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Gaming Glossary: 100 Basic Acronyms and Abbreviations in Gaming

  • Blog
  • Prof. Manojlo Maravić

In today’s era of universal connectivity and the dynamic pace of life, acronyms and abbreviations play a significant role in everyday textual communication. Their usage is especially common in the English language, not only in specialized contexts but also in everyday speech.

During online gaming, the rapid exchange of information among teammates is a crucial factor for successful coordination and achieving good results. Before playing, it’s important to establish agreements about gameplay methods and the number of players, and demonstrating good manners and sportsmanship involves wishing the opponent good luck or congratulating them and thanking them for the match afterward. When players discuss current games, their elements and mechanics, they often use characteristic acronyms that have become so established that they’re used even in verbal communication.

This glossary contains the most frequently used acronyms and abbreviations in gaming communities, covering video game genres, gameplay modes, mechanics, in-game elements, information, announcements, production terms, as well as the most popular games. Some of the terms included originated in English textual communication and were not initially derived from a gaming context but have been included because players often use them.

A-F

  • 1-UP – notification to the player that they have gained an extra life in a game with a limited number of attempts. This reward is usually granted after collecting a certain object or reaching a certain number of points.
  • 1v1 (1 versus 1) – refers to a duel between two players.
  • 4X (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate) – a subgenre of strategy games in which the player first explores the environment, then expands their base and influence, efficiently exploits resources, and eventually engages in combat with opponents.
  • AAA – a high-budget game worked on by a large number of people, expected to achieve significant popularity and good sales. In America, “A” denotes the highest grade a student can receive. So, in gaming, AAA implies high quality in terms of the game or development studio.
  • Adds (Additional Enemies) – refers to additional groups of enemies that make fighting the boss more challenging.
  • ADR (Average Damage per Round) – a statistical figure indicating the average damage a player deals to an opponent per round over a certain period of gameplay.
  • ADS (Aim Down Sights) – a method of precise aiming (target image magnifies) in first-person shooter games. During gameplay on a computer, it is most commonly activated by the right mouse button.
  • AFK (Away From Keyboard) – a notification to others that the player has temporarily stopped playing.
  • Aggro (Aggravation) can be a mechanic built into the game’s artificial intelligence or a strategic decision made by the player. In both cases, it refers to focusing attacks on a character, typically the one perceived as the biggest threat.
  • AoE – Age of Empires.
  • AoE (Area of Effect) – refers to the immediate area around a character, usually represented as a circular area or line. Within it, the actions of weapons, magic, or healing affect opponents or objects.
  • ARPG (Action Role Playing Game) – a subgenre that combines elements of RPGs (see below) and action games. It involves character progression and dynamic gameplay with a lot of action (running, jumping, fighting).
  • BG (Bad Game) – implies that the player was not satisfied with the match for a specific reason.
  • BM (Bad Manners) – addressed to a player for unsportsmanlike behavior.
  • CB (Closed Beta) – in production context, denotes a game nearing completion and available to a select group of players for testing to address any potential flaws.
  • CCG (Collectible Card Game) – a genre of card game where cards represent different characters, powers, and spells. It can refer to a physical or digital version.
  • CoD – Call of Duty.
  • CoH – Company of Heroes.
  • CO-OP (Cooperative) – in cooperative gameplay, players collaborate instead of competing, working together to overcome obstacles.
  • Crit/kriten/kritten (Critical Hit) – a crucial hit that deals significantly more damage to the opponent compared to a regular strike.
  • CS – Counter-Strike.
  • CTF (Capture the Flag) – one of the rule modifications in first-person shooter games. The goal is to capture the enemy’s flag and bring it back to your base.
  • DC (Disconnect) – In online gaming, it denotes losing connection to the server.
  • DLC (Downloadable Content) – additional game content downloaded and installed online after the game’s release. These are usually minor add-ons and elements of the game, such as new weapons, characters, missions, but can also include new campaigns.
  • DOT (Damage Over Time) – refers to the gradual damage effect inflicted on characters. It’s often some form of poison, radiation, magic, disease, bleeding, etc.
  • DOTA (Defense of the Ancients) – a subgenre of MOBA games (see below) originally created as a map for Warcraft 3. The goal of a group of players is to destroy the main base or building of the opposing team.
  • DPS (Damage Per Second) – indicates the maximum amount of damage inflicted on an opponent within a certain time, usually per second. It can also refer to a character class or role optimized to deal high damage to opponents during combat.
  • EXP/XP (Experience Points) – experience points are parameters reflecting skill progression. Most commonly used in the RPG genre, they can refer to achieved level, reputation, or strength, acquired after completing levels, eliminating enemies, finding valuable items, etc.
  • EZ (Easy) – unsportsmanlike behavior at the end of a match, where a player taunts their opponent and indicates that they have beaten them without much effort.
  • F2P (Free to Play) – refers to a monetization model based on advertisements and microtransactions. Players can play the game for free, but if they want to acquire special features or enhancements that make gameplay easier, they have to pay for them.
  • FF (Friendly Fire or Forfeit) – depending on the context, it denotes different concepts. It can refer to accidental damage dealt to a teammate or to forfeiting the fight and surrendering.
  • FFA (Free for All) – commonly used in multiplayer FPS games and denotes a gameplay mode where each player battles against all other players.
  • FoV (Field of View) – visibility of the game environment displayed on the screen.
  • FPS (First Person Shooter) – a first-person shooter game, usually set in a three-dimensional environment. The player feels like they are viewing the world through the eyes of the character they control and battle by shooting opponents with various weapons.
  • FPS (Frames Per-Second) – the number of frames that appear on the screen during one second. A higher number of frames results in a smoother motion display in the game.

This glossary contains the most frequently used acronyms and abbreviations in gaming communities, covering video game genres, gameplay modes, mechanics, in-game elements, information, announcements, production terms, as well as the most popular games.

G-M

  • G2G (Got to Go) – the player informs others that they need to leave the game.
  • GDD (Game Design Document) – an initial document of several (or hundreds) of pages in which the game designer describes what the game should contain: characters, narrative, visual style, game mechanics and other significant elements.
  • GG (Good Game) – used at the end of a competitive game to convey to the opponent that the game was good. It reflects sportsmanship and good manners.
  • GG no re (Good Game, no rematch/replay) – the player is satisfied with the game but does not want to rematch the same opponent. It can carry mocking connotations when the player easily defeats the opponent and considers them not worthy.
  • GJ (Good Job) – recognition for a good move or successfully completed task.
  • GL (Good Luck) – good luck.
  • GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) – a boastful expression implying that the player is the “best player of all time”.
  • Gratz/Gz (Congratulations) – congratulating teammates or opponents on their success.
  • GTA – Grand Theft Auto.
  • HF (Have Fun) – usually used at the beginning of a game to wish other players a good time.
  • HL – Half-Life.
  • HOPA (Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure) – a subgenre that encompasses the main elements of adventure games, such as solving logical puzzles, exploring spaces and communicating with characters, with a greater emphasis on finding hidden objects and details, while the narrative and characters are developed to a lesser extent.
  • HP (Health/Hit Points) – a numerical indicator informing the player how much damage a character can withstand before being defeated.
  • HUD / GUI (Heads-Up Display/Graphical User Interface) – the interface within the game designed to provide players with key statistical information about energy, ammunition, equipment, magic, map position, etc.
  • Inc (Incoming) – an abbreviation informing teammates to expect an enemy attack.
  • Inv (Inventory) – part of the graphical user interface where players store various useful items.
  • KDR/KR (Kill-to-Death Ratio) – a statistic that measures the average ratio between successful eliminations of opponents and being eliminated. A higher average number indicates that the player was more successful in duels.
  • KOTH (King of the Hill) – a game mode where the goal is for one team of players to occupy a specific area for a certain period and defend it against opponents.
  • LAN (Local Area Network) – a local network that connects several computers or consoles for gaming in a limited physical space – at home, in the office, etc.
  • LEET (Elite) – an abbreviation of the word “elite.” It denotes a particularly skilled player and is also used as an adjective to denote a well-played move or achievement.
  • LFG (Looking for Group) – used when one group of players asks others if they want to join in achieving a mission or attacking opponents.
  • LFM (Looking for More) – similar to LFG, but it may refer to an individual asking if they can join a game.
  • LoL – League of Legends.
  • LOS (Line of Sight) – denotes the visibility of a target. For example, in FPS games (see above), it’s important to position the character to have good visibility and be able to act successfully; in RTS, RPG (see below) and stealth games, it’s important to know the radius within which the NPC artificial intelligence reacts to the characters controlled by players.
  • LoZ – The Legend of Zelda.
  • Lv/Lvl (Level) – abbreviation of the word level.
  • Lvlup! (Level Up) – often used in role-playing games (RPG) as a notification that a player has advanced to a higher level of ability and has greater strength.
  • MMO/MMOG (Massively Multiplayer Online/Game) – refers to all complex video games where a large number of players (from several hundred to tens of thousands) play simultaneously in a large virtual world via servers. It is most commonly associated with role-playing and first-person shooter game genres.
  • MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) – similar to MMO, but exclusively refers to the role-playing game genre.
  • MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) – a genre of games that encompasses some elements of real-time strategy and role-playing games. A player controls only one character, who has unique abilities. The goal is to defeat the opposing team by destroying its members, destroying a specific target, or completing a specific task.

M-X

  • Mod (Modification) – abbreviation for modification. It has various meanings: from software fixes (bug fixes), patches, added elements and tasks, to a new game that has been significantly altered from the original game (mechanics, rules, narrative, visual and auditory environments).
  • MP (Mana/Magic Points) – refers to the resource needed to execute special powers. After the magic is used, it takes time to gather enough resources again.
  • MUD (Multi-User Domain/Multi-User Dungeon) – a virtual world where text-based games are commonly played.
  • N1 (Nice One) – used to compliment another player on a good move.
  • Noob – abbreviation for newbie. It has a derogatory meaning and refers to players who are new to the game or play poorly.
  • NPC (Non-Player Character) – characters controlled by the computer via artificial intelligence. Their role is to provide players with information or equipment, introduce new mechanics, narrative context, and a fuller experience of the virtual world.
  • NS (Nice Shot) – a good hit.
  • OB (Open Beta) – the final stage in game production. It refers to a publicly available version for anyone who wants to try it out. It’s also the last chance to detect errors before the game is released.
  • OHKO (One-Hit Knock-Out) – often used in fighting games to indicate defeating an opponent in one move.
  • OMW (On My Way) – I’m on the way/ I’m coming.
  • OOM (Out of Mana/Magic) – a message a player sends to teammates indicating that their character has run out of mana/magic and is unable to assist with special moves.
  • OP/Imba (Over Powered/Imbalanced) – refers to a character whose equipment or power is significantly stronger than others, resulting in unfair combat.
  • P2W (Pay to Win) – a monetization model based on microtransactions, allowing players to purchase stronger weapons, upgrades, etc, to gain an advantage over others and win.
  • PK (Player Kill) – used in PvP (look below) games and refers to eliminating a character controlled by another player.
  • PUG (Pick-Up Group) – in MMO (look up) games, it denotes a group of spontaneously gathered players, often unfamiliar with each other, who complete a task or mission.
  • PvE (Player vs. Environment) – a game type where the player fights monsters or other entities controlled by artificial intelligence, not other players.
  • PvP (Player vs. Player) – involves dueling between characters controlled by humans.
  • QA (Quality Assurance) – employees in the game development company whose role is to play the game and look for defects and errors to be fixed in the final version.
  • QTE (Quick-Time Event) – a mechanic that often occurs during cutscenes. It requires quick player reaction to instructions using specified controls.
  • Rez (Resurrect) – abbreviation requesting assistance from teammates in reviving a character.
  • RNG (Random Number Generator) – an algorithm that determines the randomness of certain elements during gameplay. It involves randomness in assigning weapons, rewards, event outcomes, etc.
  • RPG (Role-Playing Game) – a genre of games where the player controls a protagonist whose abilities, appearance, strength and weapons are gradually upgraded. This type of game has a pronounced narrative component manifested in completing tasks and missions.
  • RR (Round Restart) – notifies players that a new round is starting.
  • RTS (Real-Time Strategy) – a strategy game played in real-time without pause. It requires quick strategic decision-making and efficient resource management in building infrastructure and combat units.
  • SIM (Simulation) – abbreviation for simulation. In gaming, it refers to a genre where activities, environments and systems from real life are simulated. It involves a simplified model of managing vehicles, cities, characters’ social life, etc.
  • Stats (Statistics) – data showing various information about the character or objects in the game.
  • TBS (Turn-Based Strategy) – a turn-based strategy game based on phases. Players do not play simultaneously but take turns after the opponent. It involves planning and strategic thinking that takes into account a variety of factors and possibilities.
  • TD (Team Deathmatch) – a way of playing shooter games involving teams. The winners are those who eliminate all members of the opposing team.
  • TD (Tower Defense) – a subgenre of strategy games where the player must defend their town, fort, etc, from successive waves of enemies. It requires careful use of resources in upgrading and building defensive infrastructure and recruiting new units.
  • TPS/3PS (Third-Person Shooter) – refers to a shooter game from a third-person perspective. In it, the player sees their character on the screen from a camera position located behind them.
  • WoW – World of Warcraft.
  • WTB/WTS/WTT (Want to Buy/Sell/Trade) – in gaming communities, these acronyms are used in a market context when players ask each other if they want to buy (WTB), sell (WTS), or trade (WTT) certain useful items or services in the game.
  • Xpac (Expansion Pack) – an expansion of the game is an addition to the base game, involving new content in the form of missions, environments and narratives. The expansion can be played without the previous base version of the game and provides a different gameplay.

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