MobyGames vs NostalgiaDB

MMobyGames9.4Visit NostalgiaDB8.2Visit

Higher score M MobyGames #1 in Game Databases 9.4/10 Free plan · 45-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 1 of 5 features Visit MobyGames

vs

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

• MobyGames fits best

  Broad game research with API and exports

• NostalgiaDB fits best

  Open retro-game catalog and downloads

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Side by side

Feature	MMobyGames 9.4/10 Visit ↗	NostalgiaDB 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	8.2
Ranking	#1 in Game Databases	#6 in Game Databases
Best for	Broad game research with API and exports	Open retro-game catalog and downloads
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free
Starting price	—	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	45 days	—
Deployment	Cloud	Cloud, Browser extension
Platforms	Web	Web
Support	Docs	Community, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features MobyGames 1/5 · NostalgiaDB 1/5
API access	✓	✓
Quest data	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Character data	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Item data	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Ability data	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms	Computer, console, arcade	45 gaming platforms, including Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, NES, Atari 2600, 3DO, MAME, Atari 5200, and Atari 7800
Export formats	CSV, JSON	SQLite
Our review
Pros	Covers computer, console, and arcade games Includes credits, media, releases, and platform records Offers REST API access plus CSV and JSON exports	Covers archives across 45 gaming platforms Offers natural-language search and regional variant data Provides GraphQL access and SQLite downloads
Cons	API access is limited to dedicated API tiers Professional adds career-network features beyond research Exports focus on game lists rather than every record type	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	MobyGames is a public video game database covering computer, console, and arcade titles. It combines searchable game records with release information, platform-specific specifications, developers, publishers, companies, credits, cover art,… 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

• MobyGames — where it wins

  • Covers computer, console, and arcade games
  • Includes credits, media, releases, and platform records
  • Offers REST API access plus CSV and JSON exports

  Where it doesn't

  • API access is limited to dedicated API tiers
  • Professional adds career-network features beyond research
  • Exports focus on game lists rather than every record type

• 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

• MMobyGames9.4/10 · Free plan · 45-day trial

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

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

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

  Visit NostalgiaDBFull verdict →