API Reference

GameData Central API

A REST API for structured indie game metadata. All endpoints return JSON. Authentication uses API key headers on rate-limited routes.

Base URL https://gamedatacentral.com
Authentication

Pass your API key in the X-API-Key request header. Keys are free to generate — create an account to get yours.

💡
The /api/games/stats and /api/auth/tiers endpoints are publicly accessible without an API key. All other /api/games routes require one.
cURL
$ curl https://gamedatacentral.com/api/games \
  -H "X-API-Key: your_api_key_here"
Rate Limits

Limits are enforced per API key per calendar day (UTC). Exceeding the limit returns HTTP 429 until midnight UTC.

TierDaily RequestsPriceUse Case
Free 100 / day $0 Personal projects, prototypes, exploration
Pro 5,000 / day $12 / mo Apps, tools, indie game sites
Studio 50,000 / day $49 / mo Commercial products, high-traffic services
Error Responses

All errors return JSON with an error field and appropriate HTTP status code.

StatusMeaning
400Bad request — missing or invalid parameters
401Unauthorized — missing or invalid API key
404Not found — game ID or resource doesn't exist
429Rate limit exceeded — try again after midnight UTC
500Internal server error
JSON Error Response
{
  "error": "API key required. Pass X-API-Key header."
}
Games

Retrieve and search the full game catalog with rich metadata.

GET /api/games List all games ▼
🔑
Requires X-API-Key header.
Query Parameters
ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
genrestringoptionalFilter by genre (e.g. Roguelike)
platformstringoptionalFilter by platform (e.g. PC, Switch)
tagstringoptionalFilter by tag (e.g. roguelike)
yearintegeroptionalFilter by release year
limitintegeroptionalMax results (default: 20, max: 100)
offsetintegeroptionalPagination offset (default: 0)
cURL
$ curl "https://gamedatacentral.com/api/games?genre=Roguelike&limit=5" \
  -H "X-API-Key: your_api_key_here"
Response
JSON
[
  {
    "id":           "hades",
    "title":        "Hades",
    "genre":        ["Roguelike", "Action"],
    "platform":     ["PC", "Switch", "PS4", "Xbox One"],
    "release_year": 2020,
    "developer":    "Supergiant Games",
    "publisher":    "Supergiant Games",
    "rating":       9.3,
    "tags":         ["roguelike", "hack-and-slash", "story-rich"],
    "description":  "Defy the god of the dead..."
  }
]
GET /api/games/:id Get a single game ▼
🔑
Requires X-API-Key header.
Path Parameters
ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
idstringrequiredGame slug (e.g. hades, hollow-knight)
cURL
$ curl https://gamedatacentral.com/api/games/hollow-knight \
  -H "X-API-Key: your_api_key_here"
Response
JSON
{
  "id":           "hollow-knight",
  "title":        "Hollow Knight",
  "genre":        ["Metroidvania", "Action", "Platformer"],
  "platform":     ["PC", "Switch", "PS4", "Xbox One"],
  "release_year": 2017,
  "developer":    "Team Cherry",
  "publisher":    "Team Cherry",
  "rating":       9.4,
  "tags":         ["indie", "dark", "atmospheric", "challenging"],
  "description":  "A challenging 2D action-adventure..."
}
GET /api/games/stats Catalog statistics — no auth required ▼

Returns aggregate statistics about the game catalog. No API key needed — useful for dashboards and status checks.

cURL
$ curl https://gamedatacentral.com/api/games/stats
Response
JSON
{
  "total_games":    59,
  "genres":         ["Action", "Roguelike", "..."],
  "platforms":      ["PC", "Switch", "..."],
  "year_range":     {"min": 2006, "max": 2024}
}
Guides

Community-authored walkthroughs, tips, builds, and lore entries for games in the catalog.

GET /api/guides List published guides ▼

Returns published guides. No API key required.

Query Parameters
ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
game_idstringoptionalFilter by game slug (e.g. hades)
typestringoptionalwalkthrough | tips | builds | lore
limitintegeroptionalMax results (default: 20, max: 100)
offsetintegeroptionalPagination offset
cURL
$ curl "https://gamedatacentral.com/api/guides?game_id=hades&type=builds"
Response
JSON
{
  "guides": [
    {
      "id":         12,
      "slug":       "top-hades-builds-spear-bow-and-fist-meta",
      "game_id":    "hades",
      "game_title": "Hades",
      "type":       "builds",
      "title":      "Top Hades Builds: Spear, Bow, and Fist Meta",
      "summary":    "Optimized weapon builds...",
      "score":      14,
      "view_count": 231,
      "created_at": "2025-03-07T12:00:00"
    }
  ],
  "total": 3,
  "offset": 0,
  "limit":  20
}
Key Management

Programmatic API key creation and introspection. Primarily used by the dashboard — account holders manage keys at /account.

POST /api/auth/request-key Generate an API key ▼
Request Body (JSON)
FieldTypeRequiredDescription
namestringrequiredYour name
emailstringrequiredYour email address
use_casestringoptionalWhat you plan to build
cURL
$ curl -X POST https://gamedatacentral.com/api/auth/request-key \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"name":"Jane Dev","email":"[email protected]","use_case":"Game discovery app"}'
Response
JSON
{
  "api_key": "gdc_a1b2c3d4e5f6...",
  "tier":    "free",
  "limit":   100
}
GET /api/auth/key-info Inspect your key's usage ▼
🔑
Pass your key in X-API-Key. Returns usage for the current UTC day.
cURL
$ curl https://gamedatacentral.com/api/auth/key-info \
  -H "X-API-Key: your_api_key_here"
Response
JSON
{
  "key":         "gdc_...a1b2",
  "tier":        "free",
  "daily_limit": 100,
  "used_today":  14,
  "remaining":   86
}
GET /api/auth/tiers List available tiers — no auth required ▼
cURL
$ curl https://gamedatacentral.com/api/auth/tiers
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