A role-playing game, usually shortened to RPG, is a game where the player takes control of a character and develops that character over time. The appeal is not only winning a match, but becoming stronger, making choices, exploring a setting, and seeing how the story changes.
What makes an RPG different
RPGs often include experience points, levels, character classes, equipment, dialogue choices, and quests. Some RPGs are built around a single hero, while others let players manage a whole party of characters with different skills.
Where the term is used
The term appears in console games, PC games, mobile games, tabletop games, and online games. A game can also mix RPG systems with action, strategy, or open-world design.
In simple terms, an RPG gives the player a role to grow into instead of only giving them a score to beat.