Lasers are whizzing. Monsters are roaring. Enemies are charging.
In the middle of battle, communicating with your team is everything. That’s why there’s a dictionary-load of gaming terms out there – to make things quick. But if you’re new to the gaming world or need to brush up on your skills, it can be a bit of a minefield – so we’ve put together a guide to help you out.
Common gaming slang
We’ll start off with the general stuff. These gaming slang terms aren’t game-specific - they’re used in loads of different genres.
4X
Ever dreamed of ruling the world? 4X games are a type of strategy game – but to you and us, they’re basically a virtual world domination simulator. 4X stands for ‘Explore, Expand, Exploit and Exterminate’ – the four Xs.
The player’s goal is to grow their civilisation, conquer new territories, make alliances (and enemies) and of course, destroy their opponents. Simple stuff, really.
AFK
Stepping away from your keyboard to take care of real-life business? Then you’re going AFK. AFK stands for ‘away from keyboard’, so if you hear someone say it in-game, just imagine them taking a little break from all the button mashing and screen staring.
Aggro
Imagine you’re standing in the middle of a futuristic battlefield with your allies. It’s getting tough. Your side is struggling. So, in a moment of valiant desperation, you jump up, wave your arms around and shout “come and get me!” right at your enemies.
That’s what aggro means in gaming. It’s when a player intentionally draws the attention of enemies to themselves, usually to protect their teammates or control the pace of a battle. Pretty heroic, if you ask us.
AoE
This acronym stands for area of effect. It’s a type of ability or spell that affects a large area, often damaging or debuffing multiple enemies at once – like a huge virtual grenade. It’s an effective way to clear out a room full of baddies, but you might want to take cover!
Aimbot
Ah, the arch-nemesis of serious gamers. An aimbot is like a cheat code for aiming in a game. It’s a type of software that helps a player aim and shoot with near-perfect accuracy, making it easier to take out enemies.
But just like with cheat codes, using an aimbot can take away from the challenge and fun of a game – not to mention it’s frustrating for other players who aren’t using it. And who wants that?
Camping
Imagine sitting in a virtual field, waiting for your enemies to find you. That’s what camping is. It’s basically being a virtual scarecrow – a player hangs out in one place for an extended amount of time, waiting for the monsters to come get them.
Camping is a little controversial – some players think it’s a smart strategy, whilst others find it boring or unfair. But hey, the game’s the game.
FFA (Free-for-all)
First rule of fight club? Don’t talk about fight club. Except we’re talking about it now, oops. Anyway, free-for-all gaming is basically a huge virtual fight club. It’s a type of multiplayer mode where players compete against each other with no teams or alliances, and everyone is out for themselves. It’s a great way to test your skills and see who comes out on top, but it can also get pretty chaotic.
FPS (First-person shooter)
Ever played Call of Duty? Then you’ve played a first-person shooter. Essentially, these are games where the player experiences the action through the eyes of the main character. They’re fast-paced, action-packed and immersive, so if you’re sitting down to play an FPS, make sure you’re ready.
G2G
As fun as gaming is, we can’t do it all the time. G2G is one of the more common phrases on this list (if you grew up in the 2000s, you’ll have heard it all the time), and it just means ‘got to go’. Need to step away for dinner? G2G is a quick way to tell your teammates you’re jumping offline.
GG (Good game)
Ever wished you could give a worthy opponent a handshake after an intense match? That’s what GG is for. It’s a polite way of acknowledging a well-played game or match, regardless of who won or lost. It’s often used at the end of a game or match to signal that the game is over, but you had fun playing.
GG no re (Good game, no rematch)
Similarly to above, GG no re is a way to show good sportsmanship after a match. The ‘no re’ add-on just means that they don’t want to play another round. Maybe they’ve G2G AFK. Sorry.
GOAT (Greatest of all time)
If you’ve ever been called the GOAT, don’t take it the wrong way. Being the GOAT in gaming is a good thing – it means your teammates, opponents or whoever you’re playing with think you’re the best player in a particular game or genre. It’s a big accolade – like being placed in a virtual hall of fame.
HUD (Heads-up display)
Whatever genre you’re playing, there’s usually a spot on your screen that shows your health, ammo count, map or other relevant info. This is the HUD. It’s like a virtual dashboard that keeps you informed and on-track on your virtual adventures – a co-pilot, if you will.
Kiting
If you’re into first-person shooters, you’ve probably used kiting without realising it. It’s a strategy where the player moves in a way that keeps them a safe distance from the enemy whilst shooting from afar. You avoid getting hit, whilst still dealing damage to your opponent. A win-win.
LARP (Live-action role-play)
Ever wished you could physically step into your favourite game? LARP might be the closest you’ll get. It’s a type of role-playing game where participants physically act out their character’s actions whilst kitted out to look just like them. It gets pretty immersive, involving elaborate costumes, props and sometimes even physical combat.
LFG (Looking for group)
LFG is basically a virtual ‘help wanted’ sign. If someone is LFG, it means they’re ready for adventure and looking for like-minded gamers to join them. Maybe their usual squad are AFK, or they’re looking to make new friends.
Meat shield
A bit of a harsh one, but meat shield describes a player who acts as a shield of distraction for their allies. This brave player takes the brunt of enemy attacks whilst their allies stay safe and attack from a distance. Better them than you, we suppose.
Noob (or n00b)
Short for ‘newbie’, noob is the gaming equivalent of calling someone a rookie. It’s usually used to describe a player who’s new to the game and lacking skills or experience. It might be said in a teasing way – but remember, everyone was a noob once upon a time…
Nerf
Ever picked up your favourite hair or skin product to discover that the formula’s been changed, and it no longer does what it used to? That’s what nerfing means. In gaming, it describes a change to a game feature that reduces its power or effectiveness. So if your favourite Fortnite weapon’s been nerfed, it might mean that it’s been changed to be less powerful or less accurate – making it harder for you to take out those enemies.
NPC (Non-playable character)
The term NPC is everywhere right now – it’s been repurposed by Gen Z. But in the gaming world, it means ‘non-playable character’. These are the in-game characters that the player can’t control. Almost all games have NPCs – they can be enemies, quest givers, sidekicks or shopkeepers – and they’re all there to bring the world to life.
OHKO (One-hit knock out)
Think of OHKO like a virtual uppercut in gaming. Ever defeated an opponent with a single, powerful attack? That’s an OHKO. And nothing beats the instant glory of a virtual OHKO.
OP (Overpowered)
Ever unlocked a weapon or an ability in a game that’s just too good? One that’s so powerful it seems to make everything easy? That’s what OP means. Having something overpowered in a game can feel like a cheat, even if it’s not – but it can make the game boring for others. Use your power carefully!
Peel
Peeling in gaming is like being a superhero sidekick. You’re tasked with protecting your teammate, healing them, drawing enemy fire and providing backup. It’s your job to make sure your teammate stays alive, so you can win together.
PK (Player kill)
This one’s simple: a player kill means attacking and defeating other players in a multiplayer game.
PUG (Pick-up group)
Struggling to defeat that one impossible boss? You might need a PUG. It’s a temporary group of players formed for a specific task – like taking on a difficult enemy or completing a matchmaking game. You might not know the other players, but you’ll band together to reach a common goal (usually victory).
Pwn
This one’s a play on the word ‘owned’, as in ‘I just pwned that dude!’ It’s a way of saying you beat them in epic fashion. It probably originated from a typo – O and P are right next to each other on a keyboard.
It’s a little confusing, but QQ in gaming actual means crying. It’s a play on the common emoticon ‘Q_Q’ which kinda looks like a crying face. So if you use QQ in-game, you’re frustrated or disappointed about something – like having to respawn for the fifth time.
RNG (random number generator)
If you’ve ever felt like the universe is laughing at you whilst stuck on a ridiculously hard level, blame the RNG. It’s like a goblin that messes with your plans, making every defeat even more frustrating (and every win a little sweeter).
In technical terms, the RNG is an algorithm that determines random in-game events, like your chance of finding unique loot or stumbling across a shiny in Pokémon Scarlet. But it’s more fun to imagine it’s a goblin.
RPG (role-playing game)
Convinced you’re the main character IRL? Then you might love RPGs. You’ll star as the main character in a fictional world and play through a never-ending supply of plots and adventures. Along the way, you’ll meet friends and foes, level up your character and (hopefully) became the ultimate hero.
Scrub
In a similar fashion to noob, scrub is a playful term for a player who’s not quite as skilled as other players. You know what they say – practice makes perfect.
Scuffed
Again, scuffed is another way to say that a player isn’t the best at a game. In other words, they’re not quite as polished or smooth as they could be – they’re scuffed.
Skin
Consider yourself an IRL fashionista? Then you’ll love gaming skins. Skins are fancy new outfits for your gaming avatar that can range from simple colour swaps to elaborate designs and themes. They’re a great way for gamers to express their individuality and stand out from the crowd.
Smurf
Ever got so skilled in a game that you wish you could take it back to simpler, less-skilled days? Maybe not. But that’s what smurfing means – it’s when a player uses another account to hide their true skill level. Maybe they want to play with their lower-skilled friends, try out a new playstyle or just start from afresh.
Tank
In gaming, tanks are extra hardy characters that are designed to take hits and protect their allies. They’re usually the first to charge into battle, ready to shield their teammates from harm. It’s quite sweet, really.
XP
XP (experience points) are markers of your progress in a game. Depending on the game, you can gain XP in loads of ways – from completing quests, defeating enemies, crafting new items or simply playing for a certain amount of time.
Game-specific terms
Now, whilst the gaming slang terms above can be thrown around in any game, there are others that you’ll only hear in certain games. Two good examples? Fortnite and Minecraft. These games have such a large following that they’ve created their own languages – we’ve tried to break it down a little.
Fortnite slang
Got a Fortnite player in your life? Then you’ll want to know these gaming slang terms…
Bots
If you’ve ever heard a teammate call an opponent a bot, it means they think that player’s an AI. See, if a Fortnite game doesn’t have enough IRL players, the game will automatically fill the empty spots with ‘bots’ – fake players that are controlled by a computer, rather than another person.
Bush camper
There are loads of bushes in Fortnite – and some of them are perfect for hiding out in. A bush camper is a player that spends most of a game camping out in a bush, waiting to ambush unsuspecting players.
Cracked
In Fortnite, cracked is slang for an opponent being low on health. When an opponent's shield has been depleted, there’s an audible cracking sound - hence the name!
Once shield has been cracked, the only thing between an opponent and elimination is their health bar - unless they use a power-up to replenish their shield. Technical stuff.
Heals
Heals are pretty simple - they’re power-ups that players use to replenish their health. There are loads of different heals in Fortnite, from med kits and bandages to med sprays and fish. Yup, fish - and you can fish them yourself.
Res
Been knocked down or eliminated? All hope is not lost. If you’re playing with friends, they’ll be able to res you - which essentially means bringing you back from elimination.
If you’ve just been knocked down, teammates can heal you physically in about ten seconds (or less if they work together). But if you’ve been completely eliminated, they’ll have to collect your reboot card and res you at the nearest reboot van.
You’ll then pop back into the game like magic - but without all your precious loot. QQ.
Shield
If you’ve ever played Fortnite, you’ll be familiar with this magical blue liquid. Shield in Fortnite is like an extra barrier of defence – it temporarily increases your character’s health and protects them from damage.
Shield comes in many forms – minis, pots, kegs, splashes and more. Remember, it’s best to stock up – you don’t want to be caught in an intense battle without it.
Minecraft slang
From biomes and mobs to creepers and mods, there are loads of Minecraft slang terms to get your head around…
Biomes
When travelling around a Minecraft map, you’ll come across lots of different environments - from snowy mountains and grassy plains to murky swamps and dense jungles. These environments are called biomes.
Each biome has unique weather, animals, plants and flora - and some biomes are more difficult to find than others.
MC
This one’s easy – MC is a common abbreviation for Minecraft.
Mobs
All those creepers, zombies, spiders, horses, sheep, pigs and more? Those are mobs. Mobs are any living entity in Minecraft other than the players. They can be hostile (like zombies) or neutral (like sheep).
Mods
Mods are user-made modifications to any game - and there are loads of them for Minecraft. They’re made to enhance the normal game experience by adding new gameplay, mobs, skins, environments and more.
Vanilla
Playing Minecraft without mods? That’s what Vanilla Minecraft is. It’s a slang term used to describe the original, unmodified version of the game. In other words, it’s classic Minecraft.
Found what you need?
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