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Head-to-head · Game Databases

BoardGameGeek vs Interactive Fiction Database

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score BoardGameGeek #5 in Game Databases 8.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 5 features Visit BoardGameGeek
Interactive Fiction Database #8 in Game Databases 7.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 5 features Visit site

BoardGameGeek leads on 0 checks, Interactive Fiction Database on 0, and 6 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreBoardGameGeek · 8.4/10
  • Free planboth

BoardGameGeek scores higher on our rubric for game databases: 8.4 against 7.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #8.

BoardGameGeek is the better fit for board and tabletop game databases. Interactive Fiction Database is the better fit for interactive-fiction catalogs and data exports.

  • BoardGameGeek fits best

    Board and tabletop game databases

  • Interactive Fiction Database fits best

    Interactive-fiction catalogs and data exports

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Side by side

Feature BoardGameGeek 8.4/10 Visit ↗ Interactive Fiction Database 7.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.4 7.4
Ranking #5 in Game Databases #8 in Game Databases
Best for Board and tabletop game databases Interactive-fiction catalogs and data exports
Pricing model Free Free
Starting price Free plan Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Platforms Web Web
Support Docs Email, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features BoardGameGeek 1/5 · Interactive Fiction Database 1/5
API access ✓ ✓
Quest data Not checked yet —
Character data — —
Item data Not checked yet —
Ability data Not checked yet —
Specs
Supported platforms board games, card games, tabletop games, wargames, traditional games Z-machine, TADS, Hugo, executable applications
Export formats XML, CSV JSON, iFiction XML, SQL database exports
Our review
Pros
  • Broad records for board, card, tabletop, wargame, and traditional titles
  • Collections, play logging, ratings, rankings, expansions, and community forums
  • Selected XML API access plus CSV downloads for core game data
  • Free catalog with community editing, ratings, reviews, and lists
  • HTTP APIs return JSON or iFiction XML for application access
  • Periodic SQL exports support local analysis of catalog data
Cons
  • Focused on tabletop titles rather than general game databases
  • Available through the web platform
  • API access covers selected database data
  • Catalogs metadata and links rather than storing the games themselves
  • API access is intended for low-volume, user-driven applications
  • Its scope is specialized to interactive fiction and text adventures
Our verdict

BoardGameGeek is a free, web-based database and community site for board games, card games, tabletop games, wargames, traditional games, and related titles. It suits players, collectors, tabletop communities, and researchers who need a…

Read the review →

Interactive Fiction Database (IFDB) is a community-maintained catalog for interactive-fiction and text-adventure games. It suits players who want searchable listings, ratings, member reviews, recommendations, polls, competitions, and…

Read the review →
  1. BoardGameGeekGame Databases 8.4Free plan
  2. Interactive Fiction DatabaseGame Databases 7.4Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • BoardGameGeek — where it wins

    • Broad records for board, card, tabletop, wargame, and traditional titles
    • Collections, play logging, ratings, rankings, expansions, and community forums
    • Selected XML API access plus CSV downloads for core game data

    Where it doesn't

    • Focused on tabletop titles rather than general game databases
    • Available through the web platform
    • API access covers selected database data

  • Interactive Fiction Database — where it wins

    • Free catalog with community editing, ratings, reviews, and lists
    • HTTP APIs return JSON or iFiction XML for application access
    • Periodic SQL exports support local analysis of catalog data

    Where it doesn't

    • Catalogs metadata and links rather than storing the games themselves
    • API access is intended for low-volume, user-driven applications
    • Its scope is specialized to interactive fiction and text adventures
  • BoardGameGeek8.4/10 · Free plan

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

    Visit BoardGameGeekFull verdict →
  • Interactive Fiction Database7.4/10 · Free plan

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

    Visit siteFull verdict →

More comparisons

All game databases comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update