100+ Words Related to Video Games

September 14, 2023

In the world of gaming, you will encounter a whole new language that makes communicating in and about games faster. If you are a noob (newbie), there are many words related to video games that you should master, and here are a few.

Table of Contents

FPS (First-person shooter)

FPS, or first-person shooters, is a sub-genre of shooting games. Valorant, Overwatch, and PUBG: Battlegrounds are a few FPS games that have grown in popularity.

As the name suggests, you play in a first-person point of view. This means you cannot spin your camera around to see behind you; your field of view follows the camera.

RPG (Role-Playing Game)

RPGs are games with unique storylines that allow you to place yourself in the story (as a particular character or group of characters) and go on an epic quest.

A couple of the most popular RPGs are Final Fantasy games and Sega’s Phantasy Star game. RPGs are usually single-player games, but a couple of console and PC RPGs will allow many people to play through the same story together.

NPC (Non-Player Characters)

Regardless of the type or genre of game you want to play, you should know what NPC means. NPC, which stands for non-player character) are characters in a game that you interact with to either complete a mission or buy weapons. However, as this gaming term suggests, these characters are not real players. Game developers use NPCs to help guide you through the storyline or gameplay.

GG

GG, which means good game, is a term that is usually heard when you are playing a multiplayer game. For instance, if you were playing a match of Hearthstone and your opponent gave you a good fight, you can say GG. Most people will say GG as a courtesy, whether they win or lose.

OP

In social media forums like Reddit, OP is short for “original poster” or “original post.” In gaming, the meaning is different; it means overpowered.

You use this gaming term when referring to a character or ability. Game developers often have issues balancing character stats to be equal across the board, and this is when OP, or overpowered, comes into play. It refers to a character that is difficult to beat because of one or more of their abilities.

MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game)

MMORPGs allow you to play with people from all over the world. World of Warcraft, or WoW, is among the most popular MMORPGs. MMORPGs usually have different playstyles like PvE (player versus environment), where you go around doing quests and leveling, and PvP (player versus player), where you will test your skills against other players.

Pwned

You don’t want to hear the “pwned” when referring to your gameplay. Gamers use this slang when you’re defeated by another player in a PvP match. Yet, you might also hear it when you lose a boss battle or fail a level.

Buff/Nerf

Buff and nerf are words related to video games where game developers try to equalize gameplay between classes or abilities.

If a gamer says, “That character needs a buff!” this means that the character lacks in one or more areas to be effective against enemies.

“That ability needs a nerf!” Here, nerf refers to an overpowered ability that needs reworking to make the character more balanced.

Generally, buff and nerf are only used in games with multiplayer options, like Smite, WoW, or League of Legends.

XP (Experience Points)

Whether you prefer a single-player or multiplayer game, your character must level up to defeat other players or enemies.

XP refers to the amount of experience points that you need to level up your character. The amount of XP will increase with every level that you reach.

MP (Magic Points)

MP or Magic Points is a term used for characters that use some sort of magic ability in a game. For instance, a mage and priest in WoW require MP to cast their spells. MP can also stand for mana pool, but it still works the same way – it depends on the game that you are playing.

AAA

The gaming term “AAA” is a game classification. When you say a game is AAA, that means a well-known gaming developer or publisher is behind it. Unlike games with lower classifications, AAA games often provide more immersive gameplay and more exciting stories because they typically have a higher budget for development.

HP (Hit Points)

When playing a game where you battle monsters or other players, you will hear the gaming term HP, which refers to your character’s health. When your character reaches zero HP, you are dead, and you either have to start the game over or be resurrected in some way to keep playing the game.