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The Best Game Databases in 2026

We researched game databases through their official websites, including pricing pages, plan tables, and product documentation. Products are ranked on their core reference capabilities, value for money, and verified features, so buyers can compare searchable game, character, item, quest, and ability data in one category.

Our top picks

  1. Top ranked

    MobyGames#1 of 14
    9.4/10

    A broad game catalog with platform records, research tools, exports, and API access.

    Free plan · 45-day trial

  2. Runner-up

    RAWG#2 of 14
    9.2/10

    A broad game-data API with strong free access and a $149 monthly Business tier.

    Free plan

  3. Top-ranked free plan

    IGDB#3 of 14
    9.1/10

    Free structured game data for browsing, research, and API-powered applications.

    Free plan

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

The full ranking 14 tools, best first

14 tools
  1. MobyGames

    Best forBroad game research with API and exports

    A broad game catalog with platform records, research tools, exports, and API access.

    • API access
    9.4/10★★★★★
    Visit MobyGames
  2. RAWG

    Best forRich game metadata and recommendations

    A broad game-data API with strong free access and a $149 monthly Business tier.

    • API access
    9.2/10★★★★★
    Visit RAWG
  3. IGDB

    Best forFree structured game data via API

    Free structured game data for browsing, research, and API-powered applications.

    • Character data
    • API access
    9.1/10★★★★★
    Visit IGDB
  4. LaunchBox

    Best forOrganizing and launching a personal library

    A broad game library manager with storefront imports, emulator support, and controller-focused browsing.

    8.5/10★★★★☆
    Visit LaunchBox
  5. Best forBoard and tabletop game databases

    A free web database for discovering, tracking, rating, and discussing tabletop games.

    • API access
    8.4/10★★★★☆
    Visit BoardGameGeek
  6. Best forOpen retro-game catalog and downloads

    A focused, open-source catalog for researching and building with classic game data.

    • API access
    8.2/10★★★★☆
    Visit NostalgiaDB
  7. GameDNA

    Best forCommercial game metadata pipelines

    A structured, API-delivered game database for commercial metadata workflows.

    • API access
    Pricing on request Our GameDNA verdict → Visit GameDNA
    7.9/10★★★★☆
    Visit GameDNA
  8. Best forInteractive-fiction catalogs and data exports

    A free, community-maintained database for discovering and working with interactive fiction.

    • API access
    7.4/10★★★★☆
    Visit site
  9. Best forVisual-novel records and character data

    A free, deeply structured reference for visual-novel metadata and personal lists.

    • Character data
    • API access
    7.3/10★★★★☆
    Visit VNDB
  10. Best forAmiga and classic-computer game research

    A deep free resource for researching Amiga and related classic-computer games.

    7.1/10★★★★☆
    Visit Lemon Amiga
  11. Best forRaiderZ item and quest research

    A free web database for researching RaiderZ content in detail.

    • Quest data
    • Item data
    • Character data
    6.8/10★★★☆☆
    Visit site
  12. Best forYu-Gi-Oh! card search and deck building

    A capable free card-search and deck-building hub with API access and optional Premium extras.

    • API access
    6.5/10★★★☆☆
    Visit YGOPRODeck
  13. Best forOfficial Yu-Gi-Oh! card and deck records

    A free official reference for searching cards, managing decks, and tracking lists.

    6.0/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Yu-Gi-Oh!
  14. Best forPokémon TCG card filtering

    A free, detailed web database for finding and filtering Pokémon TCG cards.

    • Ability data
    • Item data
    6.0/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Pokémon TCG DB

No tools match those filters.

Compare at a glance

#ToolFree planPaid fromAPI accessSupported platformsScore
1MobyGamesYesYesComputer, console, arcade9.4
2RAWGYes$149/moYesPC, Xbox One, iOS, Nintendo DS, Linux, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, Wii, Game Boy Advance, SNES, Apple II, Atari 5200, Atari 8-bit, Atari XEGS, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, Android, Nintendo DSi9.2
3IGDBYesFreeYesPC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, iOS, Android, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Web browser, Arcade9.1
4LaunchBoxYes$30 one-time8.5
5BoardGameGeekYesFreeYesboard games, card games, tabletop games, wargames, traditional games8.4
6NostalgiaDBYesFreeYes45 gaming platforms, including Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, NES, Atari 2600, 3DO, MAME, Atari 5200, and Atari 78008.2
7GameDNANoYesarcade, console, PC7.9
8Interactive Fiction DatabaseYesFreeYesZ-machine, TADS, Hugo, executable applications7.4
9The Visual Novel DatabaseYesFreeYes7.3
10Lemon AmigaYesFreeNoAmiga, MS-DOS, Atari ST7.1
11RaiderZ Game DatabaseYesFree6.8
12YGOPRODeckYes€4.99/moYesTCG, OCG, Speed Duel, Rush Duel, GOAT6.5
13Yu-Gi-Oh! Card DatabaseYesFreeYu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game (TCG)6.0
14Pokémon TCG Card DatabaseYesFreePokémon Trading Card Game6.0

Head-to-head All 28 comparisons →

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How we rank game databases

Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update