Cheats, hacks, and exploits – all these gaming terms sound cryptic, so today, we will explain the meaning of the last one!

You may already know what cheats are in gaming, but what is an exploit? Isn’t it the same thing? The term exploit has an entirely different meaning, and here you will learn how it works!

Exploit Meaning in Games

An exploit is a game glitch or bug players use to gain an advantage over the game or other players. Developers don’t intend to include it in the game, as it’s an original software defect.

What is Exploit?

An exploit is when players use various bugs in the game’s code or design to unlock surprising (unintended by the developer) effects, like duplicating items, modifying mechanics, and gaining access to resources or locked areas. Such activity is considered controversial in the community regarding whether it’s ethical and fair play. While using exploits in solo play is cheating, such a strategy isn’t welcome in multiplayer titles.

Exploit vs Cheat

The key difference between the two terms is that developers intentionally include cheats in the game. Therefore, their use is permitted (especially in a solo experience) unless the multiplayer community objects. As you already know, the presence of an exploit in a game is not the developers’ intention, so players often get banned for engaging in such unfair practices.

Here, you can compare the differences between the phrases:

Exploit

  • It’s an unintentional part of the game software.
  • Used to gain an advantage over game mechanics or other players in multiplayer.

Cheat

  • It’s an intentional part of the game software.
  • Used to gain an advantage over game mechanics – in multiplayer, only if accepted by other participants.

Games with Exploits

Dark Souls

Players of one of the most demanding and unforgiving series love discovering secrets that can make the experience less complicated. With exploits, they can skip stages, duplicate items, freeze NPCs, and more.

World of Warcraft

Engaging in the epic conflict between the Alliance and the Horde in World of Warcraft can require extra solutions. With exploits discovered throughout the game, players can gain an advantage by duplicating items, teleporting, reaching inaccessible areas, and more.

Fortnite

Fortnite – this Battle Royale title requires surviving on a shrinking battlefield for as long as possible, so many players feel tempted by popular exploits or cheats. Using such methods can result in a lifetime ban, as the community and the game’s creators consider these strategies immoral.

To sum up, exploits can be fun, provided it’s not a multiplayer title (unless other participants agree). As long as you are not using this option to gain an advantage over others, feel free to experiment and enjoy your favorite title from a new perspective!