IGDB
- Android app
- Not listed
- Free plan
- Yes
- Runs on
- api, Web
Summary
IGDB is a video game information database for looking up games, companies, and characters. Its search can be sorted by relevance, title, release date, or rating, and the database accepts community contributions. Developers can query game data and related entities through the API, selecting fields, filters, sorting, and other options in request bodies. API use is free for non-commercial purposes under the Twitch Developer Service Agreement. Commercial use requires a partnership, and integrated products are expected to provide visible attribution. Access requires a Twitch account with two-factor authentication, an application Client ID and Client Secret, and OAuth2 application credentials. The API permits four requests per second, up to eight open requests at once, and up to 500 results per request. Documentation includes daily-updated CSV data dumps and lists wrappers for several programming languages. Direct browser requests are not supported because the API lacks CORS headers; the documentation recommends a backend proxy. IGDB also offers a guide for deploying a proxy in an AWS account, where charges may apply.
Who it is for
IGDB suits people looking up game information and developers building products that need game data. Commercial API users need to pursue a partnership and provide visible attribution.
What is good
- Search covers games, companies, and characters.
- Non-commercial API access is free.
- Daily-updated CSV data dumps are documented.
- Wrappers are listed for several programming languages.
What to know first
- Direct browser API requests are not supported.
- API requests require Twitch two-factor authentication and credentials.
- Commercial use requires a partnership.
- AWS proxy deployment may incur charges.
Verdict
IGDB offers game discovery alongside an API for retrieving structured game information. Developers should account for its authentication, request limits, browser restriction, and commercial-use terms.
IGDB plans and pricing
All plansCompared 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
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Where it ranks on Everything Xiaomi
- Best Game Databases in 2026#5 of 14
Is IGDB yours?
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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