IGDB vs NostalgiaDB

IIGDB9.1Visit NostalgiaDB8.2Visit

Higher score I IGDB #3 in Game Databases 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 5 features Visit IGDB

vs

NostalgiaDB #6 in Game Databases 8.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 5 features Visit NostalgiaDB

• IGDB fits best

  Free structured game data via API

• NostalgiaDB fits best

  Open retro-game catalog and downloads

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.

Side by side

Feature	IIGDB 9.1/10 Visit ↗	NostalgiaDB 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.1	8.2
Ranking	#3 in Game Databases	#6 in Game Databases
Best for	Free structured game data via API	Open retro-game catalog and downloads
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Free plan	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud	Cloud, Browser extension
Platforms	Web	Web
Support	Community, Docs	Community, Docs
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features IGDB 2/5 · NostalgiaDB 1/5
API access	✓	✓
Quest data	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Character data	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Item data	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Ability data	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms	PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, iOS, Android, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Web browser, Arcade	45 gaming platforms, including Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, NES, Atari 2600, 3DO, MAME, Atari 5200, and Atari 7800
Export formats	CSV, Protocol Buffers	SQLite
Our review
Pros	Free API access for non-commercial use Game, platform, character, image, and media metadata CSV dumps and Protocol Buffers response support	Covers archives across 45 gaming platforms Offers natural-language search and regional variant data Provides GraphQL access and SQLite downloads
Cons	Commercial usage requires a partnership process Community contributions follow content policies API access requires Twitch application credentials	Focused on retro games rather than broad game coverage Downloads and some features require a free account Access is limited to web and API platforms
Our verdict	IGDB is a web-based video game database operated by Twitch, built for people who need to discover, browse, track, or query game information. Its public catalog covers games, genres, companies, characters, platforms, systems, and related… Read the review →	NostalgiaDB is a free, open-source database for discovering and researching classic video games. It is designed for retro gaming enthusiasts, researchers, and developers who need structured metadata rather than a general-purpose modern… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• IGDB — where it wins

  • Free API access for non-commercial use
  • Game, platform, character, image, and media metadata
  • CSV dumps and Protocol Buffers response support

  Where it doesn't

  • Commercial usage requires a partnership process
  • Community contributions follow content policies
  • API access requires Twitch application credentials

• NostalgiaDB — where it wins

  • Covers archives across 45 gaming platforms
  • Offers natural-language search and regional variant data
  • Provides GraphQL access and SQLite downloads

  Where it doesn't

  • Focused on retro games rather than broad game coverage
  • Downloads and some features require a free account
  • Access is limited to web and API platforms

• IIGDB9.1/10 · Free plan

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

  Visit IGDBFull verdict →
• NostalgiaDB8.2/10 · Free plan

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

  Visit NostalgiaDBFull verdict →