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This is a list of video gaming-related websites. A video game is an electronic game that involves human interaction with a user interface to generate visual feedback on a video device such as a TV screen or computer monitor. The word video in video game traditionally referred to a raster display device, [1] but it now implies any type of display device that can produce two- or three-dimensional images.
| Website | Launch | Defunct | Owner/Publisher | Language(s) | Type of Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1up.com | 2003 | 2013 | Ziff Davis | EN | Magazine |
| 4gamer.net | 2000 | Aetas Inc. | JA | Magazine | |
| 4players.de | 2000 | Computec Media GmbH | DE | Online game portal | |
| ABCya.com | 2004 | EN | |||
| Adultswim.com | — | Warner Bros. Entertainment | EN | Videos and games portal | |
| Adventure Gamers | 1998 | EN | Magazine | ||
| Allgame | 1998 | 2014 | All Media Network | EN | Database |
| Amazon Digital Game Store | 2009 | EN | Digital distribution portal | ||
| Arkadium | 2001 | EN | Interactive website content provider | ||
| Armor Games | 2004 | EN | Online game portal | ||
| Awomo | DE | Digital distribution portal | |||
| Beamdog | 2010 | EN | Social network | ||
| B'sLOG.com | Kadokawa Game Linkage | JA | News | ||
| Common Sense Media | 2003 | EN | Nonprofit organization | ||
| Cool Math Games | 1997 | EN | Online game portal | ||
| CrazyGames | 2014 | Raf Mertens | multiple | Browser-based gaming platform | |
| Cutting Room Floor, The | 2002 | — | EN | Wiki, archive | |
| Dengeki Online | — | Kadokawa Game Linkage | JA | News, information | |
| Destructoid | 2006 | — | Enthusiast Gaming | EN | Magazine, social network |
| Desura | 2010 | Bad Juju Games | EN | Digital distribution portal | |
| Direct2Drive | 2004 | AtGames | EN | Digital distribution portal | |
| DotEmu | 2007 | DotEmu SAS | EN | Digital distribution portal | |
| Escapist, The | 2005 | — | Enthusiast Gaming | EN | Magazine |
| Eurogamer | 1999 | — | Gamer Network | EN | Magazine |
| Famitsu.com | Kadokawa Game Linkage | JA | News, information, archive | ||
| G2A | G2A | EN | Digital storefront | ||
| Gamasutra | 1997 | — | UBM TechWeb | EN | Magazine |
| Game & Graphics | 2010 | Daruma Studio | EN | Blog | |
| Game Informer | 1996 | — | GameStop | EN | Magazine |
| Game Revolution | 1996 | CraveOnline Media, LLC | EN | Magazine | |
| GameAgent | 2008 | Aspyr | EN | Digital distribution portal | |
| GameFAQs | 1995 | — | CBS Interactive | EN | Database, user content |
| GameFly | 2002 | GameFly, Inc. | EN | Game rental & digital distribution portal | |
| GameFront | 1999 | DBolical Pty, Ltd. | EN | Mod & patch digital distribution portal | |
| GameHouse | 1991 | GameHouse | EN | Casual game developer and distributor | |
| Gameplanet | 2000 | Gameplanet Pty Ltd. | EN | Magazine | |
| Gamepressure | 2005 | Webedia | EN | Magazine | |
| GameRankings | 1999 | — | CBS Interactive | EN | Aggregator |
| GamersGate | 2006 | Gamersgate AB | EN | Digital distribution portal | |
| Games Domain | 1994 | 2005 | Yahoo! | EN | Magazine |
| Gamekult | 2000 | Neweb | FR | Magazine | |
| GameSpot | 1996 | — | CBS Interactive | EN | Magazine |
| GameSpy | 1996 | 2013 | Ziff Davis | EN | Magazine |
| GamesRadar | 2005 | — | Future plc | EN | Magazine |
| Gamestar | 1997 | Webedia | DE | Magazine | |
| GameTrailers | 2002 | 2016 | Defy Media | EN | Video magazine |
| Gamezebo | 2006 | Gamezebo, Inc. | EN | Magazine | |
| GameZnFlix | 2004 | 2008 | EN | Game rental | |
| GameZombie | 2007 | EN | Video magazine | ||
| Giant Bomb | 2008 | — | CBS Interactive | EN | Magazine, wiki |
| GOG.com | 2008 | — | CD Projekt | EN | Digital distribution portal |
| GotFrag | 2002 | ESEA League | EN | eSports news | |
| Green Man Gaming | 2010 | Green Man Gaming Limited. | EN | Online retailer & digital distribution portal | |
| Humble Bundle | 2010 | — | IGN | EN | Online retailer & digital distribution portal |
| IGN | 1996 | — | Ziff Davis | EN | Magazine |
| IMDb | 1990 | — | Amazon | EN | Database |
| itch.io | 2013 | — | Leaf Corcoran | EN | Digital distribution portal |
| Jay Is Games | 2003 | Jay Bibby | EN | Magazine (casual games) | |
| Joystiq | 2004 | 2015 | AOL Inc. | EN | Magazine |
| Kongregate | 2006 | — | GameStop | EN | Online game portal |
| Kotaku | 2004 | — | Gizmodo Media Group | EN | Blog |
| Lik Sang | 1998 | 2006 | EN | Online games & merchandise store | |
| Metacritic | 1999 | — | CBS Interactive | EN | Aggregator |
| Miniclip | 2001 | Miniclip SA | EN | Online game portal | |
| MobyGames | 1999 | — | Blue Flame Labs | EN | Database, user content |
| Mud Connector, The | 1995 | Andrew Cowan | EN | Magazine (MUDs) | |
| Newgrounds | 1995 | — | Tom Fulp | EN | Online games & multimedia host |
| Nexus Mods | 2007 | Robin Scott | Mod community | ||
| NG-Gamer | 2005 | 2014 | Daan de Jong | NL | |
| Ninja Kiwi | 2006 | Ninja Kiwi | EN | Online game portal & developer | |
| NoFrag | 2001 | NoCorp | FR | Magazine (FPSs) | |
| Origin | 2011 | — | Electronic Arts | EN | Digital distribution portal |
| PC Games | 1992 | Computec Media GmbH | DE | Magazine | |
| Pelaajalehti.com | 2002 | H-Town Oy | FI | Magazine | |
| Planet Half-Life | 1999 | 2012 | IGN | EN | Half-Life news |
| Polygon | 2012 | — | Vox Media | EN | Magazine |
| Rock Paper Shotgun | 2007 | — | Gamer Network | EN | Blog |
| Roll20 | 2012 | — | The Orr Group | EN | Virtual tabletop |
| Sarcastic Gamer | 2007 | 2015 | EN | Blog | |
| ScrewAttack | 2006 | Fullscreen | EN | Video magazine | |
| Shacknews | 1996 | Gamerhub | EN | Magazine | |
| Steam | 2003 | — | Valve | 28 languages [2] | Digital distribution portal |
| Twitch | 2011 | — | Amazon | 26 languages | Video streaming |
| UK Resistance | 1996 | 2011 | Gary Cutlack | EN | Magazine (Sega) |
| Video Games Chronicle | 2019 | 1981 Media | EN | Magazine | |
| Yahoo! Games | 1998 | 2016 | Yahoo! | EN | Online game portal |
| YouTube Gaming | 2015 | — | EN | Online video platform | |
| Zapak | 2006 | Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group | EN | Online game portal | |
| Undertale | 2013 | Toby Fox | EN, JP | Videogame and Newsletter website |
A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device to generate visual feedback from a display device, most commonly shown in a video format on a television set, computer monitor, flat-panel display or touchscreen on handheld devices, or a virtual reality headset. Most modern video games are audiovisual, with audio complement delivered through speakers or headphones, and sometimes also with other types of sensory feedback. Some video games also allow microphone and webcam inputs for in-game chatting and livestreaming.
The Game Boy Color is an 8-bit handheld game console, manufactured by Nintendo, which was released in Japan on October 21, 1998, and to international markets that November. It is the successor to the Game Boy and part of its product line. Compared to the original, the Game Boy Color features a color TFT screen rather than monochrome, a processor that operates twice as fast, and four times as much memory. It retains backward compatibility with games initially developed for its predecessor. However, reviewers considered these improvements insufficient to justify Nintendo's releasing it as a separate product.
A handheld game console, or simply handheld console, is a small, portable self-contained video game console with a built-in screen, game controls and speakers. Handheld game consoles are smaller than home video game consoles and contain the console, screen, speakers, and controls in one unit, allowing players to carry them and play them at any time or place.
The Virtual Boy is a 32-bit tabletop portable video game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. Released in 1995, it was marketed as the first console capable of displaying stereoscopic 3D graphics. The player uses the console like a head-mounted display, placing the head against the eyepiece to see a red monochrome display. The games use a parallax effect to create the illusion of depth. Sales failed to meet targets, and Nintendo ceased distribution and game development in 1996, having released only 22 games for the system.
Valve Corporation, also known as Valve Software, is an American video game developer, publisher, and digital distribution company headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. It is the developer of the software distribution platform Steam and the game franchises Half-Life, Counter-Strike, Portal, Day of Defeat, Team Fortress, Left 4 Dead and Dota.
A home video game console is a video game console that is designed to be connected to a display device, such as a television, and an external power source as to play video games. While initial consoles were dedicated units with only a few games fixed into the electronic circuits of the system, most consoles since support the use of swappable game media, either through game cartridges, optical discs, or through digital distribution to internal storage.
Steam is a video game digital distribution service and storefront developed by Valve Corporation. It was launched as a software client in September 2003 to provide game updates automatically for Valve's games, and expanded to distributing third-party titles in late 2005. Steam offers various features, like game server matchmaking with Valve Anti-Cheat measures, social networking, and game streaming services. Steam client's functions include game update automation, cloud storage for game progress, and community features such as direct messaging, in-game overlay functions and a virtual collectable marketplace.
Gabe Logan Newell, also known by his nickname Gaben, is an American businessman who is the president and co-founder of the video game company Valve Corporation.
A personal computer game, also known as a computer game or abbreviated PC game, is a video game played on a personal computer (PC).
Retrogaming, also known as classic gaming and old school gaming, is the playing and collection of obsolete personal computers, consoles, and video games. Usually, retrogaming is based upon systems that are outmoded or discontinued, although ported retrogaming allows games to be played on modern hardware via ports or compilations. It is typically for nostalgia, preservation, or authenticity. A new game could be retro styled, such as an RPG with turn-based combat and pixel art in isometric camera perspective.
Portal is a 2007 puzzle-platform game developed and published by Valve. It was released in a bundle, The Orange Box, for Windows, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and has been since ported to other systems, including Mac OS X, Linux, Android, and Nintendo Switch.
Games for Windows is a discontinued brand owned by Microsoft and introduced in 2006 to coincide with the release of the Windows Vista operating system. The brand itself represents a standardized technical certification program and online service for Windows games, bringing a measure of regulation to the PC game market in much the same way that console manufacturers regulate their platforms. The branding program was open to both first-party and third-party publishers.
The cathode-ray tube amusement device is the earliest known interactive electronic game as well as the first game to incorporate an electronic display. The device simulates an artillery shell arcing towards targets on a cathode-ray tube (CRT) screen, which is controlled by the player by adjusting knobs to change the trajectory of a CRT beam spot on the display in order to reach plastic targets overlaid on the screen. Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. and Estle Ray Mann constructed the game from analog electronics and filed for a patent in 1947, which was issued the following year. The gaming device was never manufactured or marketed to the public, so it had no effect on the future video game industry. Under many definitions, the device is not considered a video game, as while it had an electronic display it did not run on a computing device. Therefore, despite its relevance to the early history of video games, it is not generally considered a candidate for the title of the first video game.
Portal is a series of first-person puzzle-platform video games developed by Valve. Set in the Half-Life universe, the two main games in the series, Portal (2007) and Portal 2 (2011), center on a woman, Chell, forced to undergo a series of tests within the Aperture Science Enrichment Center by a malicious artificial intelligence, GLaDOS, that controls the facility. Most of the tests involve using the "Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device" – nicknamed the portal gun – that creates a human-sized wormhole-like connection between two flat surfaces. The player-character or objects in the game world may move through portals while conserving their momentum. This allows complex "flinging" maneuvers to be used to cross wide gaps or perform other feats to reach the exit for each test chamber. A number of other mechanics, such as lasers, light bridges, high energy pellets, buttons, cubes, tractor funnels and turrets, exist to aid or hinder the player's goal to reach the exit.
SteamOS is a Linux distribution developed by Valve. It incorporates Valve's popular namesake Steam video game storefront and is the primary operating system for the Steam Deck, Valve's portable gaming device, as well as Valve's earlier Steam Machines. SteamOS is open source with some closed source components.
The Steam Controller is a discontinued game controller developed by Valve for use with personal computers running Steam on Windows, macOS, Linux, smartphones or SteamOS. The controller was designed not only for games developed for controller users, but also for games traditionally played with keyboard and mouse controls so that they can be played through the controller. It was released in November 2015 along with Valve's Steam Machine and discontinued in November 2019.
Amazon Games is an American video game company and division of the online retailing company Amazon that primarily focuses on publishing video games developed within the company's development divisions.
The Steam Deck is a handheld gaming computer developed by Valve and released on February 25, 2022. The device uses Valve's Linux distribution SteamOS, which incorporates the namesake Steam storefront. SteamOS uses Valve's Proton compatibility layer, allowing users to run Windows applications and games. In addition to handheld use, the Steam Deck can be connected to a TV or monitor through a docking station and be used like a desktop computer or home video game console. In desktop mode, users can install third-party applications for Linux.
