A Typology of Gameplay Terminology in Hybrid-Genre Video Games: Evidence from the Korean Translation of Immortals of Aveum

Digital games present distinctive challenges for translation, as gameplay terminology must simultaneously support player interaction and contribute to fictional world building. This study examines how gameplay terminology in the hybrid genre game Immortals of Aveum is translated into Korean. Drawing on Pettini’s framework for digital game terminology, the analysis classifies terms into three conceptual categories: realia, irrealia, and hybrid terminology. A dataset of gameplay-related terms extracted from the Korean translation of the game was analyzed to identify the translation strategies used for each category. The results indicate that recognizable gameplay concepts (realia) are typically translated through semantically transparent translations, while fictional terminology belonging to the game’s narrative universe (irrealia) tends to be preserved through transliteration. In addition, the analysis identifies a group of hybrid expressions combining fictional vocabulary with recognizable gameplay descriptors. These terms frequently employ mixed translation strategies that integrate transliteration with semantic translation. The findings suggest that the translation of gameplay terminology is shaped not only by linguistic equivalence but also by the conceptual structure of game terminology and the hybrid design of gameplay systems. The study highlights the need for flexible translation strategies in the translation of hybrid genre games.