Powergaming

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Powergaming, also called power gaming, min-maxing, or optimization, is a way of playing games where the goal is to be as powerful or progress as fast as possible. It can disrupt play when it ignores storytelling, atmosphere, or teamwork and focuses only on rules or numbers.

In role-playing games, powergaming takes a few forms:
- Min-maxing: creating the strongest possible character by maximizing powerful traits and minimizing weak ones. Such characters can be hard to challenge and may not fit the game world.
- Chasing power through gear or abilities: going after the best equipment or unusual powers, which can turn play into a race for resources.

A related term is munchkin, describing players who seek power and loot at the expense of teammates.

In online or text-based role-playing games, powergaming can mean acting as if your character can automatically override or control other players’ actions, or forcing others to participate in actions. This is often seen as disruptive in communities that value collaboration and consent, and may be punished with warnings or bans.

In video games, powergamers try to progress as fast as possible, often by skipping less efficient activities. Some players also enjoy optimizing every aspect of the game.

Powergaming is usually viewed as problematic or offensive, and is sometimes called twinking or godmoding.