Redis Game Patterns

Purpose

Redis usage patterns for games — leaderboards, session caching, pub/sub messaging, rate limiting, ephemeral state, and sorted sets for real-time game data.

When to Use

Trigger: Redis, pub/sub, leaderboard, session cache, rate limiting, sorted sets, game cache, ephemeral state, TTL, player presence, cross-server messaging

Prerequisites

None — this is a foundational infrastructure skill.

Core Principles

Will Wright: "Simulation state must be fast, ephemeral, and disposable — persistence is for outcomes, not for process."

1. Redis is for hot data, PostgreSQL is for cold data — cache what's accessed frequently, persist what matters long-term