early game
Starting strategic period
Early game refers to the initial phase of a video game, board game, or strategic competition—the period when resources are scarce, positions are being established, and long-term strategies take shape.
In chess, early game means the opening moves; in video games, it's when characters are weak and options limited: The early game is brutal until you level up.
The term contrasts with mid game and late game, marking distinct phases of play with different priorities and tactics.
- openingGap or start
- startTo set going
- slow startWeak initial performance
- beginnersThose newly learning
- farmingCultivating land for food
resources · setup · foundation · rush · macro · economy · snowball · power spike · map control · aggression · tempo · first blood · jungle · creeps · gold · levels · resource management · scaling
- game beginningsfirst quarter, first period, first set, kickoff, tipoff
- game phasesstart, opening, setup, beginning, midgame
- game periodsquarter, half, period, inning, set
- sports gamesMadden NFL, NBA 2K, NHL, NBA Live, Wii Sports
- backgammonbackgammon board, backgammon set, dice, bear off, blot
- Chess phasesopening, middlegame, endgame
early gameend game
Final competitive phase
endgame · late stage · late-stage · final stretch · home stretch
early gameclimax
Point of greatest intensity
denouement · resolution · culmination · finale · final act
early, game, earlier, earliest, earliness, games, gamer, gamers, gaming