Gastric cancer (GC) is a malignant tumor with extremely high morbidity and mortality. The incidence of GC in China is second only to that of lung cancer, seriously threatening human health and safety. Glycolysis is one of the important ways for cells to obtain energy and most tumor cells also rely on aerobic glycolysis, which plays a key role in the occurrence and development of GC. This article aims to systematically summarize the effects of key glycolytic enzymes and their upstream regulatory genes on GC, to provide a basis for revealing the pathogenesis of GC, and to evaluate potential therapeutic targets for GC.