OP: What does OP or overpowered mean in competitive games?
Gamers often describe certain abilities, weapons, or enemies as “OP” — short for “overpowered” — when they feel those things are stronger than they reasonably should be. If the overpowered element is something players can actually use themselves, it can feel like an unfair edge, almost like cheating without breaking any rules.
If you’re trying to get into gaming conversations, knowing the slang helps a lot. Terms like “OP” come up all the time, so understanding what they mean keeps you from feeling out of the loop.
OP In Other Games
You’ll often hear the word “nerf” in the same breath as “overpowered.” When something gets nerfed, it means the developers intentionally made it weaker to help keep the game fair for everyone. A good example is Fortnite back in the early days — the double pump shotgun tactic was so strong that players complained it was broken. In response, Epic Games adjusted the gun-switching delay to tone it down.
