playability

American  

[play-uh-bil-i-tee] / ˌpleɪ əˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

1. the quality or state of being playable: Poor graphics and counterintuitive controls negatively affected the playability of the video game.

   The sound and playability of vintage instruments depends on how well they are maintained.

   Poor graphics and counterintuitive controls negatively affected the playability of the video game.

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Etymology

Origin of playability

First recorded in 1880–85; play(able) ( def. ) + -ability ( def. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

playability

“Great games retain their playability over time, and publishers will act accordingly,” van Dreunen said.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 25, 2026

“It doesn’t affect the playability of the game,” Wilson said of bananas.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 23, 2022

“It’s robust in terms of narrative, and it’s matured. It has created real characters. It’s not just the playability of the games anymore. It’s the characters.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 10, 2022

Business was slow, but another phenomenon — social media — helped spread the word of Sweetens Cove’s eccentric charm, which is a mix of playability and winsome challenges for golfers of all abilities.

From New York Times ● Jul. 1, 2021

That our American game is past hoping for on the score of playability is by no means certain.

From An American at Oxford by John Corbin

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