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 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.

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

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