controls the actions of a character to party, immersed in a well-defined world, centered around character development, and recorded statistics. 

  • Rush, rushing, or rushdown

    (video games): A gaming tactic where the player overwhelms the enemy with size and speed. 

S

  • Sandbox game

    A video game with gameplay where players have a greater level of creativity in how they interact with the virtual environment, with a goal that players set for themselves. 

  • Saved game

    A piece of digital information documenting a players degree of progress in a video game. Also called game save, save file, save point, and save. 

  • Season pass (video games)

    A form of game monetization offering players a discounted package of exclusive and future game content, and power ups. 

  • Shoot 'em up

    A sub-genre of shooter game, where players wield projectile weapons, to fight a large amount of non player characters. 

  • Shooter game or Shooters

    A sub-genre of action game, where the core objective is to eliminate the enemy with any projectile weapon given to the character. 

  • Side-scrolling or side-scroller

    A game with a side camera view, following the character from left to right. 

  • Silent protagonist

    A playable character who lacks any dialogue for the entire duration of the game. 

  • Single-player video game

    A game where input from one player is expected from the entire course of the game. 

  • Space flight simulation game

    A genre of flight simulator that allow players to experience flight and the physics of space. 

  • Spawning (video games)

    The live creation of a playable character, item or non-playable character in a game. 

  • Split screen (computing)

    A display technique where the graphics split the screen into different chambers, making it possible for more than two people to share a signal screen, yet have an individual unique experience. 

  • Sports video game

    A video game that simulates the practice of sports. 

  • Status effect

    A temporary modification to a player's character stats, from spells, items, elements, and combat. 

  • Stealth game

    A game where the player primarily uses the art of stealth to avoid or overcome opponents. 

  • Strafing (video games)

    The act of moving sideways in a game, allowing the camera to stay focus on the target while moving in a different direction. 

  • Strategy guide

    Instruction books that contain specific hints or complete solutions to a video games. 

  • Survival horror

    A game where players attempt to keep their character alive, while in a horror scenario. 

T

  • Tactical shooter

    These games aim to simulate realistic combat through slower paced punishing gameplay. 

  • Tank or meat shield (video games)

    A character class that deliberately attracts enemy attention and attacks.  

  • Tank controls

    A feature where the player takes control of the character, through first person view, as oppose to the games standard camera. 

  • Tap (gaming)

    :

  • Text-based game

    :

  • Third-person shooter

    :

  • Tile matching puzzle game

    A type of puzzle video game, where players manipulate tiles in order to make them disappear according to their matching criteria. 

  • Tower defense

    A sub-genre of strategy game where players have to defend their territory or possession from a horde of enemies, through obstructions, traps and assault towers. 

  • Train simulator, railroad simulator, or railway simulator

    A computer-based game simulating the rail transport system. 

  • Trickjump

    A form of movement in a video game, that gives players more leverage and abilities when jumping. 

  • Triple-I (videogame)

    An Independently funding game. 

  • Turn-based strategy or TBS

    A type of strategy video game where players take turns when playing. 

  • Tutorial (video games)

    A tool that teaches players the general rules and controls of the game. 

  • Twinking

    A type of behavior, disapproved by other players in a role playing game. A player who acts in an obnoxious manner, and complete disregard for other players. 

U

  • Unlockable (gaming)

    Content that is not accessible unless the player accomplishes a task. 

V

  • Vehicular combat games, vehicular combat, or car combat

    A sub-genre of car simulator game, where the primary object is to destroy enemy cars with player car, mounted with weapons of all sorts. 

  • Video game exploit

    The use of a bug or glitch, or other aspect of the game, in a manner that the developer hadn't originally intended. 

  • Video game journalism

    A branch of journalism concerned with the reporting and discussion of video games. 

  • Video game monetization

    The type of process a video game publisher can employ to generate revenue from a video game product. 

  • Virtual economy or synthetic economy

    An economy existing in the virtual world, commonly exchanging digital goods with other digital and real world goods. 

W

  • Warp or Portal (video games)

    Specific area allowing player characters to instantaneously transport from one zone to another. 

Z

  • Zone or Zoned Area

    (video games): refers a single part of the greater virtual environment. 
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