r/gaming rules, stats, and what to post

A source-backed Rankhog guide to r/gaming: public rules, community context, posting fit, and startup-promotion risk before you publish.

Members: 47.4M
Community age: Created Sep 2007, 19 years
To post: No minimum in the rules
To comment: No minimum in the rules
Self-promotion: Allowed with conditionsSelf-promotion is allowed up to a maximum of 10% of your sitewide submissions.
Links: Allowed with conditionsNo URL shorteners, affiliate links, referral links, or links to piracy sites. Original sources must be used.
Promo risk: HighFrom the rules, not from removal counts

Checked November 5, 2026 from the community's public Reddit pages:

Best hours to post in r/gaming

No pattern yet. r/gaming does not have enough top posts from the last 90 days to name its best hours.

Check r/gaming with the best time tool

Subreddits like r/gaming

Subreddits like r/gaming are r/pcgaming, r/GTA, r/truegaming, r/videogames, r/gamingsuggestions, r/Workers_And_Resources, r/FiveMServers and r/StreamersCheating.

r/gaming alternatives compared: members, karma to post and self-promo rules.
Subreddit	Members	Karma to post	Self-promo
r/pcgaming	4M	None listed	Limited
r/GTA	3.6M	None listed	Banned
r/truegaming	1.5M	None listed	Banned
r/videogames	727.1K	None listed	Banned
r/gamingsuggestions	400.6K	None listed	Banned
r/Workers_And_Resources	40,932	None listed	Limited
r/FiveMServers	35,387	None listed	Limited
r/StreamersCheating	23,847	None listed	Limited

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Check a post for r/gaming

By Anthony Riera, founder and operator of Rankhog.

Subreddit guides combine public Reddit source URLs, captured rules, visible verification dates, and Rankhog's account-safety workflow.

Rule summary

Not directly gaming related or generic meme template: All post must be ENTIRELY gaming related, adding a title or caption to force a connection is not allowed. **Non-gaming meme templates are not allowed.** **Both** the full base **image AND caption** must be gaming-related. No AI slop. For more info and detailed examples, [visit our rules page](https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/wiki/index#wiki_rule_1.3A_gaming-related)
Posting guidelines, bandwagons, brigades, direct reply posts.: Posting Guidelines: * If you have a response, update or comment to an existing post, comment a reply instead of making your own post about it. * Posts promoting the spamming, brigading or raiding others subs (eg "pass it on" memes) will be removed and result in a permanent ban. * Posts must be in English * Pictures of children will be removed * Ragebait will be removed [More info here](https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/wiki/index#wiki_rule_2.3A_bandwagons.2Fraids.2Fbrigades.2Fposting_guidelines)
Piracy: No piracy, **even "abandonware".** Enabling piracy via reddit, be it links to torrent sites, direct downloads, smoke signals that give instructions on how to pirate something, etc are not okay here. Don't do it. Whether or not if you agree with the practice, copyright infringement will not be tolerated. There are plenty of other sites on the internet where you can do it; if you must, go wild there, but not here, please. **Enabling or attempting to enable piracy will result in a permanent ban.**
Unmarked spoiler / Unmarked NSFW.: Tag your spoilers: `[X Kills Y](/spoiler)` Result: [X Kills Y](/spoiler). To mark a spoiler as relevant to a specific topic, use the alternate formatting: `[Player 1 wins](/spoiler "Pong")` Result: [Player 1 wins](/spoiler "Pong") Spoilers are NOT allowed in submission titles. NSFW content must be flaired as such. Cosplay posts from content creators primarily focused on adult content will be removed. [More info](https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/wiki/index#wiki_rule_4.3A_tags)
No Giveaways / Trades / Contests / Items for sale / Donation requests / Crypto anything: No product requests, giveaways, trades, contests, items for sale, or donation requests. Nothing crypto, ever. Put simply, you can't ask for free stuff here, and you can't host giveaways here either. Trade posts and contests hosted on the subreddit will be removed. The subreddit is also not the place to put your items up for sale. [More info here](https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/wiki/index#wiki_rule_5.3A_giveaways_.2F_trades_.2F_contests_.2F_items_for_sale.)
Not original source / Website screenshot: Make the original source of the content your submission, and do not use URL shorteners. No screenshots of websites or Twitter. If a mirror is necessary, please provide one in comments. No hotlinking or rehosting someone else's work (unless they specifically allow it in their terms of use or request it). [More info here](https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/wiki/index#wiki_rule_6.3A_original_source)
Excessive self-promotion / Research & Surveys / Livestream / Affiliate Links: All users must abide by the [rules of promotion](https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/wiki/index#wiki_rule_7.3A_self-promotion), which allow 10% max on submissions. Time is not a factor for this, just your sitewide activity. No survey links (not even you, **students and researchers - DO NOT ASK**). We do not allow livestream content No referral/affiliate links or [other spam](https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/360043504051-Spam)
Discussion prompts must be posted as self/text posts: To curb karma farming, and due to community feedback, AskReddit style/open-ended discussion prompts must be submitted as self posts, image versions will be removed. Examples: * "What was your childhood game?** - Picture of Halo box art * "What's the best modern Playstation game?" - Picture of Horizon Forbidden West * "What online game have you sunk the most time in?" - Picture of VALORANT [More info here](https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/wiki/index#wiki_rule_8.3A_discussion_prompts)
Bigotry / Incivility / Toxicity: Posts and comments, whether in jest or with malice, that contain racist, sexist, homophobic, threats, or other toxic content will be removed, regardless of popularity or relevance. Especially egregious violations or repeat offenses may result in accounts banned from /r/gaming.
AMA related rule.: **Post rules.** Must be from someone currently or previously employed in the gaming industry. Must be about something already done. No asking for money or crowd funding. Public proof is required. No giveaways or contests. No request posts. **Comment rules**. Do not ask for free stuff or personal favors. Do not spam the same comment or question over and over again. No vote manipulation. Rule 10 [For more info on these rules, **click here.**](https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/wiki/ama)

Works well

A post that is entirely gaming related and uses a self post format for a discussion prompt.
A submission that provides original source material without using URL shorteners or screenshots.
Content that adheres to the rules of promotion and keeps my sitewide activity within the allowed limits.
A post that is entirely focused on a gaming topic and avoids any giveaway or trade requests.

Avoid

Posting content that is not entirely gaming related or generic meme template
Enabling piracy or attempting to enable piracy
Using URL shorteners or providing screenshots of websites
Making discussion prompts as image versions instead of self posts
Posting content that contains racist sexist homophobic threats or other toxic content

What r/gaming Is For

This community is described as the Number One Gaming forum on the Internet. It is a place for discussion and content related to gaming. Users must adhere to specific guidelines regarding the nature of the content they share.

Rules That Matter Before Posting

Not directly gaming related or generic meme template, Posting guidelines bandwagons brigades direct reply posts, Piracy, Unmarked spoiler Unmarked NSFW, No Giveaways Trades Contests Items for sale Donation requests Crypto anything, Not original source Website screenshot, Excessive self-promotion Research & Surveys Livestream Affiliate Links, Discussion prompts must be posted as self/text posts, Bigotry Incivility Toxicity, AMA related rule.

What To Post

A good post here must be entirely gaming related, meaning the full base image and caption must connect to gaming. If I am sharing a discussion prompt, it must be submitted as a self post. I must also ensure that any promotion I do is within the allowed limits based on my sitewide activity.

What To Avoid

I must avoid any content that is not entirely gaming related or generic meme template. I must never engage in piracy or attempt to enable piracy. I must not use URL shorteners or post screenshots of websites. I must also avoid all forms of toxicity or bigotry in my posts and comments.

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Common questions about r/gaming

What subreddits are similar to r/gaming?

Subreddits like r/gaming are r/pcgaming, r/GTA, r/truegaming, r/videogames, r/gamingsuggestions, r/Workers_And_Resources, r/FiveMServers and r/StreamersCheating.

How should I post discussion prompts?

If I want to ask an open ended question like what was your childhood game, I must submit it as a self post and not an image.

Can I post giveaways or ask for free things?

I cannot ask for free items, run giveaways, or host trades and contests in this community.

What is the requirement for my post to be gaming related?

I must ensure that my content is entirely gaming related, meaning both the image and the caption must relate to gaming.

What are the rules about using original sources and screenshots?

I must make the original source of the content my submission and not use screenshots of websites.

How much self promotion is allowed?

My self promotion must be under the limit allowed by the rules of promotion which is based on my sitewide activity.