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ActionRPGs

Action role-playing games, or action RPGs, are video games that blend real-time action combat with role-playing game elements such as character progression, loot, and story. In ARPGs, players typically control a single character, sometimes with teammates in cooperative play, and engage in dynamic, combat-focused encounters where success depends on skill and timing as well as on gear and abilities.

Core features include real-time combat that emphasizes reflexes and positioning; character progression through levels, attributes, and

Most ARPGs are presented from an isometric or over-the-shoulder viewpoint and can be played solo or online

Origins trace to Blizzard's Diablo (1996), which popularized loot-driven, real-time action combat and online multiplayer. Subsequent

skill
trees;
a
loot
system
with
randomized
equipment
that
drives
exploration
and
experimentation;
flexible
class
or
build
systems;
crafting
and
merchant
interactions;
and
replayable
or
procedurally
generated
dungeons
and
endgame
content.
with
others.
They
are
distinct
from
turn-based
RPGs
and
many
action-adventure
titles
by
their
emphasis
on
loot-driven
progression
and
continuous
character
development.
Notable
examples
include
the
Diablo
series,
Path
of
Exile,
Torchlight,
Grim
Dawn,
and
Diablo
IV.
titles
and
indie
releases
expanded
skill
customization,
gear
systems,
and
endgame
objectives.
Today
ARPGs
are
a
common
genre
on
PC
and
consoles,
frequently
featuring
live-service
updates,
expansions,
and
cross-platform
play
that
sustain
ongoing
player
engagement.