gameplay
How games work
Gameplay is the experience of interacting with a video game—how it feels to play, distinct from its story, graphics, or sound.
The term encompasses mechanics, controls, difficulty, pacing, and moment-to-moment decisions: The graphics are dated but the gameplay holds up.
Game reviews often treat gameplay as the core measure of quality: addictive gameplay, tight gameplay, repetitive gameplay.
Top recorded result
- livesExists or resides
- quartersAssigned living accommodations
- coin-opRequires inserted currency
- cabinetEnclosed storage furniture
retro · power-ups · platformer · shoot-em-up · beat-em-up · bonus · continue · joystick
State of being hard
- bossWorkplace superior
- puzzleChallenge testing ingenuity
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
- enemyHostile opposing party
level · trial · quest · achievement · skill · competition · rival · adversary
Principles governing behavior
- controlsOperates or regulates
- objectivesIntended targets or ends
- progressionSequential forward movement
- levelsHeights or ranked stages
power-ups · hitbox · combo · cooldown · health · mana · inventory · abilities
Unbroken forward movement
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- presenceState of being somewhere
- atmosphereGaseous layer around planets
worldbuilding · narrative · storytelling · escapism · interactivity · audiovisual · sensory · cutscene
Methods to achieve goals
- planningArranging for future events
- decision-makingProcess of choosing actions
- positioningArranging in specific locations
- optimizationMaximizing efficiency or performance
counterplay · flanking · turn-based · real-time · meta · min-maxing
Science of matter and energy
- modelingSimulating or demonstrating form
- realismAccepting things as they are
- fidelityLoyalty or exactness
- sandboxEnclosed play area
vehicle · flight · racing · management · tycoon
highscore
Top recorded result
cabinet · retro · power-ups · platformer · shoot-em-up · beat-em-up · bonus · continue · joystick · endless
difficulty
State of being hard
enemy · level · trial · quest · achievement · skill · competition · rival · adversary · barrier
rules
Principles governing behavior
- controlsOperates or regulates
- objectivesIntended targets or ends
- progressionSequential forward movement
levels · power-ups · hitbox · combo · cooldown · health · mana · inventory · abilities · items
flow
Unbroken forward movement
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- presenceState of being somewhere
atmosphere · worldbuilding · narrative · storytelling · escapism · interactivity · audiovisual · sensory · cutscene · lore
tactics
Methods to achieve goals
- planningArranging for future events
- decision-makingProcess of choosing actions
- positioningArranging in specific locations
optimization · counterplay · flanking · turn-based · real-time · meta · min-maxing
physics
Science of matter and energy
co-op
Member-owned organization
- versusIn opposition to
- matchmakingArranging romantic connections
- lobbyEntryway or influence-seeking
team · PvP · PvE · online · LAN · split-screen · party · guild · clan · griefing
board
Flat rigid panel
pawns · meeple · deck · turn · ruleset · hex · miniatures · campaign · roll · initiative
- gamingbuff, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, e-sports, noob
- videosvideos, clip, clips, video clip, films
- gaming videoscutscenes, trailers, walkthroughs, speedruns, highlights
- video gamesFortnite, arcade, consoles, console, action-adventure
- video game criticismreview, score, rating, graphics, story
- gameschess, checkers, poker, baccarat, dominoes
gameplaynarrative
Account of events
story · graphics · cutscenes · cinematics · plot
gameplaycutscene
Non-interactive game sequence
spectatorship · watching · cinematic · reading · observation