# IGDB Global Gaming Database MCP > IGDB Global Gaming Database provides your AI agent with deep access to video game data—everything from genre taxonomy and franchise histories to platform availability, age ratings, and high-quality artwork. Your client can search thousands of titles and pull structured metadata (like ESRB or PEGI ratings) instantly, making it the core resource for content auditing and market research. ## Overview - **Category:** artificial-intelligence - **Price:** Free - **Tags:** game-metadata, video-games, industry-taxonomy, franchise-auditing, release-dates, gaming-intelligence ## Description Listen up. This server gives your AI agent deep access to everything in the IGDB Global Gaming Database. It's not just a glorified search bar; it's a full research library for video games. Your client can audit titles, map out entire franchise timelines, and pull granular metadata about any game, all without you having to jump through hoops or stitch together a dozen different APIs. When your agent runs on this, it acts like a seasoned gaming historian with instant access to structured data. You can search thousands of titles right away using `search_games` to find initial matches, and then dig deep into specific facts with `get_game`. That tool pulls every known metadata point for one game ID—summaries, community ratings, release dates, you name it. It's the core resource when you’re auditing a massive catalog or doing market research. **Auditing Industry Taxonomies:** You gotta know what categories are out there before you can audit anything. Your agent lists every recognized video game genre available in the catalog using `list_genres`. Need to check platform compatibility? Call `list_platforms` for all abbreviations, from PS5 to PC. If you're verifying content safety or market reach, it gives you a complete rundown of global age rating systems like ESRB and PEGI via `list_age_ratings`. Beyond that, your agent can list general descriptive keywords using `list_keywords`, or pull high-level thematic tags with `list_themes`—stuff like 'magic' or 'war.' You can also check out the major structural components of gaming data by listing recognized themes and collecting specific game collections through `list_collections`. **Tracking Franchise History:** If you’re dealing with a big-name franchise, this server tracks it. You use `get_franchise` to pull the entire lineage and details for a major series. It keeps track of where things start and how they evolve. For specific titles within that history, your agent can pull the documented release dates using `list_release_dates`. You'll also find detailed information about an overarching franchise or series by calling `get_franchise` or checking out related collections with `list_collections`. **Gathering Assets and Artworks:** Finding art shouldn't be a headache. Your agent can search for available cover art images across many titles using `search_covers`. If you're focused on one specific game, it retrieves official, high-quality artwork files associated with that unique game ID via `get_artworks`. This means your client gets structured data points like the ESRB rating and release date from `get_game`, while simultaneously pulling the corresponding art assets. **Putting It All Together:** It's built for complex, interconnected queries. You start with a broad search using `search_games` to narrow down candidates. Then, you use specialized list tools—like checking all available platforms or listing every genre—to set your criteria. Finally, you run `get_game` on the results to get the full data sheet, pulling in details from related history checks like those provided by `get_franchise`. This capability lets you audit entire databases and map out game universes with one consistent flow of information. ## Tools ### get_artworks Retrieves official, high-quality artwork files associated with a specific game ID. ### get_franchise Pulls the full lineage and details for a major video game franchise or series. ### get_game Retrieves all known metadata—summaries, ratings, release dates, etc.—for one specific game ID. ### list_age_ratings Provides a list of common age rating systems used globally (like ESRB and PEGI). ### list_collections Gathers details on specific game collections or ongoing series within the database. ### list_genres Lists all recognized video game genres available in the IGDB catalog (e.g., RPG, Shooter). ### list_keywords Retrieves descriptive thematic keywords that tag games (e.g., 'sci-fi', 'political'). ### list_platforms Lists all recognized gaming platforms and their abbreviations (PS5, Xbox, PC). ### list_release_dates Gets the documented release dates for a specific game title. ### list_themes Provides a list of general, high-level themes found across the database (e.g., 'magic', 'war'). ### search_covers Finds and retrieves available cover art images for various video games. ### search_games Performs a broad search across the database to find matching video game titles based on keywords or criteria. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` Search for the game 'Elden Ring' and provide its community rating and summary. ``` **Response:** ``` I've fetched Elden Ring's metadata. It has an exceptional community rating of 94% and is described as an action RPG developed by FromSoftware. Would you like to see the full list of platforms it was released on? ``` **Prompt:** ``` What are the official age ratings for 'Grand Theft Auto V' globally? ``` **Response:** ``` Running the rating query... I've retrieved the data for GTA V. It is rated 'M' by ESRB in North America and '18' by PEGI in Europe due to intense violence and mature content. Would you like the specific content descriptors for these ratings? ``` **Prompt:** ``` List all games included in 'The Witcher' franchise. ``` **Response:** ``` Inspecting the franchise timeline... The Witcher series includes the three main RPG titles, the Gwent spin-off, and several expansions. Notable GIDs include 1942 for the original and 492 for Wild Hunt. Would you like the summaries for each entry? ``` ## Capabilities ### Discover and Retrieve Game Metadata Search for titles using `search_games` and pull comprehensive details, including summaries, community ratings, and release dates, using `get_game`. ### Audit Industry Taxonomies List common categories like genres, themes, keywords, platforms (PS5, PC), and age ratings (ESRB, PEGI) with dedicated list tools. ### Track Franchise History Get detailed information on a game's overarching franchise or series using `get_franchise` or `list_collections`. ### Gather Assets and Artworks Fetch high-quality cover art via `search_covers`, or retrieve official, structured artwork files for a specific game using `get_artworks`. ## Use Cases ### Auditing a new IP for market viability. A developer needs to know if their concept fits existing genres. They ask the agent: 'What are all RPG titles on PC that use magic and have been released since 2015?' The agent runs `list_genres`, filters by platform using `list_platforms`, and executes `search_games` to build a precise list of competitors. ### Cataloging an entire retro collection. A collector needs art and details for 50 old titles. They ask the agent: 'Get cover art and full metadata for all games in this series.' The agent runs `list_collections` first, then loops through the results using `get_game` and `search_covers` to pull structured assets. ### Comparing global content restrictions. A publisher needs to know if a title can be sold in Europe vs. North America. They ask: 'What are the age ratings for GTA V globally?' The agent runs `list_age_ratings` and pulls both ESRB ('M') and PEGI ('18') data points, ensuring compliance. ### Mapping a complex video game timeline. A historian wants to list every related title for a major franchise. They prompt: 'Show me the entire history of this franchise.' The agent uses `get_franchise` and then checks out spin-offs with `list_collections`, giving them a complete, organized view. ## Benefits - You don't manually check multiple sites for data. The agent consolidates information—like running `search_games` then using `get_game` to pull all associated summaries and community ratings in one query. - Content safety auditing becomes automated. Instead of checking regional websites, you just call tools that use `list_age_ratings`, pulling ESRB or PEGI data across multiple titles at once. - Franchise mapping is instant. You don't have to follow links manually; calling `get_franchise` gives you the entire timeline and related games for a series like 'The Witcher.' - Metadata collection speeds up massively. Need all the art? Use `search_covers` or `get_artworks` instead of downloading dozens of images one by one. - Taxonomy is structured, not messy. You don't guess what genre to use; you query official lists using `list_genres`, `list_keywords`, and `list_themes` for accurate tagging. ## How It Works The bottom line is that you define the question in plain English; your AI client handles the multi-step database query. 1. Subscribe to the server and provide your IGDB Client ID and Access Token. 2. Your AI client sends a natural language request (e.g., 'What are all the horror games rated PEGI 18?'). 3. The agent maps this intent to multiple tools (`list_genres`, `search_games`, `list_age_ratings`) and returns structured, consolidated data. ## Frequently Asked Questions **How do I find all the different platforms supported by a game?** You run `list_platforms` to see the full list of recognized systems (PS5, PC, etc.). Then, you use `get_game` on the title you care about; it includes the platform compatibility data in the result set. **What is the difference between get_artworks and search_covers?** `search_covers` finds available cover art images for a game. `get_artworks`, however, fetches official, structured artworks meant for developers, which are generally higher quality assets. **Can I find out if a franchise has been released on multiple platforms?** Yes. You first use `get_franchise` to get the main timeline. Then, when you check an entry's metadata using `get_game`, it will list all associated platforms. **What if I need to filter by both genre and age rating?** You combine tools. Start with `list_genres` for your category, then use that information in a targeted search query run through `search_games`, while simultaneously referencing the required data from `list_age_ratings`. **What credentials do I need to use the `get_game` tool?** You must provide your unique IGDB Client ID and Access Token. The server handles authentication; simply pass these credentials in the initial setup call, and you're ready to query game details. **If I run `search_games` and get no results, does that mean the title isn't in the database?** No. Zero results usually means your search parameters are too narrow or misspelled. Try broadening the query—for example, searching by genre or platform instead of a specific game title. **Do I need to worry about rate limits when using tools like `list_keywords`?** Yes, Vinkius enforces standard API rate limits. If you plan on running high-volume batches, implement an exponential backoff strategy or use the dedicated batch processing endpoints. **When I run `get_franchise`, does it pull in all related metadata like genres and themes?** The tool gives core franchise data. For complete coverage, you must follow up with calls to other specific tools—like using `list_genres` or `list_themes`—and pass the returned franchise ID. **Can my AI automatically find high-resolution artwork just by providing a game name?** Yes! Your agent can use `search_games` to find the unique ID and then run `get_artworks` or `search_covers` to retrieve multiple high-resolution image URLs directly from the IGDB cloud in seconds. **How do I easily check if a game is suitable for certain age groups in different regions?** Simply ask the agent to run the `list_age_ratings` tool. It will compile data from global systems like ESRB, PEGI, and CERO, providing precise content descriptors and rating levels for the target title. **Does the integration permit listing all games within a specific franchise or collection?** Yes. Tools like `get_franchise` and `list_collections` allow your agent to retrieve the entire historical timeline of a series, grouping related titles and spin-offs under their structural parent IDs.