gameplay

American  

[geym-pley] / ˈgeɪmˌpleɪ /

noun

1. the interactive content and player experiences in a game, especially a video game.

   The reviews are saying that the gameplay is solid, but the art—especially in the cinematics—is unforgivably bad.

2. the activity or manner of playing a game.

   The retired chess grandmaster recently published a book with analyses of famous historical games for players looking to perfect their gameplay.

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gameplay British  

/ ˈɡeɪmˌpleɪ /

noun

1. the plot of a computer or video game or the way that it is played

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Etymology

Origin of gameplay

First recorded in 1990–95; game ¹ ( def. ) + play ( def. )

Example Sentences

Rana’s Rutgers-Newark team roster page shows that he didn’t get a lot of gameplay.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026

Players’ biometric data are tracked alongside their gameplay so performance managers like Nata Hiron can keep track of their peak performance and recovery times.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026

They've still sold bucketloads of copies, but complaints about graphical performance, gameplay and a perceived lack of innovation have grown louder with each new release.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

Project Genie is an AI-driven platform that allows users to create gameplay worlds from text and images without relying on a traditional game engine.

From Barron's • Feb. 2, 2026

The game announcer has started the official pregame ritual, reading off something about good sportsmanship and honorable gameplay.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu