The "role" in RPG refers to the character having a causal role.enisey wrote: ↑ May 27th, 2026, 16:57On the other hand, if you take "role play" literally, playing a role that is defined for you is still playing a role.
Most JRPGs have established characters and linear stories, and I can't imagine calling them not-RPGs. I suppose what defines those as RPGs is a lack of non-RPG mechanics.
I think any game where you control a character in a story could be considered an RPG, as long as other mechanics aren't so prevalent that it would become more suitable to classify them as some other genre (but with "RPG elements").
We have a Steam curator now. You should be following it. https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44994899-RPGHQ/
Do you consider Witcher 3 to be an RPG?
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Super Mario Bros. is an RPG.enisey wrote: ↑ May 27th, 2026, 16:57On the other hand, if you take "role play" literally, playing a role that is defined for you is still playing a role.
Nah it's a platformer where you play the role of Mario.Tangerine wrote: ↑ May 27th, 2026, 17:40Super Mario Bros. is an RPG.enisey wrote: ↑ May 27th, 2026, 16:57On the other hand, if you take "role play" literally, playing a role that is defined for you is still playing a role.
I am in the "no" category. If things like Witcher 3 is and RPG then so is MegaMan.
Change weapons? Check.
Change Armor? Check.
Have Accessory? Check.
Have Companion? Check. (Roach and Rush. And, Rush is superior)
Story? Check.
This is a terrible litmus for RPGs. If games like this are considered RPGs then I want Disco Elysium added to it before these, and I do understand that Disco Elysium should be considered more an Adventure game like Zork, Broken Sword, Kryondor, etc. But it had more RPG elements than 3D open world action platformers do.
Change weapons? Check.
Change Armor? Check.
Have Accessory? Check.
Have Companion? Check. (Roach and Rush. And, Rush is superior)
Story? Check.
This is a terrible litmus for RPGs. If games like this are considered RPGs then I want Disco Elysium added to it before these, and I do understand that Disco Elysium should be considered more an Adventure game like Zork, Broken Sword, Kryondor, etc. But it had more RPG elements than 3D open world action platformers do.
Last edited by Killagain665 on May 28th, 2026, 15:08, edited 2 times in total.
I consider it an attempt at an rpg
Debeli ronaldo, ja san debeli ronaldo, jedini pravi ronaldo
You're playing as the role of a guy who jumps a lot for some reason.enisey wrote: ↑ May 27th, 2026, 17:46Nah it's a platformer where you play the role of Mario.Tangerine wrote: ↑ May 27th, 2026, 17:40Super Mario Bros. is an RPG.enisey wrote: ↑ May 27th, 2026, 16:57On the other hand, if you take "role play" literally, playing a role that is defined for you is still playing a role.
Last edited by TND on May 27th, 2026, 19:58, edited 2 times in total.
I don't even know if I consider Witcher 1 an RPG because I got side-tracked when I was playing it.
Your Acrobatics Skill has leveled upTND wrote: ↑ May 27th, 2026, 19:57You're playing as the role of a guy who jumps a lot for some reason.
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Last edited by Killagain665 on May 29th, 2026, 03:29, edited 1 time in total.
Witcher 1-3 is obviously cd projects only good games, the 3rd one is kinda like half rpg since you cant really make a customized character but a preDone character with a story and etc, the armor geareing and that is mostly the rpg side and some great story. Some consequences make difference on story.
most C&C'ers don't even consider Wizardry to be an "RPG"... you start to realize how silly it is to care about this.
Good catch Manny V
I was thinking one skill and posted the other.
I was thinking one skill and posted the other.
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I personally resolve this by considering DRPG to be a separate, sibling genre to the computer RPG with a specific focus on things such as tactical combat, attrition, and mechanical character growth. When you resolve it this way it's much easier to see how JRPG, ARPG, and such grew from its lineage rather than them all originating from a monolithic 'RPG' genre. I've actually got a graph because I like graphs:aweigh wrote: ↑ May 28th, 2026, 21:16most C&C'ers don't even consider Wizardry to be an "RPG"... you start to realize how silly it is to care about this.

It's not quite this cut and dry as a lot of it is cross-pollinated so there are few 'pure' specimens anymore, but it's how I've come to see the genre. But it's why so many people can look at the word "RPG" and come away with their own interpretation.
Once a game begins straying too far away from the core lineage it stops being an RPG and just has RPG elements. Examples would be Borderlands, Thief(and arguably Prey 2017), Disco Elysium, arguably X-COM, and so on.
Last edited by rusty_shackleford on May 29th, 2026, 05:07, edited 2 times in total.
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And the expanded version I was working on, not quite finished so it uses some raw terms and some links need revised:rusty_shackleford wrote: ↑ May 29th, 2026, 04:59I personally resolve this by considering DRPG to be a separate, sibling genre to the computer RPG with a specific focus on things such as tactical combat, attrition, and mechanical character growth. When you resolve it this way it's much easier to see how JRPG, ARPG, and such grew from its lineage rather than them all originating from a monolithic 'RPG' genre. I've actually got a graph because I like graphs:aweigh wrote: ↑ May 28th, 2026, 21:16most C&C'ers don't even consider Wizardry to be an "RPG"... you start to realize how silly it is to care about this.
It's not quite this cut and dry as a lot of it is cross-pollinated so there are few 'pure' specimens anymore, but it's how I've come to see the genre. But it's why so many people can look at the word "RPG" and come away with their own interpretation.
Once a game begins straying too far away from the core lineage it stops being an RPG and just has RPG elements. Examples would be Borderlands, Thief(and arguably Prey 2017), Disco Elysium, arguably X-COM, and so on.

Last edited by rusty_shackleford on May 29th, 2026, 05:41, edited 1 time in total.
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I keep things simple because otherwise my head hurts. I don't consider choice and consequence a facet of RPG design. Game without combat can't be an RPG. Zero dialogue trees in Wizardry and it is still the touchstone of all RPG design.rusty_shackleford wrote: ↑ May 29th, 2026, 04:59I personally resolve this by considering DRPG to be a separate, sibling genre to the computer RPG with a specific focus on things such as tactical combat, attrition, and mechanical character growth. When you resolve it this way it's much easier to see how JRPG, ARPG, and such grew from its lineage rather than them all originating from a monolithic 'RPG' genre. I've actually got a graph because I like graphs:aweigh wrote: ↑ May 28th, 2026, 21:16most C&C'ers don't even consider Wizardry to be an "RPG"... you start to realize how silly it is to care about this.
It's not quite this cut and dry as a lot of it is cross-pollinated so there are few 'pure' specimens anymore, but it's how I've come to see the genre. But it's why so many people can look at the word "RPG" and come away with their own interpretation.
Once a game begins straying too far away from the core lineage it stops being an RPG and just has RPG elements. Examples would be Borderlands, Thief(and arguably Prey 2017), Disco Elysium, arguably X-COM, and so on.
Last edited by aweigh on May 29th, 2026, 05:51, edited 1 time in total.
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aweigh wrote: ↑ May 29th, 2026, 05:49I don't consider choice and consequence a facet of RPG design.rusty_shackleford wrote: ↑ May 29th, 2026, 04:59I personally resolve this by considering DRPG to be a separate, sibling genre to the computer RPG with a specific focus on things such as tactical combat, attrition, and mechanical character growth. When you resolve it this way it's much easier to see how JRPG, ARPG, and such grew from its lineage rather than them all originating from a monolithic 'RPG' genre. I've actually got a graph because I like graphs:aweigh wrote: ↑ May 28th, 2026, 21:16most C&C'ers don't even consider Wizardry to be an "RPG"... you start to realize how silly it is to care about this.
It's not quite this cut and dry as a lot of it is cross-pollinated so there are few 'pure' specimens anymore, but it's how I've come to see the genre. But it's why so many people can look at the word "RPG" and come away with their own interpretation.
Once a game begins straying too far away from the core lineage it stops being an RPG and just has RPG elements. Examples would be Borderlands, Thief(and arguably Prey 2017), Disco Elysium, arguably X-COM, and so on.
I consider it to be a core pillar of RPG when interpreted in the broadest sense of choice rather than picking dialogue options. That is, Tim Cain's signature of being able to kill anyone in his games is a good example of choice-and-consequence.
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Runs into the im-sim problem and devolves into semantics. It's a red herring. CYOA book can be interpreted as an RPG when in print, as in an actual book, but if converted into a video game then it becomes an adventure game, or at best a hybrid. Wizardry is still the most faithful electronic adaptation of the core of D&D. Can argue all day about whether Deus Ex is an RPG or not, but I would place my wagers on Wizardry over Deus Ex.rusty_shackleford wrote: ↑ May 29th, 2026, 05:52aweigh wrote: ↑ May 29th, 2026, 05:49I don't consider choice and consequence a facet of RPG design.rusty_shackleford wrote: ↑ May 29th, 2026, 04:59
I personally resolve this by considering DRPG to be a separate, sibling genre to the computer RPG with a specific focus on things such as tactical combat, attrition, and mechanical character growth. When you resolve it this way it's much easier to see how JRPG, ARPG, and such grew from its lineage rather than them all originating from a monolithic 'RPG' genre. I've actually got a graph because I like graphs:
It's not quite this cut and dry as a lot of it is cross-pollinated so there are few 'pure' specimens anymore, but it's how I've come to see the genre. But it's why so many people can look at the word "RPG" and come away with their own interpretation.
Once a game begins straying too far away from the core lineage it stops being an RPG and just has RPG elements. Examples would be Borderlands, Thief(and arguably Prey 2017), Disco Elysium, arguably X-COM, and so on.![]()
I consider it to be a core pillar of RPG when interpreted in the broadest sense of choice rather than picking dialogue options. That is, Tim Cain's signature of being able to kill anyone in his games is a good example of choice-and-consequence.
Last edited by aweigh on May 29th, 2026, 05:57, edited 1 time in total.
Quen and potion dedoctions are so broken, and I’m playing at the hardest difficulty.
The his game should be under the action/adventure genre.
The his game should be under the action/adventure genre.
