Games - Video Game Terms

Here you will learn some English words related to video game terms such as "avatar", "frag", and "noob".

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Games

a reward in some video games that is obtained after completing specific, often challenging tasks

avatar [noun]

an image that is the representation of a player in a game or an account on social media

Ex: Players can customize their avatar with different outfits and accessories .
to camp [verb]

(of a character in a video game) to hide or stay in one spot for an extended period of time in order to remain safe or to ambush other players

Ex: During the final moments of the battle royale match , some players choose to camp in strategic locations to increase their chances of survival .

a feature in some computer games that enables the participants across the world to play a game together regardless of having different platforms, operating systems, or consoles

Ex: Thanks to cross-play , I no longer have to worry about what platform my friends are using to join in the game .
cutscene [noun]

a non-interactive scene in a video game that is usually shown when the player levels up, dies, or reaches another chapter of the game to develop the plot of the game

Ex: The cutscene at the beginning of the game gave a great introduction to the story .

a message, reference, or feature that is intentionally hidden by the directors of a movie, developers of a game, or writers of a book, etc. for the sake of amusement

a point awarded to a player who has passed a level, accomplished a mission, collected a particular item, or defeated a specific enemy in a computer game

Ex: The team worked together and gained a lot of experience points from the quest .
to frag [verb]

to kill an enemy in a shooting game

the practice of devoting long hours into playing a specific game in order to collect in-game currency and related assets and make money by selling them to other players

Ex: Gold farming has become a business for some players who want to make money from the game .
level [noun]

(in computer games) an area accessible to the player while achieving an objective

Ex:

(of a player's character) to advance to the next level in terms of strength, ability, etc.

Ex: The mage leveled up after completing the magical quest , expanding their knowledge of spells and enhancing their mana pool .
pwnage [noun]

the fact or act of completely defeating a rival or enemy in a video game

Ex: That was some serious pwnage , I thought I had a chance , but then he wiped the floor with me .
to pwn [verb]

to completely defeat a rival or opponent, particularly in a video game

Ex:

(particularly of a computer game or music) worthy of playing more than once

Ex: The game 's replayability is what keeps me playing it even after finishing the main story .
replayable [adjective]

a quality in video games that makes them worth experiencing more than once

(of a video game character) to come back to life after having been killed

shoot-'em-up [adjective]

(of a computer game) involving a lot of shooting and bloodshed

gamer [noun]

someone who plays video games

console [noun]

an electronic device used for playing video games on a television or display screen

Ex: She connected the console to the television for a better gaming experience .
triple-A [noun]

a high-quality, high-budget video game developed by a major company with extensive resources

Ex: I spent the entire weekend playing the latest triple-A release .

the range or radius of an action or ability that affects multiple targets within a specified area in video games or role-playing games

Ex: The game 's new update introduced more abilities with a larger area of effect .

enemies or characters that have an excessive amount of health or resilience, often requiring players to expend a large number of bullets or attacks to defeat them

Ex: The game developers made the final level harder by turning the enemies into bullet sponges .
camping [noun]

a gaming term used to describe the strategy of staying in one location or area for an extended period, often to gain an advantage or to ambush opponents

cheesing [noun]

the act of using tactics or strategies in a video game that exploit weaknesses or loopholes in the game mechanics to gain an advantage over opponents

Ex:
world [noun]

an environment visualized or created, especially in a video game

the process of incorporating game-like elements and mechanics, such as points, rewards, leaderboards, challenges, and progress tracking, into non-game contexts

Ex: The app uses gamification to keep users interested by offering challenges and rewards for progress .
gaming [noun]

the act of playing video games or other interactive media, typically on a computer, console, or mobile device, for entertainment, recreation, or competition

loot box [noun]

a virtual item in a video game that can be purchased with real money or in-game currency and contains random rewards, such as virtual items, currency, or other in-game bonuses

Ex: I finally opened a loot box and got the legendary weapon I wanted !

a small financial transaction typically made within a video game or other software application, often using real-world currency or virtual currency, for the purpose of acquiring virtual goods or other in-game benefits

Ex: Microtransactions in mobile games often include options for buying in-game currency or extra lives .

a person who spends excessive amounts of time using a computer, particularly for activities such as browsing the internet, playing video games, or engaging in social media

Ex: She ’s been a real mouse potato lately , binge-watching shows and avoiding any kind of exercise .
multi-user [adjective]

(of a computer system or software application) designed for use by more than one person at the same time

nerf [noun]

the act of reducing the power or effectiveness of a weapon, ability, or strategy in order to balance or improve gameplay

Ex: After the nerf , the healing ability was no longer as effective during battles .
buff [noun]

a temporary or permanent boost to a character's abilities, stats, or performance in a game, typically granted by items, abilities, or other game mechanics

Ex:
skin [noun]

a visual design or appearance that can be applied to a character, weapon, or other in-game object to change its look without affecting its performance or gameplay mechanics

clan [noun]

a group of players in video games who form a community or team to compete or achieve shared goals

Ex: Members of the clan shared tips and resources for the game .
crafting [noun]

a game mechanic in which players can create or upgrade items, equipment, or other in-game assets using various resources or components

Ex:

additional digital content or expansions for a video game that can be purchased and downloaded after the initial release to enhance the gaming experience

Ex: The downloadable content for the game was a great way to add new challenges .

a metric used in video games to measure the amount of damage a character or weapon can deal over a specific period, usually one second. It helps players understand the efficiency and effectiveness of their attacks in combat situations

Ex:
to gank [verb]

to ambush or attack an opponent, often by surprise or with a numerical advantage, in a video game

good game [interjection]

used at the end of a game to acknowledge a match as good; can be sincere or sarcastic

Ex:

a statistical measure that represents the number of kills a player achieves in relation to the number of times they have been killed

Ex:

the action of repeatedly and rapidly pressing buttons on a controller, often without a specific strategy or timing, in order to perform actions in a video game

Ex: He relied too much on button mashing , which made him lose the match .

a resource used in some video games to cast spells or perform special abilities by consuming a specific amount of magical energy or power

Ex:
noob [noun]

someone inexperienced or unskilled, often in gaming or online communities

Ex: Stop acting like a noob and pay attention .
overpowered [adjective]

referring to a game element, character, or ability that is excessively strong or dominant, often giving an unfair advantage compared to other elements or players

a term used to describe a game mode or situation in which players compete directly against each other, rather than against computer-controlled opponents

Ex: The game has a dedicated player versus player arena where you can test your skills against others .

a gameplay mechanic in video games that requires the player to press specific buttons or perform actions in response to on-screen prompts within a limited timeframe to progress through the game or perform certain actions

Ex: Some players dislike quick time events because they interrupt the flow of gameplay .

to abruptly quit a video game out of frustration or anger, often by intentionally disconnecting from the game or leaving the match

any character in a video game that is controlled by the computer itself rather than the playe

Ex:
smurfing [noun]

the act of an experienced player using a new or alternate account to play against lower-skilled opponents, typically to achieve easy wins or exploit the matchmaking system

Ex: Smurfing often leads to unbalanced games , frustrating both newer players and those trying to climb the ranks .
tank [noun]

a game role or character built to absorb damage and protect teammates

Ex: The tank drew enemy fire to shield the healer .

a player who prioritizes maximizing their character's power and effectiveness in the game

Ex: The power gamer in our group always knows the best strategies to win quickly .
life [noun]

the numerical representation of a player's or character's health or vitality, which determines their ability to withstand damage or survive in the game

a type of interactive audio in video games that dynamically changes based on the player's actions or the game's events to enhance the gaming experience

Ex: The adaptive music smoothly transitioned from light and upbeat to dark and ominous as the plot unfolded .

a fictional character in a game, whether in a tabletop role-playing game or a video game, that is controlled and guided by a player throughout the course of the game's events and challenges

Ex: My player character keeps dying in the same spot ; I need to improve my strategy .

the best or highest achievement in terms of points or performance in a game

Ex: He set a new high score in the arcade game and felt really proud of his achievement .
to game [verb]

to play computer or video games

Ex: He prefers to game on his PC because of the superior graphics and performance .