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

Image: Epic Games As the name implies, the new mini season brings back many of the characters, gameplay elements, and locations of the game’s second chapter, which launched in 2019. —Andrew Webster, The Verge, 1 Nov. 2024

But these aren’t just standard Call of Duty levels dressed up with a funky theme — the gameplay completely changes too. —Cade Onder, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2024

The first two areas showed off the basics of gameplay while the third area put much of the concepts together. —Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2024

The new title update adds 718 new NIL players to the game, affects gameplay, user interface, Dynasty, and Ultimate Team, and adds an entirely new layer to Team Builder via Adobe Express. —Brian Mazique, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined at sense 2