Loot (from the English "loot," meaning "plunder" or "spoils") is the general name for any items a player obtains while playing: weapons, armor, gear, consumables, resources, and in-game currency. The word long ago outgrew any single genre and appears in a wide range of games, from role-playing games to shooters.
Where loot comes from
There are usually three sources of loot:
- The game world. Items lie on the ground, in crates, containers, and buildings. To get them, you have to reach the spot and pick up what you find.
- Defeated opponents. After you defeat an enemy (a live player or a computer-controlled one), items drop from them. Taking those items is called "looting," a verb formed from the word itself.
- Rewards. Items can be earned for completing quests, winning a match, or reaching a certain level.
How players talk
The word is used actively as a verb and a noun, in all sorts of forms: "I got caught up looting," "I'm going to loot the building," "I'm collecting loot," "good loot dropped." An item that has dropped is called a "drop" — this word is close in meaning, but it describes specifically the moment of dropping, while loot refers to the items themselves as a category.
The phrase "I'm looting, cover me" is a typical example of team communication in games where you have to find loot yourself: while one player picks up items and is busy with the interface, they are vulnerable, so a teammate watches their back in case an opponent suddenly appears.
Loot and risk
In games where loot is gathered during the match itself, loot is almost always tied to a choice between gain and safety. The richer a location is, the more players want to profit from it, so good items have to be paid for with time, position, and a risky route. Experienced players estimate in advance how long collecting will take and weigh whether the delay will cost too much.
Loot boxes
The word took on a separate meaning in the combination "loot box": a container with a reward whose contents are unknown in advance. It is opened using in-game currency or real money, and the player receives a random item. This mechanic is the subject of controversy because it resembles gambling, which is why loot boxes are often mentioned in conversations about child safety in games.
Where the term is not used
In classic competitive round-based shooters with a fixed set of weapons, where equipment is bought with money rather than found on the map, the word "loot" is rarely used. There, its meaning is limited to picking up a dropped weapon or items, while the main role belongs to the round economy. So when you come across the term, look at the game's genre: it determines what is actually being talked about.