A role playing game (RPG) is a game where you play a character and make choices that shape the story. Your character usually grows over time through levels, skills or gear, and the world reacts to what you decide. RPGs come in three main forms: tabletop games, video games and live action games.
That's the short meaning of role playing games. The longer answer matters because the same three words cover very different things. A group of friends around a kitchen table with dice, a solo adventure on your phone and a weekend event where people dress up as heroes all count as RPGs. What links them is simple: you're not just moving a piece around a board, you're playing someone.
The three kinds of role playing game
Most confusion comes from mixing these up, so here they are side by side.
| Kind | How you play | What you need | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tabletop (like Dungeons and Dragons) | Friends sit together. One person describes the world and everyone else plays a character. Dice settle the moments where the outcome is uncertain. | Rules, dice, paper, pencils and imagination | People who like talking, laughing and making things up together |
| Video game RPG | You control a character on a screen, follow quests, fight, collect gear and make story choices. Some are single-player, some are online with other people. | A phone, console or PC | Solo players, couples and online groups |
| Live action (LARP) | Players physically act out their characters at an event, often in costume, following a set of simple rules. | A venue, a group and costumes or props | Active, outgoing people who enjoy performing |
What you do in an RPG
Whatever the format, nearly every RPG is built from the same few parts. Once you know them, you can pick up almost any game in the genre.
- A character. You decide who you are: a knight, a thief, a healer, a space pilot. In many games you also choose a look and a background.
- Stats and skills. Numbers describe what your character is good at, such as strength, speed or charm. They decide how well you do at different tasks.
- Levels. You earn experience by doing things, and your character gets stronger as a result. This steady growth is a big part of why RPGs feel rewarding.
- Quests. These are the goals: find a missing person, clear a cave, deliver a message. Some are part of the main story and some are small side jobs.
- Choices. What you say and do changes how people treat you and sometimes how the story ends. This is the part that separates an RPG from a game that simply tells you a story.
- Items. Weapons, armour, potions and tools that you collect, carry and upgrade.
I think choices are the heart of it. If a game lets you pick a different path and then lives with the result, it's behaving like an RPG, even if it's missing a few of the other parts.
RPG styles you'll hear about
Once you start browsing, you'll see the genre split into smaller labels. These are the ones that come up most.
Action RPG
Combat happens in real time. You dodge, swing and use abilities yourself rather than picking commands from a menu. It's a good fit if you like fast play but still want levels and loot.
JRPG
Short for Japanese role playing game. These usually have a set story, a party of characters and turn-based fights. The label is more about the style than where a game was made, so you'll see it used for games from many countries.
MMORPG
This stands for massively multiplayer online role playing game. You share one big world with thousands of other players, so you can team up, trade or just wander together. They usually need an internet connection all the time.
Tactical RPG
Battles play out on a grid, a bit like chess with characters who level up. You think carefully about where each person stands. It suits players who like planning more than fast reactions.
Good first RPGs to try
I'm only naming games that are free to download or free to play, and that are well known. All of these can have optional purchases inside, so check the current terms in the store before you start.
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- Genshin Impact is an action RPG with a big open world. It runs on phone, PC and console, and it needs an internet connection.
- Honkai: Star Rail is a turn-based, JRPG-style game with a space setting and a party of characters. It's a friendly place to learn how turn-based fights work.
- Diablo Immortal is a fast action RPG built around fighting waves of monsters and collecting loot. Good if you like simple, quick sessions.
- Path of Exile is a deep action RPG for PC. It's free to play, but it has a lot of systems, so I'd call it better for people who already like the genre.
- Wizard101 is a card and spell-based fantasy game with a gentler tone, often chosen by younger players and families.
None of those is a good fit for a flight with no signal. If you want RPGs that run without a connection, have a look at this list of free offline RPGs for Android. Whichever game you choose, switch on airplane mode once and test it before you rely on it, because publishers change how their games work.
If you'd rather start away from the screen, tabletop is a lovely way in. Wizards of the Coast has offered a free set of basic rules for Dungeons and Dragons, though you should check the current terms on their official site. If you're a fan of board games in general, my guides to classic board games and strategy board games show where tabletop RPGs sit next to the rest of the hobby.
How to start a tabletop RPG with friends
You don't need to buy a pile of books or learn a hundred rules. A first evening can be simple.
- Ask three or four friends. A small group keeps everyone involved.
- Choose one person to be the game master. They describe the world, play the other characters and keep the story moving.
- Pick a beginner-friendly starting adventure, often called a one-shot, that fits into a single evening.
- Make characters together. Keep them simple: a name, a role and one or two things they're good at.
- Talk about limits before you start. Agree on anything the group doesn't want in the story, and agree that anyone can ask to skip a scene.
- Play, roll the dice when the outcome is uncertain, and describe what happens. Say yes to ideas, even odd ones.
- Afterwards, ask what people enjoyed and what they'd change. Then book the next evening.
If you don't own dice, a free dice-rolling app on a phone works fine. If a menu name in an app looks different from what I've described, search the settings or store page for the word instead.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of role playing games in simple words?
It means a game where you take on the role of a character and decide what that character does. Your choices change the story, and your character usually becomes stronger as you play.
Is Dungeons and Dragons the only tabletop RPG?
No. It's the best-known one, but there are many others, including Pathfinder and Call of Cthulhu. They differ in setting and rules, but the idea of playing a character and telling a story together stays the same.
Do I need to be good at acting to play an RPG?
No. In most RPGs you just describe what your character says and does. You can speak in your normal voice and nobody will mind.
What's the difference between an RPG and an MMORPG?
An RPG can be played alone or with a few friends. An MMORPG is an online RPG set in a huge shared world with many other players, and it normally needs an internet connection to play.
