Role-playing Games

Role-playing Games

Role-playing games, commonly abbreviated as RPGs, are a type of game in which players take on fictional roles and engage in collaborative storytelling. RPGs can take many forms, including tabletop games played with pen and paper, live-action role-playing games (LARPs), and video games. The defining characteristic of RPGs is the emphasis on character development and narrative, rather than on winning or losing. In tabletop RPGs, players create characters with unique abilities, personalities, and backstories. The players then work together to tell a story, with one player serving as the game master (GM) who sets the scene and controls non-player characters. The GM presents challenges and obstacles for the players to overcome, and the players use their characters' skills and abilities to navigate the story. Tabletop RPGs often involve rolling dice to determine the outcome of actions, with the results influenced by the characters' abilities and the GM's interpretation of the situation. LARPs take the concept of RPGs into the real world, with players physically acting out their characters' actions and interactions. LARPs often involve elaborate costumes and props, and can take place in a variety of settings, from medieval fantasy to science fiction. Video game RPGs, meanwhile, typically involve controlling a single character or party of characters in a digital world, with the player making decisions that affect the story and the characters' development. RPGs have a long and rich history, dating back to the early days of tabletop gaming in the 1970s. They have since become a popular form of entertainment, with many people drawn to the immersive storytelling and collaborative nature of the games. RPGs can be enjoyed by players of all ages and backgrounds, and offer a unique and engaging way to explore fictional worlds and characters.

tabletop, LARP, video game, character development, storytelling

— Timothy Lewis

CITATION : "Timothy Lewis. 'Role-playing Games.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/define/role-playing-games?E=328298 (Accessed on October 14, 2026)"