MobyGames: community-built reference for video game credits and history

Content and structure

Entries in the database typically include a game's title history, multiple release versions, regional publisher data and detailed credits that list developers, designers, artists, composers and other contributors. Visual materials on the site include box and cartridge art, promotional imagery and in-game screenshots. MobyGames emphasizes verifiable, attributable information and encourages contributors to provide sources when possible.

Platforms and scope

The project aims to cover a wide range of hardware. As a historical snapshot, a 2012 report cited coverage spanning 131 platforms and more than 67,000 game entries, including legacy consoles, home computers and handheld/mobile systems. Users can browse indexed platform pages for classic consoles, personal computers and portable or mobile devices, and expect the counts to evolve as contributors add new titles and older releases.

Community, contributions and moderation

MobyGames relies on volunteer contributors who submit new entries, corrections and images. Submissions are reviewed according to site guidelines to reduce duplication and ensure consistent formatting. The community model allows subject-matter experts, collectors and former industry professionals to improve the historical record, while editors and moderators help resolve disputes and verify unusual claims.

History and ownership

The site grew from a small, hobbyist effort into a widely used reference over the 2000s. In 2010 the service was acquired by GameFly, an event that changed ownership while leaving much of the volunteer editorial work intact. Since then, the database has continued to expand through ongoing community contributions and periodic site updates.

Uses, significance and limitations

MobyGames is used by journalists, academics, archivists, collectors and game preservationists who need assembled credits, version comparisons and visual documentation. Its strengths are breadth and focus on production credits rather than commercial sales data. Because it is crowd-sourced, some entries can be incomplete or require cross-checking with primary sources; users are encouraged to consider MobyGames as a reliable starting point that benefits from corroboration.

Access and further research

Researchers typically access MobyGames to identify contributors, confirm release variants, locate cover art or read contemporary reviews. The site provides search and browse tools, and external researchers often cite its pages when tracing the history of a title. For editorial policies, contribution guidelines and review listings see the site's pages and review section linked from the home page and the reviews section.