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[Sega Orphan]

So what defines an RPG? If it is simply taking the role of a character when playing then every game is an RPG.
Does an RPG have to have puzzle elements to it?

I find that alot of games advertised as RPG are just shooters with puzzles, which make it no different to Tomb Raider.

Would you consider the Outer Worlds to be an RPG? The Witcher?

 

[KimDongHwan]

I thought a lot about this in the past. Whenever I think how can Square Enix revive that feeling of the golden age of FF on PSOne i always remember that now it's much harder since every game is kind of an RPG

 

[Sega Orphan]

I thought a lot about this in the past. Whenever I think how can Square Enix revive that feeling of the golden age of FF on PSOne i always remember that now it's much harder since every game is kind of an RPG

Yeah I think there was a distinct RPG game, whereas that isn't the case now. I remember RPG having spells, puzzles, building things and much less fighting.

 

[Dream-Knife]

I always associated RPGs with turn based combat.

 

[Ladioss]

Something to do with a type of gameplay which simulates character "growth", often but not always throught a symbolic system (levels, stats), with the aim of granting to the player an ever increasing capacity to will his agency on the game world.

 

[SlimeGooGoo]

.

 

[Ladioss]

The Codex loves to discuss how everything is not an RPG - except Fallout 2 (and maybe Underrail).

 

[Craig of War]

Bruh truly RPG needs to be fully imersion like Skyrim and Fallout where you can basically build every part of the character how you want with NPC and quest that is a truly full blown RPG wile game like Elden Ring is more action adventure than a RPG hope that explain it for you OP

 

[Sega Orphan]

Something to do with a type of gameplay which simulates character "growth", often but not always throught a symbolic system (levels, stats), with the aim of granting to the player an ever increasing capacity to will his agency on the game world.

So which of these would you consider an RPG?
The Witcher
Outer Worlds
Fallout
Horizon
We Happy Few

These are some that kinda fall in and out of what an RPG is.

 

[SlimeGooGoo]

.

 

[The_hunter]

Something similar to DnD, isn't that the progenitor of the modern videogame rpg?

So stats, and character customization. Doesn't matter if it has fps gun gameplay, or turn based combat. Western and Japanese have their own distinct styles, but they retain that core.

 

[SlimeGooGoo]

.

 

[SlimeGooGoo]

.

 

[Ladioss]

Fake news, they welcome everyone with open arms and have a very open mind about the subject.

Well, they *are* as good-natured as your average Neogaf poster, at least that is true ;p

(and I like the Codex - I mean, their top RPG lists are rock solid, not something RE could do)

Here's the only (computer) RPG in existence

DF is much bigger than any RPG : it simulates whole worlds, not only a personnal epic.

 

[Mozzarella]

There is different types of Role-Playing games but when you look at them they all share common things.
You need to have:
1- Progression; this is done via leveling and skill trees and perks.
2- Stats should be important; stats boost your damage and defensed making you more powerful. Combat should have big factor on stats.
3- Story and Character role playing; this is done either by branching paths with choice and consequences, or by level party system and doing quests with or for them.

Those are the main points.

RPG can expand on that with deep rpg mechanics, with deep rpg mechanics the games will offer you more tools to roleplay and play out your game, like certain builds, skills, perks, crafting tools, ways to interact and play with the game, different ways to complete quests.

The different types of RPGs are:
1- Open World RPG (tricky since they can be action, but most aren't)
2- Action RPG
3- Isometric RPG (cRPG)
4- JRPG (a subgenre popularized in japan based on adaptions, e.g Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, Persona and SMT)


I really find this subject to be confusing and really uninteresting to talk about, since it doesn't tell you that much when you hear the game is a RPG, instead it would be better if you know if its stealth, action, open world, fps horror, immersive sim, tactical..etc
Also my knowledge is not really amazing on this subject either, so that's how i personally look at it, take it with grain of salt.

The Codex loves to discuss how everything is not an RPG - except Fallout 2 (and maybe Underrail).

That site is obnoxious, i never participated there, someone once showed it to me and i took a look at the forums and after few minutes i left it, lol. Seemed to be a place full of nostalgia boomers who hate everything new and different.

So which of these would you consider an RPG?
The Witcher
Outer Worlds
Fallout
Horizon
We Happy Few

These are some that kinda fall in and out of what an RPG is.

I would say all of them except Horizon maybe? and never played we happy few.
Horizon has rpg elements but as far as i remember, it doesnt really have all the 3 factors i listed, mainly for story. But i'm not very sure, i found it to be a dull and bland game to be honest so i already forgot most of its story.

 

[Filth]

role playing game.

/thread

 

[Ladioss]

That site is obnoxious, i never participated there, someone once showed it to me and i took a look at the forums and after few minutes i left it, lol. Seemed to be a place full of nostalgia boomers who hate everything new and different.

They tend to overplay the nostalgia grognard bit, true. But their major hate boner is with modern marketing and how it can appropriate anything and make it a dull and bland ersatz before selling it as the true and authentic experience, I'd say.

And a forum where you can find people who love Dark Souls, Yakuza and old PC-98 titles can't be completely evil.

 

[Robb]

I’m a bit confused as well, I’ve seen people call Zelda a RPG which, to me, is obviously a action/adventure game.

I’d consider The Outer Worlds and The Witcher as (W)RPG games and Horizon a action/adventure game (have not played the latest one yet though).

 

[SlimeGooGoo]

.

 

[Rentahamster]

What is the one thing you can take away from an RPG game and not call it an RPG anymore? It's not turn based combat, because action RPGs exist.

It's gaining experience, leveling up, and progressing your character. Once you get rid of that, you can't really call a game an RPG anymore.

This is why when games like CoD implement "RPG-like" elements to their game, it means they're incorporating exp and leveling up.

 

[anthraticus]

The Codex loves to discuss how everything is not an RPG - except Fallout 2 (and maybe Underrail).

And literally hundreds of other games. Just not shit like Horizon, UBIshit, etc..

They tend to overplay the nostalgia grognard bit, true. But their major hate boner is with modern marketing and how it can appropriate anything and make it a dull and bland ersatz before selling it as the true and authentic experience, I'd say.

And a forum where you can find people who love Dark Souls, Yakuza and old PC-98 titles can't be completely evil.

Plus they love to rip apart resetera sjws. And the vast majority of modern AAA crap does blow, so they're more on top of shit than most ppl here and the other more mainstream sites.

 

[Bernkastel]

"Role Playing Game". Its not some status upgrades or as people call it "RPG Elements"(most sports sims have them) or just multiple branching paths(visual novels are not RPGs). You assume the role of a character and define the narrative. The moment there is a defined protagonist and you are experiencing the story of that character, its not a RPG.

Its sad that people call upgrade elements on your gear "RPG elements" and associate that with RPG.You have to play a "role", live that role and create the story of your character. This can be either through an empty shell that you make through character creator and self insert as like the Dragonborn in Skyrim or the Witcher in Witcher series where the you choose and play the story as the Witcher by making choices that drastically change the story. Assassins Creed is not a RPG. I am actually being generous here regarding the Witcher.

Waiting for Codex specialists to comment on the matter

RPG codex forum members would have a stroke if they found this thread. The moment you are not the protagonist but experiencing the story of someone else's adventure its no longer a "Role Playing Game", its just a adventure game. I applaud Nintendo for never calling Legend of Zelda a RPG, even though it qualifies for that genre more than Assassins Creed. Stop calling Action Adventure Games "RPG".

Correct. What role are you playing in a JRPG? The games are almost entirely scripted. Same is true for most modern WRPGs. It is very difficult to translate the mechanics of what a "real" RPG is to the video game medium because the core of role playing is essentially total freedom. It's hard to build a satisfying game that allows the player do whatever they want while shaping the narrative at the same time.

Fucking this. Most JRPGs are not RPGs.

BioWare man: FFXIII is "not an RPG"

Final Fantasy XIII is not a true RPG by BioWare's definition, according to Star Wars: The Old Republic writing director…

www.eurogamer.net

But,

I am not sure if Dark Souls is an RPG now that I think about it

Soulsborne games are RPGs, even more than Witcher 3. You play as the Choosen Undead, Bearer of Curse, Ashen One etc. and write your story by playing the game. There is no backstory to the protagonists, you make that story. Thankfully, they never promoted Sekiro as a RPG but as an Action-Adventure game.

P.S. Soulsborne games are more RPG than Witcher series. For good reason Sekiro was not marketed as a "RPG" and also Nintendo never markets Zelda as a "RPG", they are action adventure games. Witcher barely makes it to the "RPG" category because of the decision making and letting you define what the Witcher is.




In both these videos the player role plays as a character where he defined the narrative(I really wanted to posted the video of that guy who role played as a black knight in Dark Souls but I could not find it).

 

[Damigos]

So what defines an RPG? If it is simply taking the role of a character when playing then every game is an RPG.
Does an RPG have to have puzzle elements to it?

I find that alot of games advertised as RPG are just shooters with puzzles, which make it no different to Tomb Raider.

Would you consider the Outer Worlds to be an RPG? The Witcher?

It is a Role Playing Game ..

 

[TexMex]

A role playing game

 

[SeraphJan]

This term is slowly becoming outdated due to technical advancement.

Back in the Snes era, you either have a fast pace action game filled with tons of animation sprite, or a JRPG filled with dialogue and environmental sprite, due to memory and storage limit.

In Modern games, almost every game implement some type of RPG mechanic. Elden Ring that focus on Action is called RPG, Witcher 3 that is focus on dialogue is also an RPG

 

[Wildebeest]

Ask Ludwig Wittgenstein.

 

[MidGenRefresh]

This is:

 

[Majukun]

western rpgs pretty much work as actual tabletop rpgs, create a character, build it, make choices that shape the story creating your own adventure.

jrpgs instead selectively took some elements from tabletop (stats and random/non random encounters) and inserted them in a much more linear story progression

thing is, nowadays you can't just find a clear definition, since stats have now been widely used in other genres as well and not all rpgs work on encounters

it's one of those categories that you kinda have to "feel"..you kinda know when you are playing something rpgs-esque

 

[JohnSpartanLee]

You play a character that improves by either earning experience points or doing stuff repeatedly.

 

[Y0ssarian]

A miserable pile of secrets

 

[Bullet Club]

Roll Playing Game

 

[bitbydeath]

Bruh truly RPG needs to be fully imersion like Skyrim and Fallout where you can basically build every part of the character how you want with NPC and quest that is a truly full blown RPG wile game like Elden Ring is more action adventure than a RPG hope that explain it for you OP

That must mean Sims is an RPG.

 

[Mr Hyde]

For me, an rpg is not so much choices you can make talking to different characters but stat customization and tinkering with weapons, armor and crafting. Creating different builds that changes your style of play. Playing Elden Ring feels like a true rpg where you can create your character, optimize it, put points in different stats, craft weapons, items and gear. Souls have always felt like a digitized Dungeons and Dragons tabletop rpg, and Elden Ring nails that feeling the most.

 

[Nico_D]

For me a RPG has character customization (stats) and dialogue options which may not have big repercussions but still gives me a chance to play the character the way I want to play.

Skill tree with multiple paths how you want to build your character - stealth vs. combat etc.

And emphasis on story. But in many jrpgs the story really isn't that different from other games in the genre or series which is a shame.

 

[shenlong]

For me, it's a genre which you play or portrait as a character

 

[Guilty_AI]

 

[brian0057]

This thread is proof that people really need to play Daggerfall.
Only then will everyone know what a videogame RPG looks like.

 

[clem84]

Would you consider FF12 an RPG?

 

[OceanGaming]

Everything is an RPG, they poisoned the well so being an RPG means nothing anymore.

 

[Wildebeest]

Daggerfall isn't the answer. RPG video games emerged as a way of playing tabletop RPG on a computer. One of the very core element of the RPG is multiple players who run a single character with different roles in the party. No single player character and single player game can recreate this core experience. So we come to how Daggerfall just seems like an RPG because it resembles what we think of as an RPG. It has some features of an RPG and lacks other critical features, but overall just seems to us to be an RPG.

There are some theories of identifying RPG elements, such as the GNS model, but these are ways of thinking about design elements of games rather than a cast iron classification system. It says that RPGs have three main elements. Gamism, Narrativism, and Simulationism. Gamist elements might encourage builds, winning fights, achieving goals. Narrativism might be about the times when the story being told might trump everything else. Simulationism is about the realism and scope of the setting. I don't totally agree with this, considering how stories might emerge from simulation (see xcom), or how strong game goals that a player works towards over many sessions drive narrative decisions of the player. Still, you might hear people say that this or that game is good because it is a "narrativist" game for people who just want to democratically tell a story without any heavy intervention from game systems or simulations.

 

[Havoc2049]

Daggerfall isn't the answer. RPG video games emerged as a way of playing tabletop RPG on a computer. One of the very core element of the RPG is multiple players who run a single character with different roles in the party. No single player character and single player game can recreate this core experience. So we come to how Daggerfall just seems like an RPG because it resembles what we think of as an RPG. It has some features of an RPG and lacks other critical features, but overall just seems to us to be an RPG.

Needing multiple characters is not a core element of an RPG. D&D/AD&D has provided rules and even made modules for a single DM and a solo player. People all across the world homebrew table top RPGs with only a DM and a single player, especially since it's quite challenging to get a large group of people together, except for maybe one or two days out of the week or even only a couple of times a month.

One of the reasons that video game RPGs took off is because the game and computer/console took on the role of the DM and a gamer could either take on the role of a single character or a multi-character party and play whenever they want. Going all the way back to the origins of the CRPG genre, Akalabeth and the Ultima series offered a single player RPG experience. Early CRPGs like the Temple of Apshai Trilogy and Gateway to Apshai offered a single character Action RPG experience.

 

[Wildebeest]

Needing multiple characters is not a core element of an RPG. D&D/AD&D has provided rules and even made modules for a single DM and a solo player. People all across the world homebrew table top RPGs with only a DM and a single player, especially since it's quite challenging to get a large group of people together, except for maybe one or two days out of the week or even only a couple of times a month.

One of the reasons that video game RPGs took off is because the game and computer/console took on the role of the DM and a gamer could either take on the role of a single character or a multi-character party and play whenever they want. Going all the way back to the origins of the CRPG genre, Akalabeth and the Ultima series offered a single player RPG experience. Early CRPGs like the Temple of Apshai Trilogy and Gateway to Apshai offered a single character Action RPG experience.

I'm telling you that if anything is close to a core element of the RPG, then it is that. The fact it can be just ignored, and you still can happily call a game an RPG because it looks like one to you, means that there is no way to describe what an RPG is based on what elements it has or doesn't have.

 

[swarley64]

Games where your character levels up, and gains new skills and equipment and perks. Like Call of Duty

 

[Braag]

Today I feel like evey single person has their own interpretation of what is an RPG.
For me it's a game which prioritizes story and world building and let's you create a character to your own liking, whether it's combat wise, appearance wise or both.
A game with more complex stats based mechanics and leveling up when it comes to it's combat rather than full on skill based.
That's why I consider Dark Souls a RPG but not Sekiro, for example.

 

[adamsapple]

Every game is an RPG now to some extent, they all have EXP and Stats to upgrade.

Even the Tomb Raider games.

 

[SF Kosmo]

So what defines an RPG? If it is simply taking the role of a character when playing then every game is an RPG.
Does an RPG have to have puzzle elements to it?

I find that alot of games advertised as RPG are just shooters with puzzles, which make it no different to Tomb Raider.

Would you consider the Outer Worlds to be an RPG? The Witcher?

RPG is a borrowed term from tabletop role-playing games (especially Dungeons & Dragons), and refers to games that have elements from those or are designed to be, to one extent or another, a video game representation of tabletop RPGs.
It is NOT, as some like to argue, "a game where you play a role," which is basically any character-based game. Just as "adventure games" are not "games where you go on an adventure," but rather games that contain elements of Will Crowther's Adventure.

Puzzles are not a defining element of RPGs. It's things like experience points/leveling, equipment based on numerical stat values, character building, loot, RNG-based mechanics, turn based battles, etc. It doesn't have to have every one of those things, but at a bare minimum there has to be some kind of leveling system, and equipment with different stats.

Now these days, of course, RPG elements are super common even in games we don't necessarily call RPGs, like God of War 2018, or Horizon Zero Dawn, and the exact line between RPG/Not RPG can be murky in those cases, and more a matter of emphasis. That sort of thing is probably not worth arguing about, as long as you understand what the term means.

 

[K2D]

A very important distinction is whether it's a thorough rpg or game with rpg-mechanics. I.e Gran Turismo is sometimes dubbed a "carpg", and a lot of shooters have rpg elements, with games like Destiny blending and blurring the lines even further.

 

[Bo_Hazem]

RPG is a cheap mechanic to extend games with little design intelligence. So you end up with the same weapon/gear but different stats, with no justifications of "why". I mean a little effort would be good, like different materials of the same weapon, or anything sensible.

 

[Bernkastel]

I had to find a reason to post this.

 

[AlteredForms]

Duh! This of course: