RPG games
The genre where you take over a character and grow it, and your choices shape both the story and the numbers.
What is the RPG genre?
In a role-playing game you do not just control a hero, you build one. The class you choose, the points you spend, the gear you equip and the answers you give define who the character is. Progress usually runs on two tracks: The character growing stronger in measurable ways, and the story opening up through your choices.
The genre has its roots in tabletop role-playing games, which is why dice, classes, levels and inventory are still at its center. Over the years it split into very different branches, from action RPGs to tactical RPGs, and from the Japanese role-playing tradition to Western open-world games.
What defines it?
Levels, skill trees and gear make your character measurably stronger over the course of the game.
Dialogue and quest decisions change the direction of the story, sometimes even its ending.
You design your own play style through combinations of items, spells and skills.
Side quests and world lore next to the main story add serious playtime.
Landmark games
Well-known examples often used to explain the genre. For the list on our site, see the games section below.
At a glance
RPG games (218)
Valorborn TR
Hogwarts Legacy TR
Lost Soul Aside TR
Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon TR
Game of Thrones: Kingsroad TR
Fantasy Life i The Girls Who Steals Time TR
Omega Crafter TR
King Arthur: Legion IX TR
Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall TR
Yes, Your Grace TR
Sengoku Dynasty TR
9.5
Valheim TR
Borderlands 4 TR
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers TR
Stardew Valley TR
Elden Ring Nightreign TR
Elden Ring TR
Ys: The Oath in Felghana TR
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 TR
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered TR
RuneScape: Dragonwilds TR
9.5
Baldur’s Gate 3 TR
Wuthering Waves TR
Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree TR
Latest stories on RPG games
Frequently asked questions
What does RPG stand for?
Role-playing game. In Turkish the same genre is called RYO, short for rol yapma oyunu; both names describe the same thing.
What is the difference between an action RPG and a turn-based RPG?
In an action RPG combat runs in real time, and hitting and dodging need instant reflexes. In a turn-based RPG each side moves in turn, so the winner is not the fastest player but the one who plans best.
Where should I start with role-playing games?
If long and complex systems put you off, a game with strong guidance and a single main character is the easiest way in. If you want party management and turn-based combat, tactics-heavy games will be more satisfying.