XooCode(){

VideoGame

VideoGame sits at an unusual intersection in schema.org: it inherits from BOTH Game AND SoftwareApplication. That gives it the CreativeWork game properties (numberOfPlayers, gameLocation, characterAttribute, quest) AND the software properties (operatingSystem, applicationCategory, offers, aggregateRating, screenshot).

It adds 10 properties of its own: actor, director, musicBy (for narrative/voice-acted games), gameEdition (Collector's, Standard, Deluxe), gamePlatform (Text/Thing/URL, e.g. "PlayStation 5"), gameServer (for live-service games), playMode (GamePlayMode enum), trailer (VideoObject), cheatCode, and gameTip.

Full example of schema.org/VideoGame json-ld markup

The markup is verified as valid with Rich Results Test from Google.

Highlight legend:Required by GoogleRecommendedOptional
schema.org/VideoGame
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "VideoGame",
  "name": "Schema Quest",
  "description": "Narrative puzzle adventure game where players debug structured data to save the Semantic Web from the Entropy.",
  "gamePlatform": ["PC", "Nintendo Switch"],
  "operatingSystem": "Windows 11, macOS 14+, Nintendo Switch",
  "applicationCategory": "GameApplication",
  "playMode": "https://schema.org/SinglePlayer",
  "numberOfPlayers": { "@type": "QuantitativeValue", "value": 1 },
  "gameEdition": "Standard",
  "director": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jane Xoo" },
  "musicBy": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jane Xoo" },
  "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Xoo Code Games" },
  "datePublished": "2025-10-14",
  "trailer": {
    "@type": "VideoObject",
    "name": "Schema Quest - official launch trailer",
    "contentUrl": "https://xoocode.com/games/schema-quest/trailer.mp4",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://xoocode.com/games/schema-quest/trailer-thumb.jpg",
    "uploadDate": "2025-09-01",
    "duration": "PT1M48S"
  },
  "offers": {
    "@type": "Offer",
    "price": "24.99",
    "priceCurrency": "USD",
    "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock",
    "url": "https://xoocode.com/games/schema-quest"
  },
  "aggregateRating": { "@type": "AggregateRating", "ratingValue": 4.7, "reviewCount": 1284, "bestRating": 5 }
}
</script>

playMode enum (GamePlayMode)

schema.org/GamePlayMode has three members: CoOp (cooperative multiplayer), MultiPlayer (competitive multiplayer), and SinglePlayer. Games with multiple modes take an array.

gamePlatform vs operatingSystem

Both matter. gamePlatform is the marketing-level platform ("PlayStation 5", "Nintendo Switch", "PC"). operatingSystem (inherited from SoftwareApplication) is the technical OS ("Windows 11", "macOS 14+"). For a PC game, set gamePlatform to "PC" and operatingSystem to the specific OS requirements.

Minimal valid version

The smallest markup that still produces a valid VideoGame entity. Use it as the floor. Reach for the advanced example above when you want search engines and AI agents to understand more about your content.

schema.org/VideoGame (minimal)
<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "VideoGame",
  "name": "Schema Quest",
  "gamePlatform": ["PC", "Nintendo Switch"],
  "playMode": "https://schema.org/SinglePlayer",
  "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Xoo Code Games" }
}
</script>

Google rich results this unlocks

Markup matching this example makes your page eligible for the following Google Search rich results. The primary target drives the required / recommended property classification in the advanced code block above.

  • Software application rich result (via SoftwareApplication inheritance)primary
    Google docs

Common VideoGame mistakes

Mistakes that pass validation but silently fail to earn rich results or mislead consumers walking the graph. Avoid these and your markup will be ahead of most sites in the wild.

  1. 01

    playMode as bare string

    Wrong
    "playMode": "singleplayer"
    Right
    "playMode": "https://schema.org/SinglePlayer" (or "CoOp" / "MultiPlayer")

    playMode expects a GamePlayMode enum member. Lowercase free-form strings are silently dropped. Use the three valid members: CoOp, MultiPlayer, SinglePlayer.

  2. 02

    gamePlatform with a console generation

    Wrong
    "gamePlatform": "Current-gen"
    Right
    "gamePlatform": ["PlayStation 5", "Xbox Series X/S"]

    gamePlatform is the specific marketing platform, not a generation. Vague values lose the filter granularity consumers rely on (Nintendo vs Sony vs PC game lists).

  3. 03

    Omitting operatingSystem for PC titles

    Wrong
    PC gamePlatform without operatingSystem
    Right
    Populate both: gamePlatform: 'PC' AND operatingSystem: 'Windows 11, macOS 14+'

    'PC' tells consumers the marketing category; operatingSystem tells them the technical requirements. Missing operatingSystem breaks install-time compatibility checks.

Schema properties in this example

VideoGameGameSoftwareApplicationnamedescriptiongamePlatformoperatingSystemapplicationCategoryplayModeGamePlayModeCoOpMultiPlayerSinglePlayernumberOfPlayersQuantitativeValuevaluegameEditiondirectorPersonmusicBypublisherOrganizationdatePublishedtrailerVideoObjectcontentUrlthumbnailUrluploadDatedurationoffersOfferpricepriceCurrencyavailabilityurlaggregateRatingAggregateRatingratingValuereviewCountbestRatingactorcheatCodegameTipgameServerGameServer

About the example data

"Schema Quest", a narrative puzzle adventure for PC and Switch by Xoo Code Games, launched October 2025. Single-player, soundtrack by Jane Xoo.

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