Tech riderRev. 29 Sept 2026
- 1Runs onAPI, Web
- 2CostsFree plan
- 3API accessYes
- 4Supported platformsPC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, iOS, Android, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Web browser, Arcade
- 5Export formatsCSV, Protocol Buffers
- 6Character dataYes
6 lines stated Written from the maker's own pages: igdb.com, api-docs.igdb.com
Overview
IGDB is ranked #7 of 14 in game databases on Specifiction. It runs on API, Web. There is a free plan.
IGDB plans and pricing
All plansIGDB API (commercial partnership) Free Free · Commercial use requires a partnership · User-facing attribution expected api-docs.igdb.com · 29 Sept 2026
IGDB API (non-commercial) Free Free for non-commercial usage · 4 requests per second · Up to 8 open requests api-docs.igdb.com · 29 Sept 2026
Compared on game databases
Facts
- Purpose
- IGDB describes its goal as gathering relevant information about games in one place, with community contributions to its database.igdb.com · 29 Sept 2026
- Game discovery
- The site provides search for video games, companies, and characters, with sorting by relevance, title, release date, or rating.igdb.com · 29 Sept 2026
- Commercial use
- Commercial API use is allowed through a partnership, and IGDB asks for visible user-facing attribution in products that integrate the API.api-docs.igdb.com · 29 Sept 2026
- Authentication
- API access requires a Twitch account with two-factor authentication and an application Client ID and Client Secret, and requests use OAuth2 application credentials.api-docs.igdb.com · 29 Sept 2026
- API limits
- The API rate limit is 4 requests per second, allows up to 8 open requests at once, and returns at most 500 results per request.api-docs.igdb.com · 29 Sept 2026
- Data fields
- The API provides endpoints for game data and related entities, and queries specify fields, filters, sorting, and other options in the request body.api-docs.igdb.com · 29 Sept 2026
- Data dumps
- The documentation says all endpoints are available as CSV data dumps that are updated daily.api-docs.igdb.com · 29 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- The documentation lists Apicalypse wrappers for NodeJS, JVM/Kotlin/Java, Swift, and Python, plus third-party wrappers for PHP/Laravel, Go, Ruby, C#/.NET, and Deno.api-docs.igdb.com · 29 Sept 2026
- Browser limitation
- The API does not allow direct browser requests because it does not provide CORS headers; the documentation recommends using a backend proxy.api-docs.igdb.com · 29 Sept 2026
- Proxy option
- IGDB provides a guide to deploy an API proxy in the user's AWS account, with token rotation handled by the stack; AWS charges may apply.api-docs.igdb.com · 29 Sept 2026
- Support
- IGDB lists [email protected] for support and recommends its Discord for API questions and community discussion.igdb.com · 29 Sept 2026
- Security and content
- IGDB says its content policy may remove or restrict material that fails submission criteria or violates Twitch Community Guidelines.igdb.com · 29 Sept 2026
- MCP availability
- The IGDB MCP Server is described as being in beta testing, with features, tools, and authentication flows subject to change without notice.api-docs.igdb.com · 29 Sept 2026
Best IGDB alternatives
See all 13 All accessCh 01 BoardGameGeek Free planAndroidiOS Free to start7.1 All accessCh 02 LaunchBox Free planAndroidWindows Free to start7.0 All accessCh 03 RaiderZ Game Database Free planWebWindows Free to start7.0 All accessCh 04 Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Database Free planAndroidiOS Free to start7.0 All accessCh 05 RAWG Free planAPIWeb from $149/mo6.9 All accessCh 06 YGOPRODeck Free planAPIWeb Free to start6.9
Where it ranks on Specifiction
- Best Game Databases in 2026#7 of 14
Is IGDB yours?
Claim it for free: prove the domain, then correct facts, plans and screenshots. An editor reviews every change.
Sources
- igdb.com/content-policy· checked 29 Sept 2026
- igdb.com/search· checked 29 Sept 2026
- api-docs.igdb.com· checked 29 Sept 2026
- igdb.com/contact· checked 29 Sept 2026