Video Games Vocabulary Quiz
12 multiple-choice questions on video game vocabulary: characters, quests, multiplayer, checkpoints, esports and DLC. A2–B1 level.
This quiz focuses on how the target vocabulary for Video Games is actually used in context at A2–B1 level, rather than testing bare definitions. Correct answers you will need to identify include terms such as NPC, quest, respawn, loot and esports, each embedded in a full example sentence so you have to judge meaning from context, not just recognise an isolated word.
Working through all 12 questions and checking the explanations in the FAQ below is a quick way to spot any terms you are still unsure of. Revisiting the quiz again after a day or two, rather than only once, is one of the most reliable ways to move new vocabulary from passive recognition into words you can use confidently yourself in speaking and writing.
Keep building your video games vocabulary.
Video Games Vocabulary — FAQ
What does 'NPC' stand for?
NPC stands for Non-Player Character, a character in a game controlled by the computer's artificial intelligence rather than by a human player. NPCs include shopkeepers, quest-givers and enemies that players interact with throughout a game.
What is a 'quest' in a video game?
A quest is a task or mission assigned to the player by the game, often involving travelling to a location, defeating enemies or collecting items in exchange for a reward. Games can include a single main quest as well as many optional side quests.
What does it mean to 'respawn'?
To respawn means to reappear in a game after being killed or defeated, usually returning to play from the last checkpoint or save point rather than from the very beginning of the game. This lets players keep most of their progress even after dying.
What is 'loot' in gaming?
Loot refers to items, weapons, armour, currency or other rewards collected during gameplay, often dropped by defeated enemies or found inside chests. Finding rare loot is a major motivation in many role-playing games.
What is the difference between 'multiplayer' and 'esports'?
Multiplayer describes a game mode that allows two or more players to play together, either online or locally on the same device. Esports refers specifically to organised competitive gaming, in which professional players or teams compete in tournaments for prizes in front of large audiences.
What does 'lag' mean?
Lag is a delay between a player's action and the response appearing on screen, usually caused by a slow or unstable internet connection in online games. Bad lag can seriously affect the outcome of a fast-paced online match.
What is a 'checkpoint'?
A checkpoint is a point in a game that is automatically saved, so that if the player dies afterwards, they restart from that point rather than from the very beginning of the level. A checkpoint placed just before a difficult section can save a player a great deal of time.
What does 'grinding' mean in gaming?
Grinding is the act of repeating the same task many times in a game in order to accumulate experience points, currency or items needed to progress. Players often grind for hours to earn enough resources to craft powerful equipment.
What is an 'open world' game?
An open world game is one designed so that players can move freely through a large, continuous virtual environment and choose their own path, rather than following a fixed, linear route. Some open world games are so vast that players can explore for hundreds of hours without following the main storyline.
What does 'DLC' stand for?
DLC stands for Downloadable Content, additional game material such as new levels, characters or storylines that is sold separately from the original game and downloaded digitally. DLC allows developers to keep expanding a game long after its original release.