Side by side

BoardGameGeek vs NostalgiaDB

Both stand on game databases. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

BoardGameGeek

Free plan AndroidiPhoneWeb

BoardGameGeek combines game listings and community material with collection and play tracking. Its core access is free, while supporter perks and the account-age requirement are worth noting.

Visit BoardGameGeek

NostalgiaDB combines searchable retro game metadata with API access, SQLite downloads, and a browser-based portal for locally stored ROMs. Play and database downloads require a free account, and API use requires a key.

Visit NostalgiaDB

The facts

	BoardGameGeek	NostalgiaDB
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Not published	Not published
Runs on	Android, iPhone, Web	API, Web
Lowest paid plan	Free or on request	Free or on request
Plans published	1	1
Maker	Not published	Not published
Website	boardgamegeek.com	nostalgialab.org
On game databases	#1 of 14	#4 of 14

BoardGameGeek: what it does well

Free core site access and registered membership.
Game entries include ratings, forums, and information.
Members can maintain collections and log plays.
Includes reviews, play aids, and session reports.
Official apps are available for iOS and Android.

What to know first

Users must be at least 18 to have an account.
Site relies on community support and advertisements.
Ad blocking is limited to supporter levels of $25 or more.

NostalgiaDB: what it does well

Archive spans 45 gaming platforms.
Search accepts natural-language queries.
Free SQLite database downloads are available.
Play reads ROM files from a local folder.
Google, Microsoft, and Discord sign-in supported.

What to know first

Play requires a Chromium-based browser.
API queries require an API key.
API query depth is limited to six levels.
Database downloads require free registration.

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