mobs

A mob, in the context of video games, is a non-player character that can move and act on its own, often controlled by artificial intelligence. The term is short for mobile entity and is used to describe creatures or beings that populate a game world, ranging from animals and insects to monsters and other antagonists. Mobs provide challenges, resources, or quest targets and can vary widely in appearance, behavior, and role depending on the game.

Mobs are commonly categorized by their hostility toward players. Hostile mobs actively seek and attack players or allies, neutral mobs attack only if provoked or under certain conditions, and passive mobs do not engage in combat. Some games also include ambient or decorative mobs that exist for atmosphere but do not interact in meaningful ways. In many titles, bosses or elite mobs stand apart as more powerful adversaries with unique abilities and loot.

Spawning and behavior are core mechanics for mobs. Spawns are typically tied to specific locations, times, or environmental conditions, and may be limited by spawn caps or difficulty settings. Once spawned, mobs follow AI routines that determine wandering patterns, line-of-sight checks, targeting, pathfinding, and combat tactics. Some mobs cooperate with others, summon allies, or exhibit special states such as fear, aggression, or fatigue.

Loot, experience, and progression are common incentives associated with mobs. Defeating them can yield items, currency, or experience points, and loot tables determine drop quality and variety. Mobs also influence game pacing, world exploration, and resource gathering, shaping strategic decisions such as where to hunt, how to approach combat, and when to retreat.

Notable examples appear across genres. In sandbox and survival games, mobs populate the world and spawn at night or in biomes; in MMORPGs, mobs provide quests, grinding opportunities, and boss encounters that drive progression. The concept remains a foundational element of many game worlds.