gameplay

noun

game·​play ˈgām-ˌplā 

variants or game play

plural gameplays or game plays

1

: the characteristic way in which the action of a game (such as a video game) occurs or is experienced

Each game is cleanly done with smooth gameplay and colorful graphics.

—Joe Hindy

Featuring intuitive and addictive gameplay, the game is a lovely distraction from the troubles of the day.

—Amy Davidson

The unique game play led to players adopting all sorts of interesting strategies for getting a high score.

—Jeff Fulton and Steve Fulton

2

: the practice or activity of playing games (such as board games, card games, or video games) : gaming sense 2

Unlike the vast majority of previous studies on the effect of video games on wellbeing, the Oxford team were able to track actual gameplay, rather than relying on self-reported estimates.

—Alex Hern

While not all card shufflers operate more quickly than manual shuffling, in general, a card shuffler speeds up gameplay.

—Allen Foster

… a gaming chair that also massages your back, features an adjustable headrest and has an ergonomic design that allows for hours and hours of game play.

—Heather Quinlan

Examples of gameplay in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Just sync it to your video game console to mirror gameplay over Wi-Fi. —Rudie Obias, Variety, 16 May 2024

The app also has features like online gameplay, remapping buttons or keys per emulation core or per game, fast-forward and rewind, and gyro control. —Wes Davis, The Verge, 15 May 2024

Working in tandem to keep both the gameplay and the technical aspects of the show on the rails, the frenzy of their overlapping roles adds a precariousness to the house of cards vibe of the show. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 14 May 2024

The two panels have nearly identical pixel densities (264 for the iPad Pro, 266 for the Tab S9+) and should show equally smooth gameplay, though the iPad gets significantly brighter. —PCMAG, 10 May 2024

Chelsea is an outlier with its Match View FX feature, a platform which sits inside the Chelsea app providing highlights, breakdowns and gameplay data on top of each broadcast. —Molly Flatt, Fortune Europe, 8 May 2024

Our News team will kick off a daily conversation to bring people together to talk about the games — and share weekly stats and gameplay banter in a new newsletter from Games Editor Paolo Pasco (recent winner of the Annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament! —Jasmine Browley, Essence, 7 May 2024

On top of its stellar gameplay, the original Hades was also beloved for its hot gods and open sexuality; players could woo both female and male characters, together, for a threesome with the right attitude. —Megan Farokhmanesh, WIRED, 6 May 2024

To draw from my own example, there was much respect to be gained in the 1980s from telling friends about video-game cheat codes, because this rare knowledge could be obtained only through deep gameplay, friendships with experienced gamers, or access to niche gaming publications. —W. David Marx, The Atlantic, 1 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined at sense 2