90 entries
Gaming terms A–Z
Every word in the lexicon, alphabetised. Filter by topic or type a few letters to narrow the list instantly, then open any entry for the full meaning and an example.
90 entries in the lexicon
- AFKAFK stands for “away from keyboard” and means a player is temporarily not playing or responding.
- AggroAggro is the attention of enemies: whoever has aggro is the character the enemies are currently trying to attack.
- Any%Any% is the most common speedrun category: reach the end of the game as fast as possible, with no requirement to collect or complete anything else.
- Battle passA battle pass is a tiered reward track, usually lasting one season, where playing unlocks items and a paid tier unlocks extra rewards.
- BuffA buff is a boost: either an update that makes something stronger, or a temporary effect that improves a character during play.
- BuildA build is the particular combination of skills, equipment and choices a player uses to shape how their character plays.
- CampingCamping means staying in one spot to ambush opponents or wait for something to appear, rather than moving around the map.
- CarryTo carry is to play so well that you win for your team almost single-handedly, or to help a weaker player through content.
- CheckpointA checkpoint is a point in a level where the game records your progress, so you restart there rather than from the beginning.
- CheeseTo cheese a game is to beat a challenge using an unusual, cheap or unintended tactic rather than the expected skill.
- ClutchA clutch play is a decisive performance under pressure, especially winning a round when you are the last player left or the odds are against you.
- CooldownA cooldown is the waiting time after using an ability before you can use it again.
- CosmeticsCosmetics are items that change how a character, weapon or vehicle looks without changing how it performs.
- CraftingCrafting is making new items in a game by combining materials you have gathered.
- CrossplayCrossplay lets people on different platforms, such as consoles, PC and phones, play together in the same online matches.
- Cross-progressionCross-progression lets you carry your save, unlocks and purchases between different devices by linking them to one account.
- CutsceneA cutscene is a non-interactive scene, like a short film clip, that tells part of a game’s story while you watch.
- Dedicated serverA dedicated server is a computer whose only job is to host online matches, rather than one of the players’ devices doing it.
- DLCDLC, or downloadable content, is extra material for a game released separately, such as new levels, story chapters or items.
- DPSDPS means damage per second, a measure of how quickly something deals damage, and also names the team role focused on dealing it.
- Early accessEarly access means buying and playing a game while it is still being developed, before its official full release.
- Easter eggAn Easter egg is a hidden message, joke, reference or secret that developers tuck into a game for players to discover.
- EsportsEsports is organised competitive gaming, with professional players and teams competing in leagues and tournaments.
- F2P (free-to-play)Free-to-play games cost nothing to download and play, and usually make money through optional in-game purchases.
- FarmingFarming means repeatedly doing the same activity to collect a specific resource, item or reward.
- Field of view (FOV)Field of view is how much of the game world you can see on screen at once, usually measured as an angle in degrees.
- Frame rateFrame rate is how many separate images a game draws each second, measured in frames per second (fps); higher usually looks and feels smoother.
- GachaGacha is a game system, common in mobile games, where you spend currency to “pull” for random characters or items.
- GankTo gank is to ambush an opponent, usually by surprise or with more players, so they have little chance to fight back.
- GGGG means “good game”, a quick message players send at the end of a match as a sign of sportsmanship.
- GriefingGriefing is deliberately spoiling the game for other players, for example by destroying their creations or sabotaging their team.
- GrindingGrinding means repeating the same task many times to gain experience, items or currency.
- HealerA healer is a team role focused on restoring team-mates’ health and keeping the group alive during fights.
- HitboxA hitbox is the invisible shape a game uses to decide whether an attack or object has touched something.
- HotfixA hotfix is a small, urgent update released quickly to fix a serious problem, often without a full patch cycle.
- LFGLFG means “looking for group”: a player or tool searching for others to team up with for an activity.
- Live serviceA live-service game is designed to be updated and run for years, with ongoing content, events and purchases rather than a single finished release.
- Loot boxA loot box is a virtual container you open to receive random items, sometimes bought with real money or premium currency.
- MetaThe meta is the set of strategies, characters and equipment that players currently consider most effective in a game.
- MicrotransactionA microtransaction is a small in-game purchase made with real money, such as an outfit, a currency bundle or a time-saver.
- Min-maxingMin-maxing means building a character to be as strong as possible in one area by sacrificing weaker, less useful areas.
- MMOAn MMO, or massively multiplayer online game, is a game where very large numbers of players share the same persistent online world.
- MMRMMR, or matchmaking rating, is a number many games use behind the scenes to estimate your skill and find opponents of similar ability.
- ModA mod is a modification made by players that changes or adds to a game, from small tweaks to entire new games.
- NerfTo nerf something is to make it weaker in an update, usually because it was too strong compared with everything else.
- NetcodeNetcode is the part of a game’s programming that handles online play, keeping every player’s version of the match in sync.
- New Game PlusNew Game Plus is a mode that lets you replay a finished game from the start while keeping some of your items, levels or abilities.
- NoobA noob is a beginner, though the word is often used as an insult for someone who plays badly.
- NPCAn NPC, or non-player character, is any character in a game controlled by the computer rather than a person.
- P2W (pay-to-win)Pay-to-win describes a game where spending real money gives a meaningful advantage over players who do not pay.
- Packet lossPacket loss happens when some of the small pieces of data sent between your device and the game server never arrive.
- PatchA patch is an update that changes a game after release, fixing bugs, adjusting balance or adding content.
- PermadeathPermadeath means that when your character dies, they are gone for good and you must start again.
- PingPing is the time, in milliseconds, that data takes to travel from your device to a game server and back.
- Power creepPower creep is the gradual rise in strength of new content over time, which makes older characters or items feel weak.
- Premium currencyPremium currency is an in-game money you buy with real money, then spend inside the game on items, passes or random rewards.
- Procedural generationProcedural generation is when a game builds levels, maps or items automatically from rules, rather than having every part designed by hand.
- PvEPvE, player versus environment, describes play where you face computer-controlled enemies and challenges rather than other players.
- PvPPvP, player versus player, describes any game or mode where players compete directly against each other.
- Rage-quitTo rage-quit is to leave a game suddenly out of anger or frustration, often mid-match.
- RaidA raid is a large, difficult group challenge in an online game, usually requiring many players to coordinate against powerful bosses.
- RankedRanked is a competitive game mode where results affect a visible rank, such as Bronze, Silver or Gold, and players are matched against others at a similar level.
- Ray tracingRay tracing is a graphics technique that simulates how light travels and bounces to create more realistic lighting, reflections and shadows.
- Refresh rateRefresh rate is how many times per second a screen updates its picture, measured in hertz (Hz).
- RemasterA remaster is an updated re-release of an existing game with improved graphics, sound or performance but largely the same design.
- RespawnTo respawn is to reappear in the game after being defeated, usually at a set location.
- RNGRNG stands for random number generator, and players use it to mean the luck or chance built into a game.
- Rollback netcodeRollback netcode predicts an opponent’s inputs so online play feels instant, then quietly corrects the game if the prediction was wrong.
- SandboxA sandbox game gives you tools and freedom to create, experiment and set your own goals rather than follow a fixed path.
- Save scummingSave scumming means repeatedly reloading a save to undo bad outcomes or retry random results until you get the one you want.
- SBMM (skill-based matchmaking)Skill-based matchmaking is a system that tries to put players into matches with and against others of similar ability.
- Screen tearingScreen tearing is a visual glitch where parts of two different frames appear on screen at once, creating a horizontal split.
- SeasonA season is a fixed period, often a few months, during which an online game runs a set of content, events and rewards before resetting.
- Season passA season pass usually means buying a bundle of upcoming DLC in advance, though some games use the name for a battle pass.
- Skill treeA skill tree is a branching menu of abilities that you unlock step by step as your character grows stronger.
- SmurfA smurf is an experienced player using a new or secondary account to play against less skilled opponents.
- SpeedrunA speedrun is an attempt to finish a game, or part of one, as fast as possible, usually timed and compared on public leaderboards.
- SupportSupport is a team role focused on helping team-mates through healing, protection, buffs, information or crowd control rather than dealing the most damage.
- TankA tank is a sturdy character whose job is to absorb damage and keep enemies focused on them, protecting the rest of the team.
- Tick rateTick rate is how many times per second an online game’s server updates the state of the match.
- Tier listA tier list ranks characters, weapons or other options into groups from strongest to weakest, usually labelled S, A, B, C and so on.
- ToxicToxic describes hostile, abusive or deliberately unpleasant behaviour from players towards others in a game community.