What is RPG?: A complete guide to the genre

Let’s discover role-playing game genre together.
what is rpg
“Patrolling the Mojave almost makes you wish for a nuclear winter.”

Everyone has their taste in games. Mine started developing in my early childhood like many others, and I’m not ashamed to tell you that it didn’t change that much since. My heart was always with RPGs.

Before anything, let’s take a step back and understand what we are talking about, as it’s the most important: What is an RPG?

Acronym of the role-playing game, RPG is a game genre in which players act as characters in a fictional setting. Players are expected to be their characters and play accordingly, carrying their character development through maintaining their roles. Character development is often in tune with the story’s progress. All in all, an RPG is about actively partaking in storytelling.

Given its definition, it may seem like many modern games fall into this genre. And they do, to some extent, but before exploring what makes a game RPG —I promise we’ll do that— allow me to tell you the history of RPGs so that you can get a better sense of the RPG game elements that defined the genre throughout its history.

History of RPGs

Okay, we can’t pinpoint the exact moment when people first played a role-playing game since pretending to be somebody else and telling believable lies for fun is probably as old as humankind. We know that storytellers have existed for almost the entire history of humanity. If the purpose is entertainment, something as simple as mimicking an animal or doing a historical re-enactment could be subject to the role-playing game. You see, all the confusion about what RPG is and what not is that the definition of RPG is relatively broad—man, trying to break down and define a concept that evolves and changes over time… I hate metaphysics. 

And I’m probably getting ahead of myself. For the sake of our article, we’ll go for the next best option, that being what is considered the ancestor of role-playing games in the current sense: Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). Derived from wargames —nope, I’m not going into that hole— D&D was published in 1974 by Gygax’s TSR. This pen-and-paper game gave players freedom limited with their imaginations, and of course, the rulebook. Rulebook consisted of weapon types, races, skills, etc., but players could use these however they like. There was never made a game so imaginative and yet so grounded before. People fell in love with it.

Even though TSR aimed at a niche audience, the tabletop RPG (TTRPG) craze spread like wildfire. Inspired by the success of D&D, new TTRPGs have been released. Some of the notable titles are Tunnels and TrollsEmpire of the Petal Throne (1974/75), Chivalry & Sorcery (1977), RuneQuest (1978), Metamorphosis Alpha (1976), Superhero: 2044 (1977). Empire of the Petal Throne and City State of the Invincible Overlord.

As time progressed, RPGs were introduced to computers. This introduction meant the partial death of imagination: Role-playing and freedom of movement were limited by imagination and the computer.

With PC/console gaming going mainstream, the community of TTRPGs shrank. The RPGs on electronic devices have changed, changing the RPGs. RPG is simplified to welcome newcomers and lost a chunk of its talking (in computers, text-reading), which earlier meant the whole game mechanic for the sake of more action and higher pace. Undoubtedly, that killed the role-playing part of RPGs a little.

I am a fan of both TTRPG and role-playing video games. Even though the genre has changed with time, we were also introduced to new RPG games with computers.

But, wait a minute. What makes a game RPG anyway?

Isn’t it fun to figure out what EVERYTHING is?

What makes a game RPG?

The discussion about most RPG games finally connects to this very question. As I’ve mentioned before, since the description of the genre is relatively broad, answers to this question vary.

Theoretically, I already gave you a definition, so anything that fits that definition should be an RPG. The problem is that there are TONS of games that have RPG elements but don’t fall directly into the RPG category.

Technically, any game with different outcomes for different choices could be considered an RPG. If we were to look at the subject mechanics-wise, RPG is a game where you build your character. How long does this building go? It depends on the game. In a classical RPG like Fallout or Baldur’s Gate, you can fully customize your character from her looks to her skills. In games like Gothic or Witcher (which is an action RPG), you can’t change the look of your character (you can change the hair/facial hair of Geralt, but he is still Geralt). You can still adjust your skills to your liking. Are they RPGs? Yes and no, depending on your understanding of an RPG (Excluding the first game, I wouldn’t consider the Witcher series as solid RPG entries, sue me).

Take Red Dead Redemption 2 (or Red Dead Redemption). The game is all about feeling like a cowboy, and your decisions change the game’s outcome. Sure, you can’t build your character or change his name, and you gain no skill points, but can you say you aren’t role-playing? Looking at the game mechanics, it isn’t an RPG. Looking at your actions’ effect on the story, it’s an RPG-ish game. Sorry for this ugly sentence.

The last entries of Assassins Creed have adopted the skill-tree mechanics from RPGs. Are they RPGs? They shouldn’t be, but you build your character in a way, don’t you?

All we know is that the RPGs in the traditional sense are dying. Some new games try to keep the genre alive, the number of those decreases day by day. Hats off to Disco Elysium and Pillars of Eternity.

The motivation of implementing RPG mechanics in new games is about enhancing the feel of progress. The implementation is NOT for the sake of role-playing. That’s the reason we see so many non-RPGs with skill-tree systems.

Types of RPGs: RPG sub-genres

I’ve covered some of the accepted RPG genres below. Plus, I choose one game for you from each RPG genre.

I don’t have a horse in tabletop RPGs since I like to create our settings with friends, free of premade rulebooks. If you are looking for a TTRPG to play, this article might help you. This list will be about CRPGs (computer role-playing games).

Action RPG

The first games that come to mind are likely to be in the action RPG genre when you think of role-playing games since the genre has the most popular RPG titles under it. Typically, an action RPG features one character, your character, in a combat-oriented setting. Players have total control of their characters in a real-time combat system. Even though they are not entirely about combatting, these RPG games aim to excel with their combat mechanics. Few notable titles in this RPG sub-genre are Fallout series, Mass Effect series, Knights of The Old Republic, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines (R.I.P, Troika), and Legend of Zelda series.

Editor’s Choice: Dark Souls Remastered

Prepare to die. A lot.

Who am I not to choose the greatest game of all time? And it’s not just about RPGs either: If I had to recommend just one game for you to play before you die, it would be Dark Souls. The game even created its genre, Souls-like. I have thousands of words about the game, but the title already speaks for itself.

I strongly recommend it, stop what you are playing and get Dark Souls if you haven’t played it yet. One reminder, though: Don’t you dare go hollow.

Strategy RPGs

Unlike action RPGs, strategy (or tactical) RPGs tend to have turn-based combat in an isometric setting. As the name suggests, these RPGs demand a tactical approach and a good knowledge of your inventory, surroundings, etc. SRPGs are often challenging since planning alone takes a considerable time of players. Add the pause times and limited action points for characters, and you got yourself a chess-like experience. The origin of such RPGs is considered tactical games such as chess and wargames, so the likeness comes as no surprise.

Editor’s Choice: Shadowrun: Dragonfall (Director’s Cut)

Every quest is cleverly —and gracefully— written.

I love everything about this game: The atmosphere, characters, quests, lore, artwork, mechanics, classes, skills… Absolutely everything. Shadowrun: Dragonfall is a hell of a game you should play, even if you are not a fan of slow-paced strategy games. It feels incredible to explore the world of Shadowrun.

The story of Glory still lives with me.

MMORPG

MMORPGs —or massively multiplayer online role-playing games— were the zeitgeist of the late 90s-early 2000s computer gaming. These games combine role-playing elements with online game mechanics. When the internet was still a fresh way to socialize, these games demanded —and took— a considerable amount of time & energy of its players, inviting them to their magical worlds to be the characters. The amount of grinding and devotion was insane.

Even though I talked in past tense about the genre, MMORPGs still live on our mobile devices. The popular demand for this genre shifted from PC/console gamers to mobile gamers.

Editor’s Choice: World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft is the king of MMORPG.

I know you saw this one coming. World of Warcraft isn’t just a good MMORPG; it’s THE MMORPG. The game defined the market of MMORPG. Peaking at 12 million players in 2010, World of Warcraft is in the gaming hall of fame for sure.

Is WoW still a thing? With millions of active users, it is. It is dying, but it’s a slow death. That said, it’s not on its heyday, but there’s still time to try it out if you haven’t yet.

JRPG

JRPG means Japanese role-playing game, j for Japanese, and RPG for, you know, role-playing game. The genre characteristics don’t end with being developed in Japan —an JRPG doesn’t even need to be developed in Japan, can you believe?—. They have their unique style, mechanics, and theme: their feel. That’s why all JRPG developers aren’t Japanese.

Some of the most famous JRPGs are Pokémon(yes, Pokémon), Final Fantasy series Kingdom Heart, Dragon Quest series, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars.

Editor’s Choice: Persona 5

Persona 5 is a modern telling of a classical JRPG.

I was between this and Final Fantasy VII Remake, but Persona 5 had the slight edge due to not being a part of a massive video game series. Consider picking up a Final Fantasy game as well. They are —almost— all great.

But the stalemate wasn’t between any Final Fantasy game and Persona 5; it was between Final Fantasy VII Remake and Persona 5. That’s because, like many great JRPGs, Final Fantasy games are old. That’s was one reason to choose Persona 5. The game being great was another.

What is so good about Persona 5? Everything it tries. It has a fantastic flow, good visuals, a deep story, and beautiful combat mechanics. It almost feels like it is resurrecting the genre. I cannot think of a more welcoming game to enter the world of JRPGs.

Roguelike

Roguelike is one sub-genre I struggle to explain without giving a game as an example. Nevertheless:

Imagine a dungeon-crawler where your character’s deaths are permanent —and often expected— so you technically end your game in one run. The levels are procedurally generated. In short, you start, you encounter randomly generated enemies in the dungeon(s), you die, and you start all over again.

Originated from Rogue (1980), this niche sub-genre has a lot of lovers. I am pretty new to roguelikes myself, and I can’t say I loved the genre, but I loved:

Editor’s Choice: Hades

->Google->Search: “How to defuse your teenager’s anger?”->Enter.

This game is wholesome. I’ve played many games where some basic game mechanics that usually aren’t explained —since they are considered the core game mechanics shared with every other game— are justified with game lore, but boy, Hades is something else. All that dying does is feed our teenager’s angst. It’s brilliant. It’s only natural when the home you want to leave so bad is the literal afterlife.

Hades receives a big thumbs up from me, a solid gateway to the roguelike genre.

Sandbox RPG

This sub-genre can be considered an umbrella genre. Many sandbox (or open-world) RPGs are also action RPGs, JRPGs, strategy RPGs, etc.

The defining characteristic of a sandbox RPG is that the world loads seamlessly without loading screens as you move on. Sure, there are loading screens when you enter or exit a town in Skyrim, but you also get a loading screen when you open any game. These games grant you the freedom to explore the world without borders; you are not confined to a single path in your gameplay.

But of course, you are familiar with how open-world games work because every game studio is pumping open-world games nowadays. Seriously, why is the love for sandbox games? Do the developers believe their game will be the next GTA when they create vast —and painfully empty— uninspiring maps?

There are a lot of sandbox RPGs. Some examples of this sub-genre are The Elder Scrolls series, Witcher series, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, and Metal Gear Solid series.

Editor’s Choice: Fallout: New Vegas

Now that’s what I call customer happiness!

If it wasn’t for the Linear Souls, I could go for the entire Souls franchise here without hesitation. 

Jokes aside, Fallout: New Vegas is incredible. It’s one of the greatest RPGs ever made. Following a not-so-inspiring of the third entry, Fallout: NV takes the experience back to its roots, namely, to the first two entries of the series. This game lets you role-play in almost any way you can imagine: With its unique perk system and perfectly written dialogue options, you feel like you can affect the world you are in, unlike other games like Skyrim. Is it a coincidence, or does Bethesda not understand role-playing that much? After all, the weaker game I mentioned earlier, Fallout III, and an even worse game, Fallout IV, was their production as well.

If I were to recommend the game with which you can best understand the RPG genre, I would recommend Fallout: New Vegas. I’m so serious about it that I wouldn’t add a sentence after that; the article ends here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *