Ways to reach a game
- Browser game
- A game that runs in a web browser tab. You sign in on the publisher's site and play; nothing is installed on your device.
- Client
- A program you download and install to play. Some publishers call it a launcher, an app that downloads and updates the game itself.
- WebGL
- A browser technology for drawing 2D and 3D graphics with your device's graphics hardware. 3D browser games depend on it, so an up-to-date browser matters.
- Cross-platform
- The same game and account work on several kinds of device, for example a computer and a phone.
- Server or world
- A separate copy of the game world. Players on one server usually cannot meet players on another.
Kinds of games
- RPG
- Role-playing game: you control a character who grows stronger through experience, equipment and choices.
- MMORPG
- Massively multiplayer online RPG: a shared world with many players present at the same time.
- Turn-based
- Combat in which participants act in order, as in Margonem. Speed of reflexes does not matter; decisions do.
- Action combat
- You steer your character directly in real time, dodging and aiming. Drakensang Online is an example.
- Timer game
- A game where tasks take real time to complete while you are away, such as quests in Shakes & Fidget.
- Sandbox
- A game that sets few fixed goals and lets you choose your own, as Old School RuneScape does with its skills.
Playing with others
- PvE
- Player versus environment: fighting monsters and bosses controlled by the game.
- PvP
- Player versus player: duels, arenas or larger battles against other people.
- Party
- A small temporary group that plays together, often for a dungeon or a boss.
- Guild or clan
- A lasting player organisation with its own members, ranks and chat.
- Faction
- A side in the game world, such as Vanguard and Bloodlust in Hordes.io. You usually cannot change it lightly.
- Tank, healer, damage
- The three classic group roles: one absorbs attacks, one keeps the group alive, the rest bring the enemy down.
Places and progress
- Dungeon
- A dangerous area with tougher enemies and a boss at the end.
- Instanced
- A private copy of an area created just for your group, so others cannot interfere.
- Boss
- An especially strong enemy, usually guarding the best rewards.
- Class or profession
- Your character's type — warrior, mage, archer and so on — which decides skills and play style.
- Levelling
- Gaining experience to raise your character's level.
- Grind
- Repeating the same activity many times to progress. Some players love it; some games are built on it.
- Stamina
- A resource that limits how many actions you can take before it refills.
- Stash
- Personal storage for items you are not carrying.
- Auction
- A player market where items are listed for sale to others.
How games are paid for
- Free to start
- You can register and play without paying. Optional purchases exist alongside.
- Premium currency
- An in-game currency bought with real money, such as mushrooms in Shakes & Fidget or Draconite in Margonem.
- Membership
- A recurring paid plan that opens extra content, as in Old School RuneScape.
- Season pass
- A time-limited track of rewards for a season, often with a free and a paid part.
- Item shop
- The in-game store where premium currency is spent.
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