RPGs

RPGs, or role-playing games, are a broad class of games in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting, guiding actions through a mix of rules, storytelling, and chance. The central focus is character development and collaborative narration, with outcomes often determined by systems such as dice, cards, or digital algorithms.

Tabletop RPGs rely on a game master who describes the world and adjudicates actions. Players create characters with attributes, skills, and equipment, and gain power or abilities through experience points or milestones. A session typically involves exploration, social interaction, and tactical or narrative challenges, with the rules providing a common framework for play.

Video game RPGs adapt these ideas to digital platforms and include diverse approaches. Subgenres include JRPGs, which tend to feature linear or tightly scripted stories with character-driven plots; WRPGs, which emphasize player choice, open worlds, and exploration; action RPGs, which blend real-time combat with progression systems; and tactical RPGs, which focus on grid-based combat and careful planning. Massively multiplayer online RPGs (MMORPGs) support large, shared worlds with ongoing character advancement.

Other formats include live-action role-playing games, where participants physically enact roles in a real-world setting. Designers of RPGs explore mechanics such as character progression, party dynamics, world-building, and decision consequences, balancing freedom with structured objectives to sustain engagement.

RPGs originated from tabletop wargaming in the 1970s, with Dungeons & Dragons becoming highly influential. Computer RPGs emerged in the 1980s and expanded in the following decades, leading to expansive, interactive experiences that blend storytelling with systems-based play. The genre continues to evolve, informing design across games and platforms.