Gaming & Internet Culture

Gaming culture, explained

The terms and trends from Twitch chat, Discord and beyond. · 105 entries, updated daily

• DominateTo dominate means to control a game so completely that your opponent can barely do anything except r
• VODsVODs are recorded versions of livestreams or gameplay that you can watch back anytime after the live
• AramA popular League of Legends game mode where two teams of five fight in a single lane with randomly a
• MortarsMortars are indirect-fire weapons in games that lob explosive shells over obstacles, letting you dam
• NerfingNerfing means making a game element weaker or less effective to balance gameplay.
• CounterplayCounterplay is any move or option you have to respond to what your opponent just did, the answer to
• Hidden MMRHidden MMR is the secret skill number a game keeps on you that decides who you get matched against,
• QueuingQueuing means waiting in a virtual line to get into a game server or match when too many people are
• Pre-OrderA pre-order is when you buy or reserve a game before it actually comes out, so you're guaranteed a c
• Stream snipedGetting stream sniped means someone watched your live stream to find you or beat you in the game you
• Extraction ShooterA genre of shooter games where players compete to retrieve valuable items and escape from a map, oft
• BacklogA gaming backlog is the list of video games a player owns but hasn’t played or finished yet.
• Kicked OutGetting kicked out means being removed from a game, team, server, or group, usually because you brok
• WipesA wipe is when a whole team is defeated at once or when a game's server resets all player progress t
• Stream SnipingStream sniping is when someone watches a streamer's live broadcast while playing against them to gai
• Matchmaking systemThe behind-the-scenes algorithm a game uses to decide which players get put into the same online mat
• EmoteA virtual action, such as a dance in a game or a graphic in a chat, used to express an emotion or ge
• MedicA medic is the player on a team whose job is healing and reviving teammates instead of getting kills
• GriefersA griefer is someone who plays an online game just to ruin it for everyone else on purpose.
• SnipeIn gaming, to snipe means to watch a streamer's live broadcast to gain an unfair advantage while pla
• PrestigePrestige is when you hit max level in a game, then reset back to level one on purpose to earn specia
• StuttersStutters are sudden split-second freezes or hitches in a game's motion, where the frame rate briefly
• ModdedModded means a game, console, or PC that someone has changed or customized from how it originally ca
• TeamingTeaming is when players in a free-for-all or solo game secretly work together instead of fighting ea
• SnipedSniped means getting called out or embarrassed publicly by a sharp comment that puts you right on th
• CritCrit is gaming shorthand for a critical hit, a lucky attack that deals extra damage, often double th
• RapedIn gaming slang, 'raped' means being completely and humiliatingly dominated in a match, to the point
• StandaloneA standalone game or app works completely by itself, you don't need the original game, a parent app,
• GlitchesTo act weird, awkward, or erratic, like a video-game character glitching out.
• LagsLags means something is running slow or stuttering, usually your game, your stream, or your internet
• StackingStacking means steadily piling up more of something good, money, wins, kills, or gains, one layer at
• RaidsA raid is when a streamer directs their viewers to another creator's channel, or any coordinated gro
• The grindThe grind is the relentless pursuit of a goal through hard work, hustle, and consistent, often repet
• TycoonA tycoon is a game where you build up a base or business, earn money from it over time, and spend th
• Progression systemA progression system is a game mechanic that tracks and rewards player advancement through levels, s
• IncrementalAn incremental game is one built around a number that keeps going up: you earn a currency, spend it
• LeveledLeveled means someone got completely destroyed or owned, in a game, an argument, or real life.
• The fps‘the fps’ is a shorthand way to refer to the first-person shooter genre or its player community as a
• JogoJogo is the fire-based cursed spirit antagonist from the anime Jujutsu Kaisen.
• RunesIn gaming, runes are collectible items that grant experience, currency, or stat bonuses to level up
• Gameplay LoopA gameplay loop is the repeating cycle of things you do in a game, like fight enemies, get loot, upg
• FactionA faction is an in-game group or organization that players can join, side with, or earn reputation w
• PunishTo punish means to make an opponent pay for a mistake, usually by hitting them hard right after they
• MicrotransactionsSmall real-money purchases made inside a video game to buy virtual items, currency, or competitive a
• DeathmatchA shooter game mode where players or teams fight to get the most kills, respawning after each death
• LeaderboardA leaderboard is a ranked list showing who's scoring the highest in a game, challenge, or competitio
• SpikeA spike is when a team dumps a huge amount of damage on one target all at once so they die before an
• TrollingTrolling is posting or doing something online, often in games, to provoke a reaction, whether for am
• Smurf accountsSmurf accounts are secondary profiles created by experienced video game players to compete against l
• LanerA player in a MOBA game who is assigned to a specific path, or lane, on the map to fight enemies and
• High EloHigh elo means the top ranks of a competitive game's ladder, the players who are genuinely, measurab
• UnratedUnrated is a game mode that plays exactly like ranked but doesn't track or show your rank, so you ca
• Open-worldAn open-world game lets players roam a virtual environment freely and tackle objectives in any order
• Crosshair placementCrosshair placement is the habit of keeping your reticle at head level and pre-aimed toward where en
• RiftIn gaming, a rift is a tear or portal in space that connects two places or worlds, and it's also the
• JunglerA jungler is the player who roams the map’s jungle area, killing monsters, securing objectives, and
• BuffA buff is a temporary beneficial effect or upgrade that makes a character, item, or person stronger,
• HacksIn gaming, 'hacks' means modifications, cheat tools, or reward codes that change how a game plays, p
• FragTo kill or defeat an opponent in a video game, or a shorthand term for a fragmentation grenade.
• FlickA flick is a quick, ballistic mouse movement used to snap onto a target in games, or a rapid snap/to
• SmurfsIn gaming, 'smurfs' are experienced players who create alternate accounts to play at lower skill lev
• Co-opPlaying a video game where you work together with other players to reach a goal instead of fighting
• AnticheatAnticheat refers to the software systems and security protocols designed by game developers to detec
• SweatA 'sweat' is a player who tries extremely hard to win by using optimal strategies, meta loadouts, an
• NerfsIn gaming, a nerf is a deliberate reduction in a character’s, weapon’s, or ability’s power or effect
• SmokesSmokes is Gen Z slang for cigarettes, referring to a pack or a quick drag.
• GrenadeA throwable explosive device used in shooter games to damage enemies, clear out cover, or control a
• UnrankedA competitive gaming mode that doesn't affect your rank, letting you play seriously without the pres
• GrindingGrinding in gaming means repeatedly doing the same task, such as fighting enemies or completing ques
• RespawnIn gaming, ‘respawn’ is when a player’s character comes back to life after dying and reappears at a
• MainsIn gaming, 'mains' refers to the primary character, class, or loadout a player consistently chooses
• AuraIn gaming and streaming, 'aura' is the perceived vibe or charisma of a player that can be farmed, lo
• SpawnTo appear, or cause something to appear, spontaneously in a game world at a particular place and tim
• BoostedBoosted describes a player whose rank is artificially increased, usually by another player logging i
• PlaystylePlaystyle refers to the way a player approaches a game, encompassing their preferred tactics, builds
• LootLoot is the stuff you collect in a video game, weapons, gear, skins, and other rewards you get from
• HoppingHopping means jumping over and over in a game to move faster than you're supposed to, using a quirk
• EndgameEndgame means a relationship or pairing that fans see as the ultimate, destined couple in a story.
• The vod'The vod' is Gen Z slang for cheap, low-quality vodka, typically bought for parties, pregames, or dr
• TeamatesTeamates is a derogatory slang term used to call someone stupid or incompetent, especially in online
• SovaSova is a playable agent in Valorant, a Russian hunter who uses a bow, drone, and recon bolts to rev
• PlaythroughA playthrough is one complete run of a video game, played from the beginning to the end.
• LaggyLaggy means slow or delayed, especially when a game, device, or internet connection feels sluggish a
• NerfedNerfed means the game developers made a weapon, character, or ability weaker in an update because it
• HardstuckHardstuck means you're stuck at a rank in a competitive game and can't climb higher no matter how ma
• VandalIn gaming, 'the Vandal' is the famous assault rifle in Valorant, known for killing enemies with a si
• HypedHyped means extremely excited and pumped up about something, like a new game dropping or a big strea
• RadiantRadiant means shining brightly or full of positive energy, and in gaming it refers to the highest co
• DuelistA Duelist is the aggressive, fight-first agent role in Valorant whose job is to take one-on-one gunf
• Low eloLow elo refers to the lower skill tiers in a game's ranked ladder, often used to describe players wi
• Gacha gamesA gacha game is a free-to-play video game that uses random-draw mechanics, like a virtual vending ma
• CryptoIn gaming chat, “crypto” is slang for cryptocurrency - digital money used to fund bets and win payou
• SensSens is a shorthand for mouse sensitivity in gaming, used to adjust how fast the cursor moves.
• Champs‘Champs’ is an informal way to say ‘champions’, used to talk about top players, characters, or compe
• PlatPlat is gamer slang for Platinum, the rank tier just above Gold in competitive games.
• ReworkA rework is when developers rebuild an existing part of a game, a map, character, or system, to make
• MetaMeta is the most effective strategy or trend in a game, or anything that refers to itself at a highe
• SpeedrunA speedrun is a playthrough of a game done as fast as possible, often using tricks or glitches.
• KEKWA Twitch emote spammed to express exaggerated laughter at a fail or funny moment.
• MaldingA blend of 'mad' and 'balding,' describing someone raging so hard they might go bald.
• CrackedPirated or illegally modified version of a game
• NerfTo weaken or reduce the power of something, especially a game weapon or ability.
• GriefingDeliberately harassing, irritating, or sabotaging other players in a multiplayer game for personal p
• SmurfingSmurfing is when a skilled gamer makes a new account to play against lower-ranked opponents.
• Skill issueA snarky way to say someone’s loss is because they lack skill.