What Does “Meta” Mean in Games?

by John Uke Last update: August 30, 2024

💡 Meta Meaning in Games

Meta (or Most Effective Tactics Available) refers to the current state of the game regarding the most effective strategies, tactics, characters, or builds. These are typically determined by the community or professional players as the best way to play the game to maximize success. The meta can change over time with game updates, patches, or shifts in player strategies.

What Does “Meta” Mean In Gaming?

In the gaming world, “Meta” refers to the most effective tactics available at any given time. It’s the current trend of strategies, character choices, or playstyles that are considered optimal for winning. Think of it as the “in” thing in the gaming fashion world, but instead of clothes, we’re talking about how to dominate the game.

In practice, the meta can involve:

The most powerful characters or weapons
Effective team compositions
Winning strategies or tactics
Popular builds or loadouts.

Note:

Remember, what’s meta today might not be meta tomorrow. It’s always evolving!

Where Did The Term “Meta” Originate From?

The concept of “meta” in gaming has its roots in competitive card games and tabletop RPGs. However, its widespread use in video gaming culture really took off with the rise of online competitive games and esports.

Early uses in card games like Magic: The Gathering in the 1990s
Adoption in early competitive online games in the 2000s
Explosion in popularity with the rise of MOBAs and esports in the 2010s.

The term gained traction as players and developers alike needed a way to discuss the evolving strategies that existed outside of the game’s direct rules – hence, the metagame.

How To Use The Term Correctly?

Want to sound like a meta master? Here’s how to drop it in your gaming convos:

Discussing current trends: “The current meta favors aggressive playstyles.”
Character selection: “Tracer isn’t really in the meta right now in Overwatch.”
Strategy talks: “We need to adapt our strategy to the new meta.”
Patch discussions: “The latest update really shook up the meta.”
Competitive analysis: “Understanding the meta is crucial for climbing the ranks.”

There you have it, trendsetters! You’re now equipped to discuss, analyze, and maybe even influence the meta in your favorite games. Whether you’re following the meta religiously or brewing up strategies to break it, you know exactly what’s going on in the game beyond the game. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go study the latest patch notes to stay ahead of the meta. Game on, and may your strategies always be on point!