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AFK (Away From Keyboard): When a player is not actively participating in the game.
Aggro: Slang term for ‘aggression’ used in gaming to refer to hostile NPCs (non-player characters) attacking.
AI (Artificial Intelligence): Refers to computer-controlled characters in a game.
AoE (Area of Effect): Spells or abilities that affect multiple targets within a specified area.
AR (Augmented Reality): A technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user’s view of the real world, thus providing a composite view.
Avatar: The character a player controls in a game.
Battle Royale: A game mode where a large number of players are released onto a map with the objective of being the last player or team standing.
Beta: A version of the game released to a limited audience for testing before the final version is released.
Boss: A powerful enemy, often found at the end of a level or game.
Buff: A positive effect applied to a game character.
Bug: A glitch or problem in a game that prevents it from working as intended.
Bots: Computer-controlled players in the game.
Camping: Staying in one spot in a game, often for strategic reasons.
Cheats: Codes or mechanisms used to gain an advantage in a game.
Clan: A group of players who play together regularly.
Cloud Gaming: A way of playing games where the processing is done on a remote server rather than on the device being used to play.
Cooldown: The period of wait time before a spell or ability can be used again.
Crafting: The process of making new items within a game, often from materials found within the game world.
Cross-Platform: Games that allow players on different gaming systems to play with or against each other.
Debuff: A negative effect applied to a game character.
DLC (Downloadable Content): Additional content available for download after the game’s initial release.
Drone: In gaming, it’s often a unit controlled by the player that can scout or attack.
Dual Wielding: A game feature that allows a character to use a weapon in each hand.
Dungeon: An area in a game, usually filled with enemies and bosses.
DRM (Digital Rights Management): Technology used by game publishers to control the use of digital media or devices after sale.
E
Easter Egg: A hidden feature or surprise in a game.
Emulator: Software that lets one system behave like another. For example, an NES emulator lets you play NES games on your PC.
Endgame: The final stages of a game.
Epic: In gaming, this term often refers to something that is impressive or very good. In MMORPGs, it can also refer to high-quality, rare items.
Esports: Competitive, organized video gaming with tournaments and events.
EXP (Experience Points – see XP): Points gained from completing tasks or missions, used to level up characters.
Farming: The act of collecting resources in a game.
FOV (Field of View): The extent of the observable game world that is seen on the display at any given moment.
Free-to-Play (F2P): Games that are free to play, but often include in-game purchases.
Friendly Fire: When you can damage or harm your own team members in a game.
FPS (First-Person Shooter): A genre of game where players view the world from the first-person perspective of their character, typically involving gun or other weapon-based combat.
Gacha: A monetization model used in many free-to-play mobile games, likened to capsule-toy vending machines.
Gank: An ambush or surprise attack on a player.
Game Engine: The software used to build and run the game.
GG (Good Game): A term used to express sportsmanship after a game.
Grinding: Repeating actions to gain experience or items.
Healer: A character type in many games, responsible for healing allies.
Hitbox: The invisible shape around a character that registers hits from attacks.
HP (Hit Points): A measure of a character’s health.
HUD (Heads-Up Display): The on-screen interface showing a player’s stats and information.
Hyper-Casual Games: A genre of games characterized by simple mechanics and quick gameplay.
Idle Game: A game that continues to progress even when you’re not actively playing.
In-Game Purchase: Buying items or services within a game, often for real-world money.
Indie Game: A game typically created by individuals or smaller development teams without the financial support of a large game publisher.
Instance: A separate copy of a game location for each group or player to prevent overcrowding.
Inventory: The items a player is currently carrying in a game.
Jargon: Special words or expressions used by a particular profession or group that are difficult for others to understand, in this case, gaming lingo.
Joystick: A controller input device, often used in arcade and flight simulator games.
Jump Scare: A sudden unexpected event in a game designed to scare the player.
Juke: A maneuver to dodge or feint in a game, often used in competitive multiplayer games.
JRPG (Japanese Role-Playing Game): A genre of games that originated in Japan, often characterized by intricate plots and turn-based combat.
Keyboard Warrior: A person who behaves aggressively in online text-based discussions or games.
Kill Steal (KS): Taking a kill from another player in a multiplayer game.
Kiting: A strategy in gaming where a player draws an enemy away from its post or leads it around.
Knockback: A game mechanic where an attack pushes a character away.
KDR (Kill-Death Ratio): A statistic in multiplayer combat games that refers to the number of kills a player has achieved versus the number of times they have died.
Lag: A delay between player’s actions and game’s reaction, usually due to internet connection issues.
Level Up: To advance your character to the next level, often gaining new abilities or skills.
Loot: Items, often valuable, collected by players in a game.
LFG (Looking For Group): A term used in multiplayer games when a player is seeking others to join a party or team.
LAN (Local Area Network): A network of computers in close proximity to each other, like in a home or office. LAN parties are events where gamers get together to play multiplayer games on a LAN.
Microtransaction: Small, often optional, purchases made within a game, often for cosmetic items or game enhancements.
Mod: Short for modification. User-created changes to a game, ranging from character skins to entirely new gameplay mechanics.
MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online): A game genre that involves a large number of players interacting in a virtual game world.
Multiplayer: A mode of play that involves more than one player.
MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena): A popular game genre that involves two teams of players competing in a strategic battle with the goal of destroying the opposing team’s main structure.
Nerf: A change to a game that reduces the power or effectiveness of a character, item, or strategy.
Noob/Newb: A new or inexperienced player.
NPC (Non-Player Character): Characters in a game that are controlled by the game’s AI rather than by a player.
Nuking: Using very powerful attacks to defeat enemies quickly.
Nerdrage: Extreme anger expressed by a gamer who is frustrated with the events of the game.
OP (Overpowered): Something that is too strong and upsets the game balance.
Online Multiplayer: A game mode where players can play with or against each other via the internet.
Open World: A game design where a player can freely explore a large game map.
Overlay: An interface that appears over the top of a game’s usual interface, often used for streaming or in-game communication apps.
OOM (Out of Mana): A phrase often used in games to indicate that a player has exhausted their ability or spellcasting resource, commonly known as mana.
Ping: A measure of the time it takes for data to get from your computer to the game server, lower is better.
Power Leveling: The act of leveling up a character as quickly as possible.
PvP (Player vs. Player): A type of combat in a game where players fight against each other.
PvE (Player vs. Environment): A type of combat in a game where players fight against the game’s AI-controlled enemies.
Patch: An update to a game that fixes bugs or adds new content.
Quest: A task given to a player, often with a reward upon completion.
Quick Time Event (QTE): A gameplay mechanic where players must press buttons at specific times to progress.
Quake: A popular first-person shooter game, often used as a shorthand for the genre.
QQ: A term often used in gaming to indicate crying or complaining, based on the resemblance of the letters “QQ” to teary eyes.
Quad Damage: A power-up found in games, most notably Quake, that multiplies the damage of weapons by four.
Raid: A large-scale attack on an enemy, often requiring a large group of players.
Respawn: To come back to life after being killed in a game.
RPG (Role-Playing Game): A game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting.
RTS (Real-Time Strategy): A genre of games where players command and manage units and structures in real-time.
Roguelike: A sub-genre of RPG games that involve dungeon crawling and permadeath.
Sandbox: A style of game where players can freely explore and interact with the game world.
Server: The computer or system that hosts the online game.
Single Player: A game mode designed to be played by one person.
Skin: A cosmetic change to a character or item, often available for purchase.
Spawn: The location or process by which a player or entity enters the game world.
Stealth Games: A genre of games where the player must avoid or overcome adversaries by remaining unseen.
Tank: In multiplayer games, the character designed to absorb damage and protect the rest of the team.
Triple-A (AAA): High-budget games produced by large studios.
Tutorial: A guide or introduction to teach players how to play the game.
Twitch: A popular live streaming platform, primarily for video games.
Teabagging: A controversial move in video games, particularly shooters, where a player crouches repeatedly over a defeated opponent in a taunting manner.
Upgrade: To enhance a character, item, or ability.
User Interface (UI): The visual elements of a game that allow the player to interact with the game world.
Uninstall: The process of removing a game or software from your device.
Virtual Reality (VR): A technology that allows players to experience games in a fully immersive way.
Voice Chat: A feature that allows players to communicate with each other using microphones.
VPN (Virtual Private Network): A service that provides privacy and data security for internet connections, often used by gamers to prevent throttling, avoid censorship, or to play games not available in their region.
Win Condition: The specific objective or set of objectives that must be achieved to win a game.
World of Warcraft: A popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG).
Wipe: In multiplayer games, when the entire team is defeated.
XP (Experience Points): Points earned through gameplay that often lead to character leveling up.
Xbox: A popular gaming console developed by Microsoft.
X-axis: In 3D games, the horizontal axis on which movement and positioning are based.
Y-axis: In 3D games, the vertical axis on which movement and positioning are based.
YOLO (You Only Live Once): A phrase often used in gaming to justify risky actions.
Yield: In strategy games, the resources or rewards produced by a specific action or entity.
Zoning: In strategy games, controlling the map to limit your opponent’s options.
Z-Axis: In 3D games, the axis that measures depth, allowing characters to move towards and away from the camera.
Zero-Sum Game: A situation in which one player’s gain is equivalent to another’s loss.
Zerg: To overwhelm an opponent with sheer numbers, named after a race in the game StarCraft.
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