experiencepoint

Experience point, commonly abbreviated as XP, is a unit of measure used in many role-playing and action games to quantify a character’s progress toward improvement. XP is earned by performing in-game actions such as defeating enemies, completing quests, solving puzzles, exploring new areas, or crafting items. It is not a currency but a progress metric that typically increases a character’s level or tier when a certain total is reached.

Across titles, XP systems shape motivation and pacing. Some games award fixed XP amounts for actions, while others award XP based on difficulty, performance, or duration. In party-based games, XP may be shared among players or distributed according to set rules. Some titles also allow players to forgo or minimize XP in favor of alternative progression paths.

Leveling and thresholds are central to XP systems. Attaining enough XP raises the character’s level, usually granting bonuses such as increased health, damage, new abilities, or access to higher-tier equipment. The XP required per level often increases with each level, following linear, polynomial, or exponential curves. Many games implement soft caps or prestige mechanisms to extend progression beyond a standard cap.

XP types and specialization are common in contemporary games. Multi-track systems award combat XP, crafting XP, exploration XP, or social XP, supporting diverse playstyles. Some tabletop or digital adaptations use reward tables tied to game rules rather than a single universal XP pool, while others maintain a global XP pool with varied spendable outcomes.

In game design, XP balance is crucial to sustaining engagement. Poorly tuned curves can cause grind, whereas well-designed systems align XP gains with meaningful goals and rewarding progression.