In a game, you kill a monster. It drops a sword. You pick it up. That is loot. Loot is items obtained in a game. It can be weapons, armor, gold, or potions. It is the reward for playing. It is the reason to explore. It is the thing you chase. Loot is the engine of many games.

Loot comes from the Hindi word "loot," meaning to plunder. It entered English in the 1800s. In gaming, it means the same thing: stuff you take. Some loot is common. Some is rare. Some is legendary. The rarity is the thrill. The drop is the moment. The inventory is the trophy case.

Related terms

• Loot box: a virtual box with random items, controversial.
• Loot table: the list of items a monster can drop.
• Looter shooter: a game genre focused on loot.
• Ninja looting: stealing loot from teammates, frowned upon.

Loot is a loop. You fight, you get loot, you fight harder. The loop is addictive. It is also satisfying. The sword that drops after a long boss fight is more than a sword. It is a memory. It is a story. It is a reward. That is the power of loot.