Understanding gaming terms is integral to participating in gaming culture. These words help players communicate strategies, share experiences, and connect with each other across the globe. They have transcended modern games and seeped into general internet culture. For new players, mastering this language is part of integrating into the community.
The growing crossover of video gaming terms into mainstream media and everyday conversation underscores their relevance. Terms like “AFK” (Away From Keyboard) and “GG” (Good Game) are now used in contexts outside of gaming. It is important to understand these terms for anyone navigating the digital world. Let’s learn them before you start to play games!
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History of gaming terminology
The lexicon of gaming has evolved significantly since the early days of video games. In the 1970s and 1980s, gaming terms were mostly confined to simple instructions and descriptions like “score,” “lives”, and “levels”. As the industry grew more complex and diverse, so did the language surrounding them.
The shift began with an online multiplayer game appearance in the late 1990s and early 2000s. A new social dimension was added, so the talk was not only about game mechanics. Terms like “guilds” in MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games) and “PvP” (Player versus Player) became common. Gaming language further expanded with the rise of competitive gaming.
General terms of the game world
In the world of gaming, certain terms are essential for every player to know, regardless of their favourite genres. These basic terms form the foundation of the slang. Let’s dive into some of this fundamental gaming terminology that is universally used across various games.
Avatar/Game Character: It is the player’s representation within the game. This could be a customisable human figure or a specific character. The avatar serves as the player’s virtual identity.
FPS (short for “frames per second”): It refers to the frequency at which a game or graphics card produces individual images on the screen. The higher the FPS, the smoother the gameplay will be.
Lag: A delay in response time between your actions and what you see on the screen. High lag makes it difficult to play certain online games.
Level Up: It is synonymous with progression. It signifies advancing to a higher level of skill or character development. This could be through gaining experience points, completing certain tasks, or defeating opponents. It unlocks new abilities, strengths, or access to new areas within the game.
NPC: This stands for “non-player character” and refers to any character in a video game that is controlled by artificial intelligence rather than a human player.
Respawn: This term is used when a player dies in a game and returns to life at a predetermined location.
Easter eggs: They are hidden features, messages, or inside jokes that are intentionally placed by the creators. These are difficult to find and often require players to explore off-the-beaten-path or perform specific actions.
Save Point: A specific location in a game where the player can save his progress and return to it later.
Camping: Staying in one spot, often hidden, to ambush other players.
Grinding: Repeating certain actions, like defeating enemies or completing tasks, to gain more experience points or items.
Genre-specific terms
Each genre uses specific terms to help potential gamers grasp their style and mechanics. They serve as a guide to the kind of gameplay, challenges, and interactions players can expect.
FPS games (first-person shooter)
In these games, the player’s perspective is from their character’s perspective. Enemies are battled with weapons. Players must have quick reflexes and good hand-eye coordination to succeed. Shooter games typically have a competitive aspect, with players competing against each other in matches and tournaments. Games like Call of Duty and Overwatch are prime examples of FPS.
RPG (role-playing game)
Players control one or more characters and progress through a story by making decisions for those characters. They frequently take on the role of a specific character, whether it be a hero or a villain. Classic RPG games, such as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Final Fantasy VII, are known for their immersive storytelling, giving players the opportunity to shape the outcome of the game based on their choices. There are a few subgenres, including the Japanese role-playing game that is influenced by anime or manga, featuring vibrant colours, stylised characters, and exaggerated expressions.
Sandbox
Unlike more linear games, sandbox titles typically offer a wide-open world where players can shape their experience through exploration, construction, and manipulation of the game environment. These games, like Minecraft or Terraria, have open-ended gameplay, giving freedom to roam around the virtual world.
MMO (massively multiplayer online)
This term refers to games that can be played by numerous people simultaneously via the internet. They have open worlds, allowing players to interact with each other in real time and complete various quests together. MMOs are popular for their social aspect, as players form guilds or teams. Classic examples include World of Warcraft and Guild Wars 2.
MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena)
This genre involves teams of players competing against each other in strategic, arena-based combat. Popular examples include League of Legends and Dota 2. Players control a single character with unique abilities. Their common goal is destroying the enemy’s bases.
Fighting game
This genre focuses on close-quarters combat between a few characters, typically in a confined, arena-like space. Classic examples include Street Fighter and Tekken. In fighting games, players choose individual characters, each with a unique set of moves and abilities. The objective is to deplete the opponent’s health bar through a series of attacks and combos, requiring precise timing and quick reflexes.
Platformer
These games focus on jumping and climbing between platforms and over obstacles. They usually feature a side-scrolling perspective. Classic examples include Super Mario Bros. and Sonic the Hedgehog.
Simulation games
This genre mimics real-world activities in a virtual environment. These games emphasise realistic gameplay mechanics and focus on accurately replicating aspects of a particular activity or profession. They often strive for a high degree of realism and attention to detail.
Survival horror
This genre emphasises the survival of the character as the primary goal in a horror-themed setting. These games, like Resident Evil or Silent Hill, involve scarce resources, puzzles, and combat in a suspenseful, frightening atmosphere.
RTS (real-time strategy)
Strategy games where players manage resources and units in real time. The decisions need to be made quickly in line with the changing situation. In RTS games, players take on the role of a commander or leader, controlling an army with the goal of defeating their opponents. They require strategic thinking, resource management, and quick decision-making skills to defeat the enemies. Popular titles in this genre include StarCraft II and Age of Empires.
Battle royale
A relatively new genre popularised by games like Fortnite and PUBG, where players fight to be the last person standing in a shrinking play area.
Good game: online gaming slang
In the world of online gaming, there is a whole language that players use to talk to each other. It is a set of shortcuts and special words that make communicating quicker. These terms save time, help players understand each other better, show good sportsmanship, and make entertainment more enjoyable.
GG (Good Game): A sign of respect after a game, acknowledging a well-played match, regardless of the outcome.
GG EZ (Good Game, Easy): A sarcastic phrase, implying that the game was effortlessly won. It expresses poor sportsmanship.
AFK (Away From Keyboard): This indicates when players step away from their computer to let others know they are temporarily not active in the game.
BRB (Be Right Back): Used when a player needs to leave for a moment, but will return shortly.
Noob: A teasing term for someone who lacks experience. It is often used when a player makes a beginner’s mistake.
PvP (Player vs Player): This refers to players competing against each other rather than against computer-controlled opponents.
OP (Overpowered): Describes a character, item, or strategy that is too strong and unbalanced compared to others in the game.
Game mechanics terms
Understanding the mechanics which govern gameplay is the base. Gamers develop specific terms to describe the invisible rules and features that players interact with during the sessions. Grasping these concepts improves a player’s performance. Let’s explore key game mechanics terms.
Hitbox: This refers to the specific area on a character or object that can be affected by attacks. Knowing it, ensures precision in combat, as it impacts where a player needs to aim.
Cooldown: After using a skill, the cooldown is the waiting time before it can be used again. This mechanism encourages players to strategic planning of skill use.
Buff/Debuff: Buffs are temporary enhancements to a character’s abilities, while debuffs are reductions. Knowing how to use them influences the outcome of a game.
Loot: The rewards gained from gameplay activities, e.g. defeating enemies or completing challenges. Loot varies in rarity and usefulness.
AOE (Area of Effect): Abilities or attacks that impact a specific area. It helps to deal with multiple enemies or large battlefields.
RNG (Random Number Generator): The randomness involved in loot drops or event occurrences. It adds variety to games.
Aggro: Short for aggression, it refers to how enemy non-playable characters target players. Managing aggro is key in team-based games, especially for tanks or healers.
Crafting: This is the process of combining materials to create a new, more powerful item. Crafting adds customisation to games.
Mana/Stamina: The resources used to perform actions. For optimal performance in the gameplay, players need to manage them effectively.
Gaming roles:
In multiplayer gaming, each player often takes on a specific role. It is similar to positions in a sports team. These roles balance effective team strategy, as each brings a unique set of skills to the game. Let’s discover various roles you might encounter!
Tank protects other team members, taking on himself enemy attention and damage. It has high health and defence stats.
Healer/Support provides healing and buffs to teammates. It has abilities focused on health regeneration, and enhancing team capabilities.
Attacker gives significant damage to enemies. It usually features high damage output but lower defence.
Crowd Control incapacitates the abilities of enemies through various means. It uses stuns and slows to control movement.
Assassin/Stealth targets and eliminates key enemy players, typically through rapid strikes. It has high burst damage, with abilities focusing on stealth and mobility.
Sniper/Sharpshooter engages enemies from long distances. It features precision and high damage at range, often with a focus on single-target elimination.
Scout/Reconnaissance gathers information about enemy positions and movements. It is mobile and has enhanced observational abilities.
Jungler (specific to MOBAs) gathers resources in the less direct combat areas of the game, surprising enemies. It is effective in launching unexpected attacks against players.
Gaming terms in localisation
The accurate translation of gaming terms is indispensable for providing an absorbing experience for players worldwide. Localisation involves adapting the game, including specific terms and cultural references, to resonate with the target audience. This process ensures that the game feels native to players from various regions, maintaining the original’s tone, context, and playability.
The challenge in localising gaming terms also lies in preserving technical accuracy while ensuring cultural relevance. This is especially important for genre-specific jargon, like RPG (Role-Playing Game) or FPS (First-Person Shooter), which need to be relatable in different languages.
If you need help with game localisation, contact us at Skrivanek. We employ a team of specialists who work towards a common goal: a game that is equally immersive in any language.
